Wat Tam Doi Ton
| Wat Tam Doi Ton | |
|---|---|
วัดถ้ำดอยโตน | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Theravada Buddhism |
| District | Mae Wang |
| Province | Chiang Mai |
| Location | |
| Location | 128 Moo 5, Baan Mae Sapok, Mae Win, Mae Wang District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand |
| Country | Thailand |
  Shown within Thailand | |
| Coordinates | 18°48′54″N 98°33′58″E / 18.815°N 98.566°E |
| Website | |
| www | |
Wat Tam Doi Ton (วัดถ้ำดอยโตน, Thai pronunciation: [wat.tʰâm.dɔ̄j.tôːn]), also known as Wat Tham Doi Toan or Doi Tone Cave Monastery, is a Theravada Buddhist forest monastery located in Mae Wang district, Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand.[1] Situated in a mountainous area approximately 600 meters above sea level, the temple is renowned for its serene cave setting and emphasis on vipassana meditation practices.[2] It serves as a center for both Thai and international meditators, offering monthly retreats and focusing on the teachings of the Dhammachakra tradition.[3]
History
[edit]The monastery was established in 1985 under the guidance of Phra Piyatassi Bhikkhu, also known as Ajahn Nawee Piyadhassi, who serves as its current abbot.[4] Prior to its construction, the site was a rice field in the Mae Sapok area. Land in front of the Doi Tone cave was donated by Lieutenant Tawee Chemanasiri and Madam Kampui Chemanasiri, devout Buddhists and local landowners.[4] Ajahn Nawee, who studied under notable teachers such as Phra Dhammamangalachan (Ajahn Thong Sirimangalo) and Phra Kru Anusonprachathorn (Ajahn Rat Ratayano) of Doi Koeng Temple in Mae Hong Son Province, moved to the area during a rains retreat and selected the cave for its suitability for Dhamma practice.[1] The temple's founding was supported by the Sanpatong Sangha Community, with Phra Piyatassi as chairman.[4] The name "Tam Doi Tone" derives from Lanna dialect: "Tam" meaning cave, "Doi" meaning mountain, and "Tone" referring to something single or isolated, evoking the site's solitary, contemplative environment.[1]
Architecture and facilities
[edit]Wat Tam Doi Ton is a forest temple (wat pa) emphasizing simplicity and natural integration. The main feature is the Doi Tone cave, which serves as a natural vihara (hall) for meditation. Facilities include:
- A meditation hall for group practice.
- Separate residences for male and female practitioners.
- An open-air dining area overlooking terraced rice fields and the convergence of the Mae Wang and Mae Sapok rivers.
- Walking meditation paths through forested areas.
The temple's location offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, which slope eastward and southward, with terraced fields to the west.[4] Nearby natural attractions include over ten scenic spots along the Mae Wang River, such as waterfalls.[4]
Practices and retreats
[edit]The monastery follows the Theravada tradition with a focus on vipassana (insight) meditation and the Dhammachakra method, emphasizing the cyclical nature of sensory experiences to transcend conventional thinking.[3] Ajahn Nawee organizes monthly meditation courses open to all levels, accommodating both laypeople and monastics.[5] Retreats typically last 7–10 days and include chanting, sitting, and walking meditation, with strict observance of the Eight Precepts. The temple's official website, Vimuttidhamma, provides resources on Dhamma teachings, emphasizing "true freedom" beyond conditioned phenomena.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Wat Tam Doi Tone (Doi Tone Cave Monastery)". retreat-infos.de. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ "Wat Tham Doi Ton: A place for Dharma practice". topchiangmai.com (in Thai). Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ a b "Ajahn Nawee Piyadhassi -- vimuttidhamma.org -- Wat Tam Doi Tone". dhammawheel.com. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ a b c d e "Wat Tham Doi Ton". lovethailand.org. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ "Theravāda Buddhism Web Directory - Organizations - Asia - Thailand - Wat Tam Doi Tohn". dhamma.ru. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ^ "Vimuttidhamma – Wat Tham Doi Ton, Mae Wang District, Chiang Mai Province". vimuttidhamma.net (in Thai). Retrieved 2025-11-06.