Description
Wat Tha Wang Hin (วัดท่าวังหิน) is a peaceful temple nestled deep in the countryside of Phanna Nikhom (Sakon Nakhon Province). The abbot is a well-known monk named Phra Ajarn Chaowarat Kammasutto (พระอาจารย์เชาวรัตน์ กมฺมสุทฺโธ), who is popular for both his wisdom and his wit as a public speaker. His Buddhist teachings are noted for their simplicity, so simple that he jokes that some people have thought him "slow," not realizing the refinement it takes to simplify Buddhist teachings for greatest acceptance among the public.
Wat Tha Wang Hin is known for its crocodile sculpture that sits at the edge of a beautiful swamp, upon which floats a large raft used for Buddhist events on special occasions. The Siamese Crocodile once lived in Sakon Nakhon, as well as in other areas of Thailand, Laos, and Southeast Asia, but today it is critically endangered, with it already becoming completely non-existent in many regions.
As far as we know, there are no more wild crocodiles left in Sakon Nakhon. But the crocodile statue at Wat Tha Wang Hin, which is carrying a gold treasure in its mouth, serves as a reminder of the past. The crocodile figure also represents the dangerous temptations of the physical self, which we must overcome to acquire wisdom and peace (i.e. the gold carried in the crocodile's mouth).
Wat Tha Wang Hin has undergone development in recent years, funded in part by the sale of sacred amulets, as well as donations from the large gatherings of people who come to the temple to hear Phra Ajarn Chaowarat speak. A simple sign painted on an old wooden log announces the entrance on one side of the temple, while a large, tall entrance gate welcomes visitors on the other side. Inside the temple grounds is a beautiful Viharn where people gather for services.
Wat Tha Wang Hin is located about 40 minutes from Sakon Nakhon city, and only 1.5 kilometers from one of our favorite small forest temples Wat Pa Thiti Thammanuson, which is close the Nakhon Phanom border.
