Sounds a little strange. What I mean, which Wats are more "orthodox" and more focused than average Wats in the Dharma?

More prayers, longer meditations, more fundamental knowledge used in practising, less worldly activities > no tv, newspapers, smoking etc etc

Probably the ones following the Thai Forest Tradition. It's an ascetic tradition and generally more strict about the monastic code.

Probably the ones following the Thai Forest Tradition. It's an ascetic tradition and generally more strict about the monastic code.

I can promise you, the most awesome wat you are likely to see is "Khaow Kiri Wongkot Temple" in Moo 8, T. Ban Yaeng, A. Nakhonthai, Phitsanulok. It is NOT huge and majestic. It is in the forest on a mountaintop studded with boulders. All the Buddha images are hand carved by the highest monk. The carvings are fantastic; the guy is super talented. The monks live in little huts on the boulders and the boulders are connected by more than 300 little bridges. There is one monk there who speaks excellent English. He is Pra Ti , his e-mail is khaowkiri*at*hotmail*dot*com, from Malaysia. I am the only farang in their history to have spent the night. they are VERY friendly and welcoming. It is not easy to get to (no public transportation), but you can spend the night there. It is like some fantasy land in a computer game. Very peaceful and a lot of birds singing. Oh, and incidentally, the Lord Buddha, himself, meditated there one time.

Which Wats Have The Most Energy?

I did notice that monks in Lamphun displayed the greatest vigour and concentration when sweeping the yard.

Probably the ones following the Thai Forest Tradition. It's an ascetic tradition and generally more strict about the monastic code.

I can promise you, the most awesome wat you are likely to see is "Khaow Kiri Wongkot Temple" in Moo 8, T. Ban Yaeng, A. Nakhonthai, Phitsanulok. It is NOT huge and majestic. It is in the forest on a mountaintop studded with boulders. All the Buddha images are hand carved by the highest monk. The carvings are fantastic; the guy is super talented. The monks live in little huts on the boulders and the boulders are connected by more than 300 little bridges. There is one monk there who speaks excellent English. He is Pra Ti , his e-mail is khaowkiri*at*hotmail*dot*com, from Malaysia. I am the only farang in their history to have spent the night. they are VERY friendly and welcoming. It is not easy to get to (no public transportation), but you can spend the night there. It is like some fantasy land in a computer game. Very peaceful and a lot of birds singing. Oh, and incidentally, the Lord Buddha, himself, meditated there one time.

That's excellent advice. Reminds me of Khao Khitchakut - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Cool-Places-t278903.html -post 14

Wonder, if there are not so well known unique Wats in Bangkok or Kanchanburi.

Any temples which teach Vipassana meditation are usually well supported by the lay people because they are doing what the Buddha taught.

Thank you for that.

Still interested in unusual temples. Not so well known Wats, where specific aspects of any kind are more inherent in the temple activities than normal.

Wat Phai Rong Wua in Suphanburi is one of the more unusual Wats in Thailand.

This monastery was built in the present era and is located in the vicinity of Tambon Bang Tathen on the bank of Khlong Phraya Banlue, Amphoe Song Phi Nong.

It houses the largest metal cast Buddha image of the world called "Phra Phutta Khodom" which has a lap width of 10 meters and a height of 26 meters. There is various construction concerning Buddhism, such as, the Three season Palace of Prince Sitthattha, places of gaining enlightenment, giving the first preaching sermon, and Nivarna (passing away stage), the hel_l being community, etc.

Very impressive is the terrifying representation of the Buddhist conception of hel_l. The contrast of these primitive, gruesome figures suffering agonizing tortures is appalling to the Western mind. Loudspeakers blare in the sing song Thai language, describing the horrors of the hideous figures. However, the Thais hold this as a place of reverence and bring their children to teach tme to pray for their souls.

The monastery is reached by Highway No. 321 to Amphoe Song Phi Nong with right turn to Wat Phai Rong Wua; or take a boat trip from Tha Chang Landing, Bangkok, every Sunday at 07.00 hoursBuses go there, but a bit complicated or take a boat trip from Tha Chang Landing, Bangkok, every Sunday at 07.00 hours.

Easiest of course by taxi or hire a driver. Don't be surprised if you don't see another Westerner in sight.

You might be interested in Santi Asoke in Bangkok (Nawamin Road Soi 44, Klong Kum, Khet Bueng Kum) - a "centre" rather than a wat, though they call it a temple in English (they're offside with the official Thai sangha). There are quite a lot of monks and nuns there (they're called "samana" rather than "phra"). They have a website and there's a Wikipedia article about them.

My wife and I go there some Sunday mornings to buy herbal things, vegetarian food, etc. You can sit in on the Dhamma Talk. It's really quite an interesting little community round there.

Map at http://www.bunniyom.com/newaddress.santiasoke.html

Probably the ones following the Thai Forest Tradition. It's an ascetic tradition and generally more strict about the monastic code.

