PRACTICE OF THE DHAMMA AT POO GAO, MOKDHARN PROVINCE
PRACTICE OF THE DHAMMA AT PHRA POO WUA CAVE
NONG TOOM THA-KA-DAN VILLAGE
Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo and the group of nivices who accompanied him stop along the way to prctice meditation for a night or two before finally reaching Poo Gao in Nong Sung District, Mukdahrarn(at that tume Nakorn - Panom),which Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai decided was a suitable site for dhamma observance especially since it was - such a tranquil place and the Lenten season was fast appeoaching. So the Lenten season was spent there, with excellent results in dhamma and meditaion practice. The group, comprised of 8 monks and novices, incloud: 1) Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai as the chairman of the gruop, 2) Luang Boo Moon, 3) Luang Boo phrom-ma, 4)Kru bah Sudjai, 5) Nivice sudcha, 6)Novice Tongmuan, 7)Nivice Boonterng, and 8)Novice Sawai. Tan Phra Ajarn somchai Tidhawiriyo led them in practice of the dhamma day and night throughout the Lenten season. Tan Phar Ajarn's role as leader meant he had to work hard. Not only did he lead them in practice, but during the day he read to them from the religious treatise "Buphapik-khawanna." He read and explained the Buddhist discipline throughout the Lenten season. And everything that he had learned from Luang Boo Mun he transferred to his followers, leading them in daily practice such as he various meditation postures, going out with the alms bow, keeping the area ciean, saying prayers, and so non. Aside from these duties, Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai led inteaching many local people about the Triple Gems. These villagers came from8 villages and became very firm believers in Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo.
At the end of the Lenten season Tan Phra Ajran led his gruop from Poo Gao to Aranyawiwek Temple(Bahn Nong Bjon Dhon Temple), which had been left desered. The villagers there begged Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai to stay on to teach them so it turned out that Tan Phra Ajarn spent the next Lenten season there, not leaving until B.I. 2497. The group, including Tan Phra Ajran Somchai, now comprised 14 monks and novices. During the time there Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai continued with the teaching he had done at Poo Gao, with the number of villagers wgo became his devoted followers increasing steadily.
At the end of that Lenten season, after the temple followers had performed the Kathin ceremony, and Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai had told the people he was going to leave to find a new place for the practice of meditation, they cried and begged him not to leave. So he decided to leave Luang Boo Moon, Luang Boo Phrom-ma amd 3 novices there to serve the people. Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai and 8 novices and monks se out to find a new place, stopping for a few days to pay respect to Tan Phra Ajarn Kham at Silawiaek Temple, before leaving for Nakorn Panom. During this journey Tan Phra ajarn would walk for 50 minutes. Each night was spent in a cemetery or a deserted temple. After many days the group reached Nakorn Panom, stopping at the Nong Kem Village cemetery, which was deemed suitable for practice of the dhamma. The group stayed there for two or three months.
It was very cold that year, so cold that ice formed on the banana leaves. The whole group suffered because they had no blankets, and they were not familiar with that locality, so they didn't konw who to turn to for help. Just as they were discussing what to do, two persons appeared bringing blankets to them. These two, Ajarn chaweng Sirirat and Mrs. Tongpoon Sirirat, were to become Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo's faithful followers, and still are to this day. Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai and the grooup spent oever 3 mounts at the village cemetery before setting out once again to fond a new place for meditation and dhamma practice.
Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo always told his followers about Poo Wua, relating to them how it was such an excellent place for meditation, and how it was one of the place where he had gained great insight into the nature of Buddhist teachings. He also told them how difficult ltfe was there, with the nearest village being about 7 kilometers away, making the daily alms bowl juourney along paths over mountains and wild animal trails even more difficult. Even after pointing out that anyone who went to meditate there would have to be truly dedicated to a life of Busshist teachings, he noticed that all the monks and novce were anxiuos to go there. So, bidding the faithful vilagers' farewell, he set out once again for Poo Wua to seek a suitable site for practice of the dhamma. On this occasion Ajarn Chaweng amd Mrs. Tongpoon Sirirat, along with many villagers, saw the group off at the wharf since this time Tan Phra Ajanr was leading the group by boat past SriSongkhram to Bahn Paeng Districts, which they reached at 5 in the afternoon. Upon reaching the district a large number of villagers came out to receive them. They spent the night at the cemetery there and after the morning alms making and the meal they set out again, intending to reach Poo Wua by nightfall. However, at dusk they had reached Poo Langka, where they stayed for a night before moving on. At Dong and Donsaid villages many villagers came out to greet the group and joined in for the reminder of the journey to Poo Wua, with Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai intending to set up meditation in Phra Cave.
On reaching Phra Cave, Tan Phra ajarn Somchai had the group separate, with each monk or novice setting up his umbrella individually. During the time they were practicing there, they would gather together only for the morning meal, with rice brought by the villagers and food prepare by the nivices them selves except when the villagers would bring food also. The main food items were salt and dried chili peppers. Some days the novices would prepare a vegetablr soup using greens found in the forest. As for the preparation of rice, one glassful of rice was cooked for all 18 members of the group, and then some greens would be added. If this regimen were not followed, the rice wouldn't last the required 15 days, for that was the time span when the villageers would bring rice up to Poo Wua. Wgen the novice had prepared the food, they would ring the bell to call in the group members from their practices of meditation so that all could eat the
daily meal.
In 2498, then, Tan Phra ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo led the group from Kham Cave to Wanaraniwat District, where they stopped for meditation practice at Nong Ake, Nong Toom Tah-ka-dan, and Dongmawtong villages. Since ot was close to Buddhist Lent period again, they decided to stay in these three villages which were not far apart. Tan Phra Ajarn Juan went to Dongmawtong and Tan Phra Ajarn Suphab stayed at Nong Ake. Throughout Lent he three group would together every Buddhist Holy Day forprayers and disscussion of meditaion practices.
The cemetery at Nong Toom Tah-ka-dan was a jungle still inhabited by roamimg tigers. So the group cleared the area and erected 15 huts. Througout the Lenten season Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai taught Buddhist discipline and precepts through the "Buphapik-khawanna." On Buddhist holy days Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai gave sermons to the local people and alsotaught how to meditate. In the evenings the monks and novices wouldpractice dhamma and meditation, always wondering when and if a tiger would caome out andtry to drag someone away. In fact, TanPhra Ajarn Somchai had to stay in the hut nearest the tiger trail so as to be of assurance to the young novices. Tan Phra Ajarn's love of the group and its welfare made it - necessaryfor him to be ready to be the first to handle any danger.
At the end of Buddhist Lent tan Phra ajarn Somchai said farewell to the villagers, including Chief Inspector Saen, Mr. Lee, Mr. Boon and Mrs. Mah, and set out for Ponpisai District, Nong Khai, passing through Nong Yong ans NOng Keng villages, finally reaching Pon Paeng Village on the banks of the Mekong River. It so happened tat the village was holding the annual festival to pay reapect to the Buddha footprint there so the group stopped there. The group observed that more and more - people came to pay respect every day because they believed strongly that this was the Buddha's footprint. And at Pon San Village on the opposite side of the reiver in Laos there was another Buddha footprint si the usual custom was to go there paying respect to the footprint at Pon Paeng.
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Developer by Mr. Taweesak Rattanakom Science Computer, Rajabhat Institute Rambhaibarni  |