Thai New Year Celebrations

The traditional Thai New Year Festival (Songkran) this year at Wat Pah Nanachat culminated with a blessing-ceremony in the Sala on April 14, with mutual asking for forgiveness between the Sangha and the lay-community. Afterwards each sangha-member was offered a full bath in a shielded off area in the center of the monastery between the trees, with the laypeople pouring in water from the outside and the monks sitting on a bamboo platform inside, clad in their bathing-cloths, being soaped and rinsed thoroughly by some of the male villagers under a continuous stream of cool water. There was a sense of great friendliness and joy in the air as all participants gradually got wetter and wetter. Also there were some more solemn opportunities to pour water over small statues of the Buddha and Venerable Ajahn Chah, and the hands of Ajahn Kevali, while quietly expressing gratitude, respect and good wishes for the upcoming new year.

Going Forth Ceremony

In the morning of March 24th, 2024 the Sangha welcomed Samanera Aggadhammo from South Africa and Samanera Parakkamo from India taking on the training as Samanera in their midst. The Sangha wholeheartedly wishes them all the best in their practice at Wat Pah Nanachat.

Sangha-Chanting for HM King

On the occasion of 2024 marking the 72nd birthday (the 6th cycle of 12 years), of HM King of Thailand, the Thai Sangha-Administration organizes a traditional recitation of the protective verses (Parittas) each month. The Head of the Ubon Sangha-Administration, Tan Jaokhun Thepvarajahn lead this auspicious event in the new Uposatha Hall of Wat Pah Nanachat for the month of February.

Magha Puja Night

On the full moon day of Magha, the third month of the ancient Indian lunar calendar, the Sangha traditionally comes together commemorating the teachings of the “Ovada-Patimokkha”. Together with the lay community they circumambulate one of the main Buddha-images or cetiyas in the monastery, holding flowers, candles and incense in their hands.

Acceptance Ceremony (Upasampada)

In the early morning of February 11th, 2025, the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat accepted Ven. Visarado from France into the community by conducting the sangha-transaction of giving upasampada with Ajahn Kevali as the preceptor. We wish him all the best for his new life as a Bhikkhu, a monk in the Thai-Theravada-Tradition.

Going forth Ceremony (Pabbajja)

With the traditional ceremony of Going Forth this morning the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat happily received the new novices Saccadhammo and Khemadhammo in their midst.

Chanting into New Year 2023/2024

With the recitation of the traditional protective verses (Parittas) on new years eve on December 31st, 2023, the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat wishes all the monastery disciples and visitors a peaceful and happy new year 2024 C.E./2567 B.E.

Luang Por Pasanno teaching a retreat at Wat Pah Nanachat

From December 22nd to 25th Luang Por Pasanno (former Abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat and Abhayagiri Monastery in California) kindly conducted a retreat for the lay community of Wat Pah Nanachat, leading them in sitting and walking meditation in the inner sala and the area around the Uposatha Hall.

Kathina Ceremony 2023

On November 17th to 18th Wat Pah Nanachat held the yearly Robe-Offering-Ceremony (Kathina), which the Buddha allowed for a sangha of at least five monks who have spent the rains-retreat together, so that they can sew and dye themselves new robes before possibly moving on to other places.

As is customary in the Ajahn Chah tradition, the resident and visiting monks and the lay community start the Kathina ceremony by coming together for evening chanting, Dhamma talks and practice throughout the night.

The next morning there is a symbolic almsround in the monastery in which the laypeople put plain cooked rice into the bowls of the monks and novices.

The ceremonial offering of the Kathina then cloth takes place before the meal. During the day the sangha will have to work on cutting, sewing and dyeing at least one piece of the triple robe set out of the cloth offered in the morning.

When the robe is finished, it gets given to one monk chosen by the community, by reciting the Sangha transaction for this purpose in Pali.

Pavarana Day at the end of the Rains-Retreat 2023

The last day of the rains-retreat is marked by a gathering of the sangha called “Pavarana” (invitation), which is a ceremony where each monk gives the others the invitation to address him regarding any shortcomings or concerns by body speech and mind, so that he can make amends before possibly parting ways. After having completed the three month period of retreat, the monks may travel again.

