Description
Thung Klang Mai Saeng Thong Priest's Camp Site (สำนักสงฆ์ทุ่งกลางใหม่แสงทอง) is an unofficial temple that translates to the Center Field Monastery of the Golden Light. It is located in the Phon Na Kaeo district of Sakon Nakhon, about 1 kilometer south of Wat Ban Na Due, with its replica of the famous "The Crystal Temple" (Wat Tha Sung).
The formal Thai name of this "priest's campsite" is "Samnak Song Thung Klang Mai Saeng Thong". What is interesting about this rural Buddhist monastery is its collection of broken, unfinished statues of the Buddhas.
At temples in Thailand, you often will see broken figurines of Buddhist and Hindu figures at the base of an old scared tree but it is very unusual to see broken full-sized statues collected together. There is something beautiful and spiritual (and a little haunting) about the ones on display here.
Thung Klang Mai Saeng Thong Priest's Camp Site has a beautiful, blue roofed, worship hall (Viharn), and a lovely pagoda filled with tableau of Buddha statues. Also included is a statue of the mystic Thai monk LP Lersi Lingdam, who was the mentor of the head monk of the Na Kaeo Sub-District, Luang Phor Nun Suwichayo (หลวงพ่อหนุน สุวิชโย). On the wall of the pagoda is a beautiful mural of the Buddha as a young child.
Samnak Song Thung Klang Mai Saeng Thong is about a 30 minute drive from the Sakon Nakhon airport, going in the direction of Nakhon Phanom.
