Wat Aranyawiwake

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Wat Aranyawiwake is a Buddhist monastery located in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand in the Thai Forest Tradition.

Phra Ajahn Plien Panyapatipo is the abbot of Wat Aranyawiwake, where he has resided since 1966. Wat Aranyawiwake was established and named by Luang Por Mun Bhuridatta, the “father” of the current tradition of forest meditation monastics.

In the past, Wat Aranyawiwake was originally an old monastic residence, established by a group of people from various families in Intakhin Subdistrict, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province. They all had deep interest and faith in Buddhism.

They resolved to seek and invite virtuous monks, who were meditation masters, to reside in the village in order for them to hear the teaching of the Lord Buddha. Later on, they heard of a monk who practiced meditation and stopped by Wat Gniew in Mae Taeng District, so they invited the Venerable Acariya Mun Bhuridatta. His Venerable Ajahn Mun accepted the invitation and gathered a group of faithful disciples, to seek an appropriate place for practice of meditation. They searched for 4 days and his Venerable Ajahn Mun found this place.

Upon the end of the rain retreat, his Venerable Ajahn Mun and the disciples decided to leave the place to continue their austere practice. His Venerable Ajahn Mun told the faithful followers, who attended him in Ban Pong, that he had named this place "Aranyawiwake monastic residence", The name of this monastic residence "Aranyawiwake" was given by Ajahn Mun.

Many masters of meditation have resided here during rain retreat. For example, Luang Por Kao of Wat Tamklongpane, Udon Thani Province, Luang Por Tate Tate-rangsi of Wat Hinmarkpeng, Nong Khai Province, Luang Por Chorb Thanasamo of Wat Pah Sammanusorn, Loei Province, Luang Por Tuer Arjaladhammo, Luang Por Prom Jirapoonyo from Udon Thani Province, Luang Por Kamsaen from Chiang Mai Province, Luang Por Kong from Chiang Mai Province, and Luang Por Kam-Aai from Chiang Mai Province.

Later on, around the year 1952, Luang Por Waen Sujinno returned to reside here during rain retreat for 10 consecutive years. Then, Luang Por Tuer Arjaladhammo, Luang Por Saam Akinjano, Luang Por Kam-Aai Thitadhammo used to stay together here during the rain retreat for 3 years. Upon the end of the rain retreat, they each left for austere practice. It os difficult to find monks or novices to reside here so the place was left empty. There was only an old assembly hall that later was in a state of decay.

Later on, Phra Ajahn Plien Panyapatipo, a disciple of Luang Por Prom, Luang Por Waen Sujinno, Luang Por Tuer, on his austere practice by himself, stayed here in 1966 and has since resided in this monastic residence until now.