Pavarana-Ceremony in Wat Pah Nanachat (October 29, 2023)

Visit of Tan Ajahn Jayasaro

Each year Tan Ajahn Jayasaro kindly visits Wat Pah Nanachat during the Rains-Retreat and offers teachings to the sangha and the lay community.

Paying Respects at the Beginning of the Rains-Retreat 2023

Since the time of Ven Ajahn Chah the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat traditionally begins the rains-retreat (pansah) by paying respects to various respected Elders in Ubon and the neighboring provinces. Ajahn Siripanyo took the group to Tan Jaokhun Thepvorajahn, Tan Jaokhun Sriratanobol (the senior monks in the Ubon- and Warin-Sangha Administration), Luang Poo See (the presently oldest monk in the Wat Pah Pong Sangha with 100 years of age), Luang Por Liem (the abbot of Wat Nong Pah Pong), Luang Por Thun (Abbot of Wat Tham Saeng Phet), Luang Por Khun (Abbot of Wat Pah Bhosuvann), and Luang Por Damrong (Abbot of Wat Pah Nam Kam Goeng). The monks, novices and anagarikas felt very uplifted to be able to receive guidance and blessings for their practice from these venerable Elders.

Accepting three new monks into the Sangha

Early in the morning of July 28, 2023, Luang Por Liem kindly led the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat and Wat Nong Pah Pong as the preceptor for holding a Ceremony of Acceptance into the Sangha (Upasampada) for three new monks: Venerable Viriyo from Israel/Portugal, Venerable Ramaniyo from Brazil, and Venerable Tissaro from Israel. We wholeheartedly rejoice in our new Sangha members taking up the full commitment to the bhikkhu-life and wish that all their wholesome aspirations within in the Dhamma-Vinaya may soon be fulfilled.

Ceremony of Going Forth as a novice

The Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat happily welcomes two new novices in the yellow robes: Samanera Thitako from Israel, and Samanera Khemarato from India. The ceremony of Going Forth as a novice was held at Wat Pah Na Gae in Ampher Det Udom in Ubon Province, with Tan Ajahn Sawaeng kindly taking on the role of the preceptor. Ajahn Siripanyo and Ajahn Sukhito took the Sangha over to take part in the ceremony, whereas Ajahn Kevali extends his wholehearted blessings from abroad while on retreat. May the two prosper in the Dhamma Vinaya and experience deep happiness and peace in the monastic life.

Visakha Puja (The Buddha's Birth, Awakening and final Passing Away)

Like every year, the community of Wat Pah Nanachat celebrated Visakha Puja, the day of the Buddha’s birth, awakening and final passing away (Parinibbana) in a night of meditation, chanting and reading out passages on the life of the Buddha on June 3rd, 2023.

Thai New Year Water-Pouring (Songkran) at Wat Pah Nanachat

The traditional Thai New Year (Songkran) was celebrated on April 15th, 2023 at Wat Pah Nanachat with the blessing ceremony of pouring water on a Buddha-statue and over the hands of the monastic community.

Upasampada at Wat Pah Nanachat

This morning our Indian novice Jotidhammo was accepted into the Bhikkhu-Sangha in an Upasampada-Ceremony in the new ordination hall of Wat Pah Nanachat. We all wish him much joy and fulfillment in the Dhamma-Vinaya.

Silent Practice Period at Wat Pah Nanachat

From March 16 to 19, 2023 the community of Wat Pah Nanachat scheduled an open practice period in silence, enabling also day-visitors and local guests to participate in the communal meditation and chanting sessions all through the day.

India Pilgrimage

From February 24th to March 7th, 2023 seven monks from Wat Pah Nanachat went on pilgrimage to India with a group of almost 40 lay-disciples of the monastery. They also met up with members of the Aranya Vihara Trust, the group pioneering a future branch monastery north of Delhi, and met up with Ajahn Jivako, who is leading this project.

Going Forth as Novice

On February 3rd Wat Pah Nanachat was able to welcome two new novices going forth in the midst of the Sangha: Samanera Ramaniyo from Brazil and Samanera Visarado from France. May they ever prosper in the yellow robes.