Description
Wat Pa Prathip Bunyaram (วัดป่าปทีปบุญญาราม) in Sakon Nakhon was the home of revered monk Luang Pu Phan Panya Patipo (หลวงปู่ผ่าน ปัญญาปทีโป), who mentored under the legendary monks Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta and Luang Pu Louis Chanthasaro (ลวงปู่หลุย จันทสาโร), both of whom are honored with museums at Wat Pha Suttawas in downtown Sakon Nakhon. He also studied under Luang Pu Sila Assaro at the nearby forest temple Wat Pa Issoratham.
Luang Pu Phan Panya Patipo was given the name "Panya Patipo" in 1947, the name meaning a person who has wisdom like the light of a lamp. He lived at Wat Pa Prathip Bunyaram from 1972 until his death in 2011 at the age of 89. His funeral was said to have been attended by over 100,000 people and over 10,000 monks from across Thailand, a testament to how powerful the light of his wisdom was.
Wat Pa Prathip Bunyaram, which is located in the Akat Amnuai District, has built an elegant white museum to house a gold statue of Luang Pu and artifacts from his life of devotion. These artifacts, including items such as tea kettle, sandals, blanket, robes, books, and walking stick, can be viewed in our blog post titled "What does a monk own in Thailand?"
Wat Pa Prathip Bunyaram translates to the Temple of the Light of Virtue, a fitting name for the home of Ajahn Panya Patipo. In addition to the museum, you'll see a gold chedi with a small white pagoda in front that holds the ashes of the revered Sakon Nakhon monk. Beside the congregation hall, there is also a colorful scene with statues of the Buddha, elephants, a hermit monk, and the "fat Thai Buddha" known as Phra Sangkachai (พระสังกัจจายน์).
It will take you about 45 minutes to reach Wat Pa Prathip Bunyaram from Sakon Nakhon city. But this is one of several temples you could visit on your way back from taking a day trip to Wat Phu Tok, the fascinating cliffside temple in the neighboring province of Bueng Kan.
