Opening a Samnak Sak Yant in Chumporn Province
As of next month i shall be beginning to make both Sak Yant and Thai Mythological Imagery tattoos in the temple of Wat Suan manee Sap in Ampher Ta Sae, Thambon Saluy. The Abbot, Hlwong Dta Liam has expressed the wish for me to do so in order to help raise funds for the building of the Free Food hall, which is still progressing rather slowly, due to the fact that the temple has no towns or villages next to it, and has to rely on passers by who stop and park to come up and make merit in the temple. Plus the fact that Hlwong Dta doesnt like to sell his amulets, rather give them away, and also doesnt advertize as many temples do. I myself shall be residing in a nearby forest temple which is located built into the cliffs of the mountain in a nearby valley, and shall wander down on alms round every morning and spend the daylight hours helping hlwong dta to develop the food hall and other projects.

Any Ordained members of the Buddha sangha or even laypersons or Ruesi who wish to come and reside in this wonderful forest temple to practise Vipassana kammathana meditation and Jhana meditation (as well as help to restore the place) are welcome to contact me. I shall be posting fotos  of this wonderful place of practise,soon as i return there and get the chance to publish. The temple is actually a “Samnak Songk” (called so because it has no chapel, rather a sala with Buddha statue for reciting evening prayers with. There are some rooms carved into the cliff face, and a beautiful Buddha image also carved into the rock there. There are 2 caves called tam ruesi 4 tidt, which is because of four fossil stalagmites that are shaped like ruesi naturally formed by nature. it is believed that the place is owned and inhabited by the spirits of 4 ruesi. Samnak Songk Tam Muni (thats what it is called) is the most beautiful and conduciove place for meditation and kammathana tudong practise i have discovered till now. It is ideal because apart from having no sight of civilisation and a beautiful view over the mountains and valley and forest, it is only about a 30 minute walk to the road and therefore is possible for Monks to make alms round for food.

Anyone in the chumporn area will be able to come for clean and sterile sak yant or Thai Mythological tattoos which i shall be making in the temple at Wat Suan manee sap. I shall be installing a telephone line soon so people can fone for appointments. Additionally, (many people in the past asked me if this was possible in temples such as wat bang pra or wat tong nai), it will be possible for people who wish for larger tattoo sessions to stay with us and practise meditation and Dharma whilst receiving their tattoos. Sleeping facilities are to be made available (in the samnak songk tam muni forest temple). People who wish to spend any time with us at the temple should bring white clothing to wear whilst there, and be prepared to take 5 or 8 or even 10 precepts (depending on themselves how diligent they wish to practise). Myself and the other monk present in the forest temple will be prapared to give lessons in Jhana meditation and teach how to make evening prayers and chanting of Katas, as well as the correct way to rever the Buddha and practise the dhamma.

The pics here below are not from the Samnak Songk Tam Muni, but should give you an idea of what kind of thing you can expect in the samnak songk

The forest temple of Tam Muni is in need of refurbishment we have a cooking area and sla (salon/hall) for praying in and meditating. the caves are also good for meditating and even have a small meditation seat and hut to sit on on a high pinnacle above the cave (need to climb to get there). If you are afraid of snakes etc then be prepared as we have many cobras and pythons in the forest there, as well as other wild animals and lots of mosquitos (bring own mosquito nets because we are in need of help still as far as funds and refurbishment goes. There are about 8 huts, which i shall be cleaning up and sweeping as the place is almost deserted. i found it in this state and only one monk who is a tudong kammathana monk who has moved in there (aftrer discovering it on tudong) and therefore we have decided to briung the place back to life. Any offers of help are most welcome

regards

Chinawangso Bhikkhu (Spencer Littlewood)