I can promise you, the most awesome wat you are likely to see is "Khaow Kiri Wongkot Temple" in Moo 8, T. Ban Yaeng, A. Nakhonthai, Phitsanulok. It is NOT huge and majestic. It is in the forest on a mountaintop studded with boulders. All the Buddha images are hand carved by the highest monk. The carvings are fantastic; the guy is super talented. The monks live in little huts on the boulders and the boulders are connected by more than 300 little bridges. There is one monk there who speaks excellent English. He is Pra Ti , his e-mail is khaowkiri*at*hotmail*dot*com, from Malaysia. I am the only farang in their history to have spent the night. they are VERY friendly and welcoming. It is not easy to get to (no public transportation), but you can spend the night there. It is like some fantasy land in a computer game. Very peaceful and a lot of birds singing. Oh, and incidentally, the Lord Buddha, himself, meditated there one time.

Thanks for this. It sounds well worth a visit. Can Mrs Xangsamhua and I get there by car from Pitsanuloke City and back in a day?

Probably the ones following the Thai Forest Tradition. It's an ascetic tradition and generally more strict about the monastic code.

I can promise you, the most awesome wat you are likely to see is "Khaow Kiri Wongkot Temple" in Moo 8, T. Ban Yaeng, A. Nakhonthai, Phitsanulok. It is NOT huge and majestic. It is in the forest on a mountaintop studded with boulders. All the Buddha images are hand carved by the highest monk. The carvings are fantastic; the guy is super talented. The monks live in little huts on the boulders and the boulders are connected by more than 300 little bridges. There is one monk there who speaks excellent English. He is Pra Ti , his e-mail is khaowkiri*at*hotmail*dot*com, from Malaysia. I am the only farang in their history to have spent the night. they are VERY friendly and welcoming. It is not easy to get to (no public transportation), but you can spend the night there. It is like some fantasy land in a computer game. Very peaceful and a lot of birds singing. Oh, and incidentally, the Lord Buddha, himself, meditated there one time.

I was all ready to make a snide response to "Which Wats have the Most Energy" by saying wats are buildings and buildings don't have energy, but I'll leave it be.

I'd gravitate more to forest places than city places. There's a forest wat near where I reside just north of Chiang Rai. I've only been to visit thrice, but each time I feel like I'm being greeted by long lost friends.

As for the Buddha meditating in SE Asia. Is that hopeful heresay, or is there historical evidence that the Buddha traveled such long distances. I've never heard of him traveling on the sea, and if he traveled overland, it would have been an immensely prodigious journey. Try walking just a tiny fraction of the distance, from Chiang Mai to Pai, and you'll get an inkling of what I mean.

Probably the ones following the Thai Forest Tradition. It's an ascetic tradition and generally more strict about the monastic code.

I can promise you, the most awesome wat you are likely to see is "Khaow Kiri Wongkot Temple" in Moo 8, T. Ban Yaeng, A. Nakhonthai, Phitsanulok. It is NOT huge and majestic. It is in the forest on a mountaintop studded with boulders. All the Buddha images are hand carved by the highest monk. The carvings are fantastic; the guy is super talented. The monks live in little huts on the boulders and the boulders are connected by more than 300 little bridges. There is one monk there who speaks excellent English. He is Pra Ti , his e-mail is khaowkiri*at*hotmail*dot*com, from Malaysia. I am the only farang in their history to have spent the night. they are VERY friendly and welcoming. It is not easy to get to (no public transportation), but you can spend the night there. It is like some fantasy land in a computer game. Very peaceful and a lot of birds singing. Oh, and incidentally, the Lord Buddha, himself, meditated there one time.

I was all ready to make a snide response to "Which Wats have the Most Energy" by saying wats are buildings and buildings don't have energy, but I'll leave it be.

I'd gravitate more to forest places than city places. There's a forest wat near where I reside just north of Chiang Rai. I've only been to visit thrice, but each time I feel like I'm being greeted by long lost friends.

As for the Buddha meditating in SE Asia. Is that hopeful heresay, or is there historical evidence that the Buddha traveled such long distances. I've never heard of him traveling on the sea, and if he traveled overland, it would have been an immensely prodigious journey. Try walking just a tiny fraction of the distance, from Chiang Mai to Pai, and you'll get an inkling of what I mean.

I'll probably regret this but... buildings can have energy... just as living things do. Through impregnation of thoughts and feelings through the years - many 'holy' places have an aura of peace - others do not. Objects can retain an 'imprint' of the energy of those around the object - in fact these can be 'read' by those who utilise psychometry.

Many instances of 'ghosts' are those imprints upon a place where a 'happening' occured... i.e. a violent death etc. bit like a hard disc recording events - doesn't last forever but can leave an 'impression' whcih could loosly be termed energy.

Wats are a group of people living in one place doing much the same thing, buildings are just a roof over their heads.

The question was about where there are groups of people living in one place doing the same thing and putting more energy into it.

Wats are a group of people living in one place doing much the same thing, buildings are just a roof over their heads.

The question was about where there are groups of people living in one place doing the same thing and putting more energy into it.

Yes maybe you are right - but Capitalisation confused me - I was aswering esoterically when the question may have been more mundane