Description
The Forest Charoen Thamarat Wanaram Priest's Camp Site (สำนักสงฆ์ป่าเจริญธรรมรัตนวนาราม) is a Buddhist monastery rather than actual "camp site". So, whenever you see the term "Priest's Camp Site" on Google Maps or elsewhere, what that really means is a rural Buddhist monastery where monks stay, and where Buddhist laypeople sometimes go to pray and worship. The reason the Thai word Samnak Song (สำนักสงฆ์), which means Monastery or Abbey, has been translated into English as a Priest's "camp site" is because it is in a rural setting, usually surrounded by woods or mountains.
The Forest Charoen Thamarat Wanaram Priest's Camp Site is a little unusual in that it has a large rubber tree garden where it harvests rubber. The buildings are also distinctive in that many are made with red brick, which is unusual to see at a Buddhist monastery, but very attractive, so it is a wonder why more places do not build in the same way. There is also a very distinctive private red brick home nearby, which makes one wonder if the builders have some sort of close connection with red brick manufacturing,
The Monastery also operates a crematorium (noted by the large chimney), which again is quite distinctive in being made with red brick and orange colored concrete. Cremation is the most common burial practice in Sakon Nakhon, with the most common exceptions being among Christians, ethnic Chinese, and Muslims.
When we visited the Monastery there was a tractor parked in the pavilion with a Gold Buddha, which was a nice symbolic representation of the fact that Buddhism isn't all about meditation and quietude, but getting done the work that needs to be done so that people and places can prosper.
If visiting the Forest Charoen Thamarat Wanaram Priest's Camp Site, you also will want to visit Wat Pa Chareon Tham Sammakki and Ban Non Sung Priest's Camp Site, which are only a few minutes away.
