Rating: 2.5/5 (14 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00

 

Wat Suan Mok is located at No. 1, Ban Khao Nok, Moo 1, Sraphang Subdistrict, Khao Yoi District, Phetchaburi Province. It is a temple under the Mahanikaya order, distinguished by its role as a meditation temple set amid natural surroundings. Situated in a quiet rural area and surrounded by hills, streams, and green spaces, the temple offers an environment that supports mental training, mindfulness practice, and a simple way of life in accordance with Buddhist teachings.

 

The temple grounds cover a total area of 37 rai, 1 ngan, and 70 square wah. Its boundaries are clearly defined: the northern side adjoins private land, the southern and western sides border a stream, and the eastern side adjoins private land and a public road. This geographical setting encloses the temple within nature, where the sounds of flowing water, wind, and silence remain largely undisturbed by the rush of the outside world, forming an essential foundation for genuine meditation practice.

 

Wat Suan Mok was founded on 22 February 1984, based on the intention of Mr. Prapan and Mrs. Patchanee Ananyuanit, who purchased the land and donated it for use as a meditation site. In its early stage, it was established as a monastic retreat known as “Sivamokkhasathan Meditation Center” or “Suan Sivamokkha.” The name reflects the concept of liberation from defilements and the training of the mind to transcend attachment. The site was later elevated to the status of a temple under the name “Wat Suan Mok” and received royal consecration of the boundary (Wisungkhamsima) on 28 December 1990, marking a significant milestone that confirmed its complete status as a Buddhist temple.

 

In Buddhist philosophical terms, the name “Suan Mok” does not refer merely to a garden in the physical sense. “Mok” (or Moksha) signifies liberation from defilements and suffering. By placing the word “garden” before it, the name symbolically represents a space that nurtures wisdom—a place where the mind can rest from restlessness and gradually grow toward awakening. Wat Suan Mok is therefore not only a site for ritual activities, but an environment deliberately shaped to encourage practitioners to face themselves, see the true nature of the mind, and practice letting go in a tangible way.

 

The temple’s buildings are arranged with simplicity and practical use in mind. The ordination hall is a reinforced-concrete structure in a four-gabled (jaturamuk) style topped with a mondop, measuring 38 meters on each side and constructed in 1990. It serves as the central venue for religious ceremonies. The sermon hall, built in 1982, is used for activities involving monks and laypeople. There are nine monks’ residences providing orderly accommodation. In addition, the temple includes a vihara, a multipurpose hall, the Mondop of Luang Pu Pan, and a shrine of Guanyin (the Bodhisattva of Compassion), all of which are respected sacred spaces for visitors and practitioners.

 

The sacred objects at Wat Suan Mok reflect a wide range of Buddhist art and devotion. These include the principal Buddha image in the ordination hall in the Mara-vijaya posture, a replica of Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, a large standing Buddha image, a cast statue of Luang Pu Pan, numerous smaller Buddha images, white-stone Buddha images in Burmese style, and a white-stone seated Guanyin image bestowing blessings. These sacred objects not only serve as focal points of faith, but also act as continual reminders for practitioners to recollect the virtues of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha.

 

The experiences of those who have practiced meditation at Wat Suan Mok often converge on two key impressions: “simplicity” and “silence.” Practitioners are required to slow down their pace of life, from waking up and walking to eating and staying with the breath. In the beginning, some may feel uncomfortable due to the absence of external stimuli. Over time, however, the silence becomes a space for deep self-exploration. Many practitioners report that living in such an environment allows them to see their own thoughts more clearly and to understand the Dhamma through direct experience rather than through listening alone.

 

In terms of administration, Wat Suan Mok has been under the leadership of Phra Khru Phawana Prasit as abbot since 1984. He has played a key role in shaping the temple as an accessible meditation space for both monks and laypeople, while also establishing a school of Buddhist scripture studies (Dhamma Division) in 1987 to ensure the continued transmission of Buddhist knowledge.

 

Getting There Wat Suan Mok can be reached conveniently by private car from Khao Yoi town, using local roads into Sraphang Subdistrict. The route is straightforward and well signposted, and parking is available within the temple grounds.

 

 

A: It is suitable for those who wish to practice meditation, seek inner peace, and learn the Dhamma through direct experience.

 

A: It places greater emphasis on meditation practice and simplicity rather than large-scale ceremonial activities.

 

A: Interested visitors should contact the temple directly to inquire about meditation programs and schedules.

 

A: Visitors should dress modestly, neatly, and appropriately for a meditation environment.

 

A: Morning hours or weekdays tend to be quieter and more suitable for meditation and contemplation.