Tham Sarika Temple, Nakhon Nayok Province
Wat Tham Sarika is located on a small mountain in Wat Tham Sarika, Mueang District, Nakhon Nayok Province. It is a small rock shelter under a large rock about 3 meters deep into the rock. There are no stalactites or stalagmites. It used to be a place where Luang Pu Man traveled to practice Vipassana meditation during his pilgrimage in the central forest. Inside the cave, there is a small-sized statue of Luang Pu Man. On top of the rock, there is a large banyan tree with its roots spreading out to cover this rock. Currently, the temple has built a permanent concrete pavilion covering the front of the cave for convenience of those who come to pay homage and practice Dhamma. It is very cool. Currently, there is a small-sized statue of Luang Pu Man in the cave. The cave is where Luang Pu Man used to practice Vipassana and practice Dhamma in the past. Nearby, there is the principal Buddha image, a sitting Buddha image, and a statue of Somdej Phra Buddhacarya To Phrommarangsi for villagers and Buddhists to come and pay homage. There is also a glass cabinet inside which is a wax figure of Luang Pu Man, which is the same size as the real one. Within the temple grounds is a mountain, the nature of the forest and the landscape is naturally decorated. There are many small huts nestled in harmony with nature, for convenience in paying homage and as a place for practicing Dhamma within the temple. The significance of this cave appears in the history of Luang Pu Man from the accounts of many teachers as follows: Around 1907-1910, he traveled to Lopburi Province, staying at Khao Phra Ngam and Tham Singto. Later, he went to stay at Tham Sarika. He experienced many events that have always impressed him. When he arrived at a village, which was closer to the cave than the other villages, he asked the villagers to take him to the cave because he did not know the way. The villagers told him various stories about the cave and invited him to give up on going to the cave. However, he said that he was not afraid and tried staying there. During the first months of staying at Tham Sarika, he felt normal, his mind was calm, and there was nothing crowded. It just so happened that the following nights, he felt that his frequent stomachaches were acting up and becoming more severe. He recalled what the madman had said: There were 4 monks who had died here, so he thought that he might be the 5th one. If he did not recover from his illness, even after taking the medicine, the illness would not stop. Finally, he decided to use the medicine of Dhamma to cure him. He would recover and die and die. Then he considered the suffering with his wisdom without ceasing until finally the illness disappeared. The distractions in his mind disappeared and became calm. The mind was bright and left his body. He saw a man with a large body holding an iron club walking towards him. He said that he would hit him until he sank into the ground. If he did not run away, he asked him what he had done wrong that he would hit him. He said that he had been guarding this mountain for a long time. No one greater than him could come. He said that he was a monk who came to practice Dhamma to overcome defilements, not to hurt anyone. Then he preached and taught the mysterious man until he became faithful. The next night, he practiced Dhamma conveniently with nothing to disturb him. His body was normal and happy. After Luang Pu Man went on a pilgrimage from here,
After Luang Pu Man went on a pilgrimage to other places, this cave became deserted until about 30-40 years ago, Phra Ajahn Chuea The current abbot, Kitjatharo, has built a temple in this area for meditation and various religious sites to be more stable and widely known. This temple is not far from Bangkok. It is considered one of the most important religious sites related to Luang Pu Man, and is convenient for visiting and reminiscing about his resolute meditation practice with his first life at this place. #Flower Field Tour#Beachfront Accommodation#Super Value Accommodation Promotion#Sea of Mist#Japan's Heaven