Description
Hin Taek Phawana Priest's Camp Site (สำนักสงฆ์หินแตกภาวนา) is a "samnak song" or monk's residence which you'll pass as you get close to the beautiful mountain temple Wat Tham Chao Phu Kha in Sakon Nakhon. The monastery is located in the village of Ban Hin Taek, the Thai phrase "hin taek" (หินแตก) meaning "broken rock".
Hin Taek Phawana Priest's Camp Site is surrounded by a charming yellow and red brick wall. In the courtyard there is a small gold Buddha statue nestled in the base of a Bhodi tree, and nearby a small pavilion covering three different colored Buddha sculptures: blue, white, and yellow.
You'll often see these different colored Buddha at Thai temples. The blue Buddha signifies purity, calmness, and tranquility, and is often associated with healing qualities (of mind, body, and soul). The white Buddha symbolizes transcendence and radiance, as well as the perfect embodiment of wisdom and compassion. The yellow Buddha is associated with the earth, and signifies the qualities of equanimity, abundance, and the transformative power of generosity.
Hin Taek Phawana Priest's Camp Site is very well tended to and has a large congregation hall (Viharn) where worshipers come to hear sermons and receive blessings from the monks. However, being an unofficial Thai temple (samnak song), there is no Ubosot on the premises. If you are in the area, we suggest also visiting Wat Phu Hin Pun (วัดภูหินปูน), with its gorgeous orange Chedi and lovely forest paths.
