SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE MONASTERY

Thamkrabok Monastery from above

Name:	Tham (falling tone) means in Thai, "cave". Krabok (low tones) is a creation of the abbot, Luang Por Charoen: "Ka ja bawk" means "to have something to say". The name of the monastery could thus be translated as "Cave of the Teaching".
Location:	Thamkrabok Monastery is located about 130 km North from Bangkok, capital of Thailand, between Saraburi and Phraputthabat, on Highway 1 on the way to Lopburi.

All visitors are welcome

How to get to Thamkrabok Monastery:-

• A Public Taxi from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Platform of Passenger Terminal on the 1st Floor, Gates 4 and 7) to Thamkrabok which costs about 1500 Baht. (See and print Taxi directions in Thai here).
• If you are not familiar with Thailand it is recommended that you take the monastery’s airport collection service which will meet you in the Arrivals Hall and take you directly to Thamkrabok.   Please contact info@thamkrabok-monastery.org to arrange this service which costs 2500 Baht.
• From Bangkok's bus station Mawchit there is a bus to Lopburi. Ask the driver to stop at Thamkrabok. The journey takes between 2 and 3 hours. (Costs: about 100 Baht)
• The bus-ride between Saraburi and Thamkrabok takes about 20 minutes. The bus stops right beside the entrance to the monastery.
• From the entrance you will go straight on and then turn right. The walk to the reception will take you about 10 minutes. Sometimes there is a small taxi, which will bring you there for 20 Baht.

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In the monastery, there are about 100 monks ("Phra" : dark brown robe) and 20 nuns ("Mae Chee" : white robe).

The monks and the nuns have built all the buildings, streets and monuments within the monastery, themselves.

They eat their only meal of the day at 7 a.m.

There is a "chanting" (melodic recitation of sacred texts) every day at 6.30 p.m.

One of the main activities in the monastery is the world-famous drug detoxification.

According to the monks' practice, the inhabitants of the monastery undertake a pilgrimage by foot every year, which is called a "tudong". This event takes place in the month of April. During that period the monastery is closed.

Pilgrimage

On the grounds of the monastery there is also a colony of lay-people.

The late abbot, Luang Por Charoen, once called Thamkrabok "an airport to Nirvana". This is very deep. Here you can effectively see and observe - as well as experience - all kinds of people and events. It really is like being at the airport: you might see persons who are just hanging around, and there are the ones who only come as visitors. You will see the pilots, the various kinds of workers and staffs and finally those passengers who effectively take an airplane to their destination.

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1956  The region was discovered by Luang Por Charoen Panchand, who was at that time a young monk on a pilgrimage.

1957  Luang Por Chamroom, his brother Luang Por Charoen and their aunt, Mian Panchand were invited by lay follows to start a monastery at Thamkrabok. Therefore they left the temple Klawng Mao, where they had been practising.  During the first six years at Thamkrabok they slept in a cave, then land was donated and some wooden houses were built for them.

Luang Por Yaai (Mian Panchand) was a hard working nun. She was obviously in contact with high spiritual realms. Luang Por Charoen called her "a talking bible", Luang Por Chamroon "a visionary". She has given the teaching to Thamkrabok. She is the most venerated person in Thamkrabok Monastery.

Luang Por Yaai

1959  In response to prime minister Sarit Tanat's measures against drug addiction, the monks from Thamkrabok under the guidance of Luang Por Yaai, started to develop the drug detoxification programme.

1961  The first Hmong came to Thamkrabok as opium patients. It was the plan of the government to prevent them from growing opium as a result of their detoxification.

1970  Luang Por Yaai passed away. Luang Por Charoen left the monastery for a 10 years pilgrimage. Luang Por Chamroon became the abbot.

1975  Luang Por Chamroon Panchand received the "Magsaysay-Award" for the drug detoxification programme, which is considered to be an "achievement of worldwide significance".

Luang Por Chamroon

1981  Luang Por Charoen returned from his pilgrimage and took the lead and the responsibility for all the construction work in the monastery, according to his visions.

1999  Luang Por Chamroon passed away. Luang Por Charoen became the abbot. Over a period of 40 years, more than 100,000 patients from around the world have found treatment in Thamkrabok.

2008  Luang Por Charoen passed away.

Ajahn Boonsong Tanajaro, the vice-abbot became the new abbot.

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