Description
Luang Pu Phu Phan Priest's Camp Site (สำนักสงฆ์หลวงปู่ภูพาน) is also known as Wat Non Sawan (วัดโนนสวรรค์), which can be translated as the "Temple on Paradise Hill". It also goes by the name Wat Phu Din Daeng (วัดภูดินแดง), or the "Temple of Red Earth Mountain". As these names suggest, it is a Sakon Nakhon forest temple that starts near the base of one of the hills of Phu Phan Mountain, and ends at the top of a forest hill.
You'll know you are entering the grounds by two attractive white concrete gates with gold Dharma Wheels at the top and a pair of standing Buddhas protected by a 7 headed Naga. There are also 7 headed Naga sculptures within the temple. The 7 headed Naga named Mucalinda has special significance, in that this is the Naga said to have sheltered Gautama Buddha for 7 days and 7 nights after his enlightenment. This is why you will often see Mucalinda protecting the entrances to Sakon Nakhon temple grounds and buildings.
As you travel up the road, you'll see the entrance to the bottom part of the temple to your left. If you continue past that entrance, you'll pass through a gate, after which are statues of miniature Muay Thai fighters and a line of monks holding alms bowls (on your left) and traditional Thai life sculptures (on your right). You'll eventually get to the base camp of the hill where there is a small parking area.
Having parked, you can then walk a bit over a kilometer, along a concrete path, to get to the top of Luang Pu Phu Phan Priest's Camp Site. On your walk, you'll pass an old sacred stone building on your right, which seems to have incorporated ancient Khmer ruins in the structure. You'll also see a fascinating, emaciated Buddha statue, whose skin appears to be falling off like a monk's robe. It reminds one of the emaciated Buddha seen at Wat Pa Eo Kan.
At the top of the hill is a huge Garuda statue holding the Buddha aloft, with Garuda dragons in front, as well as the Earth Goddess Phra Mae Thorani. Nearby there is a small, glass pavilion where visitors can make merit or make a donation. From this vantage point you can get a view of Sakon Nakhon city and Nong Han Lake in the distance. Nearby the Garuda on a little hill, you will also see a small pavilion with statues of Grandmaster Tak Mo (ปรมาจารย์ตั๊กม้อ), Lord Bodhidharma, perhaps the most famous Chinese monk of Shaolin Temple, which is recognized as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu.
Luang Pu Phu Phan Priest's Camp Site has quite a large collection of Buddhist sculptures, photographs, paintings, and historical relics at the bottom of the hill (if you make the first left), including one of the most lifelike sculpted representations I have seen of a revered monk in Sakon Nakhon. The side of one of the pavilions has a lovely checkered tile mural of the Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
Luang Pu Phu Phan Priest's Camp Site is home to Phra Ajarn Janeyutana Jirayuttho (พระอาจารย์เจนยุทธนา จิรยุทโธ), whose spirit is know as Luang Pu Phu Phan (หลวงปู่ภูพาน). He is a widely respected monk in Sakon Nakhon province, establishing the Office of Dharma Practice. Luang Pu Phu Phan guides others in the ways of wisdom, concentration, and morality, with the help of mental solitude found in the forests and nature.
The temple is located only 16 km from the Sakon Nakhon City Gate. To see our full photo gallery, please go to: Samnak Song Luang Pu Phu Phan. Just down the road from this temple is a little village temple called Wat Chan Thra Ram, which you also might like to visit.
