It was in the same year, 2509, that Lt. Col. Sanit and Mrs. Pranom Buranakun and Khun Rattana Akornpanit donated 6 roi 50 square wah for the construction of a temple. Following that, the local people gave increasing support, such as the donation of funds to construc a number of small permanent quarters for meditation to replace the old ones that were in a state of disrepair. In addition, other improvements were made to facilitate the activities of the monks and novices and those who came to practice meditation. Later on the large enough both on the lower and upper floor for pacing meditation of 25 paces.
In the more than 25 years that have passed since Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo first went up Dukim Hill, he has led in the transformation of the forested areas on Khao Sukim into a serene temple admirable suited to meditation and dhamma practice by monks and novices and all those who have an interest in the practice of meditation leading to tranquility. Also, the temple has become a center for sightseers, both Thai and foreign nationals.
In the 20 or so years that have passed since the begining, all of the structures, religious property and various objects, such as the dwelling places buildings, rareantiques, etc. have come about due solely to the transcendent virtue of Tan - Phra ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo, ans this has all been accomplished with a sense of purity and true correctness.
In order words, everything come from the people's trust and respect and their own decision to give themselves and their property, with not a day passing in which there was no support coming to the temple. This has happened without the temple having to adveertise or send out envelopes soliciting contributions; everything that has taken place has had the personal touch of Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai Tidahwiriyo.
At the present time Khao Sukim Temple has an area of 6 rai 50 square wah on which permission has been give to build the temple. Also, the temple owns a total of 3,344 rai of land. Later on, the Khao Sukim Temple Secondary School was given 50 rai, and the Khao Sukim Temple Hospital 14 rai, leaving a total area of 3,280 rai.
There are a total of about 100 different structures in the temple, comprised of the following:
1) The Jadhuramook Ubosot
2) The Supreme Patriarch Building
3) Princess Petcharat Building
4) Two bell towers
5) The library
6) The Tammasit Building
7) The Tammawijai Building
8) The 60-year Menorial Building
9) The six Burapajan-utit Viharn(s) on the 4th floor of the 60-year Menorisl Building
10) 56 2-story dwelling place for monks, novices and nuns
11) 22 wooden 2-story quarters for monks, novices and nuns
12) Two 2-story female reception Building
13) A 2-story nurses quarters
14) A 2-story kitchen
15) The dining hall
16) The lift machine room
17) Pavilion for lift patrons
18) Pavilion rest house haifway up the hill
19) Sammakhi Pavilion
20) Pavilion near the "Sirijaroenthamma Anusorn" pond
21) Pavilion near the "plabplaputtawat" pond
22) Pavilion Pradit-tan Luang Paw Phra Sangkatjai
23) Stupa for Luang Paw Puttakhokhom
24) Stupa with carved Buddha image
25) Stupa with Nakprok Buddha image
26) Stupa with standing Buddha image
27) Ten 3 x 5 meter concrete water tanks
28) Ten 3.50 x 6 meter concrete water tanks
29) Large pond for water supply during dry season
30) Khao Sukim Tempple Secondary School, handed over to government
31) Khao Sukim Temple Hospital, handed over to government
Among the above-mentioned structures there are two which have been of special interest to the people, as follows:
(1) The Tammawijai Building, especially the 3rd floor which has been set up as a small museum. The building has 5 floors.
The 1st Floor is the office of the directorate Section, and the temple secretariat.
The 2nd Floor is a dormotry for overnight stay of those whocome to practice meditation or to visit the temple.
The 3rd Floor is a small museum with a collection of both antique and new objects that have been presented to the temple. This collection has been set up to serve as a source of information for students and researchers. The museum is open every day. There is no admission charge.
The 4th Floor contains rooms for prayer and Buddhist training sessions of students in the Makamakut Insitute.
(2) The 60-year Memorial Building, especially the 4th floor which is the Hall of images. There are four stories, each 2 rai in area. Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo had the building constructed to commemorate the 5th cycle birrthday of His Majesty the King. H.M. the king graciously appointed H.R.H. the Crown Prince to open the building on April 14, 2531. The building took 2 year and 3 months to construce at a cost of 80 million bath. It was built to serve as a general purpose building, and at present is used in the following ways: The First Floor comprises meeting and in service training rooms and meditation ot visit. The Second Floor cpmprises meeting and in-service training rooms and seminar rooms for both worldly and religious activities. The Third Floor is for religious activities such as morning and evening prayers, taking the morning meal, and reception areas for guests who come to the temple on various business matters. The fourth Floor has 6 separate Vihara areas which Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai had built. Each area has its own significance. For example, there is an area for reception of high-ranking monks, for wax figures of Luang Boo Sao and Luang Boo Mun, and other areas where antique objects donated to the temple are placed, such as the carved jade chedi and other jade articles, inlaid mother-of pearl furniture, Chinese ceramic statues, Chinese vases from 10 to 104 inches in height, and many other objects.
Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo has handed over all the manyobjects donated by his students and followers so that they have become the property of the religion and Thailand, and so that they may be of benefit to the nation. The temple has been open to all those interested in seeking knowledge, to various government agencies who come on study tours, and to the general public without charging any sort of fees at all. All of the funds used in the construction of the religious buildings, places worthy of religious respect, objects worthy of religious respect and revere, as all other belongings with in Khao Sukim Temple have come about through the charitale donations of the people or, in other words, through the merit of Tan Phra Ajarn Somcjai Tidhawiriyo. It was through the initiative and efforts of Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo that this place has become so well know by everyone who practices meditation and the dhamma. The temple has been developed into such a prestigious and important place in Chanthaburi through his efforts.
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Developer by Mr. Taweesak Rattanakom Science Computer, Rajabhat Institute Rambhaibarni |