Description
Wat Pa Thammawimok (วัดป่าธรรมวิโมกข์ ดุสิตาราม) is a "samnak song" (unofficial Thai temple) in the Ban Don Koi forests of Phanna Nikhom, Sakon Nakhon. The temple is located just down the road from Wat Si Sawat and only a couple kilometers from the famous Wat Kham Pramong, which also serves as an alternative cancer treatment center.
Wat Pa Thammawimok is positioned several hundred meters from the main dirt road on the opposite end of a large pond. A prominent statue of the Buddha protected by the Naga serpent Mucalinda is positioned on a platform at the edge of the pond, next to which is a series of other statues of the Buddha.
Further off to the right is the temple's main Buddha image (statue), which is a representation of Somdej Ong Pathom, (สมเด็จองค์ปฐม), who according to one Thai legend is the first Buddha. Learn more about this curious legend and see another statue of Somdej Ong Pathom in our profile of the Wat Huai Yai temple.
When we arrived at Wat Pa Thammawimok, it was seemingly deserted, but we were soon approached by a young dog who greeted us enthusiastically, like we were old friends. He then proceeded to show us around the place, making sure we didn't miss anything, while taking occasional breaks for belly rubs. When we were just about to leave, we bent down to pet him goodbye, but poof! he was gone.
A ghost dog! It reminded us of the spooky experience we had when visiting Thailand's zombie village in Sakon Nakhon, where a friendly dog appeared and disappeared. We take these experiences as signs that the Sakon Nakhon spirits and ancestors are with us on our journeys through the province.
