Main Shrine

The main hall houses this Buddha image which was created to resemble that of Phra Buddha Chinnaraj, a renowned image widely regarded to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Paying their respects are the images of the Buddha’s two Chief Disciples.

A mural hangs in the main hall, above the entrance. Painted on silk is a depiction of the Maha-samaya Sutta: or the Great Meeting of approximately 500 arahants, and most of the devatas (heavenly beings) from ten world-systems have gathered in order to see the Buddha and the Bhikkhu Sangha (commuity of monks). The mural is symbolic of how devotees would gather in the Palelai and the main hall to practice, meditate or listen to teachings.

The Relics of Luang Ta Maha Bua

Palelai Buddhist Temple houses a portion of Luang Ta Maha Bua Nyanasampanno's relics. Devotees are welcome to come pay their respects that are placed just below the Buddha Jinaraj image.

About Luang Ta Maha Bua

Ven. Ajahn Maha Bua was born in Udon Thani, North-east Thailand in 1913. He became a monk in the customary way at a local monastery and went on to study the Pali language and texts. At this time he also started to meditate but had not yet found a suitable Teacher. Then he caught sight of the Ven. Ajahn Mun and immediately felt that this was someone really special, someone who obviously had achieved something from his Dhamma practice.

After finishing his Grade Three Pali studies he therefore left the study monastery and followed Ven. Ajahn Mun into the forests of N.E. Thailand. When he caught up with Ven. Ajahn Mun, he was told to put his academic knowledge to one side and concentrate on meditation. And that was what he did. He often went into solitary retreat in the mountains and jungle but always returned for help and advice from Ven. Ajahn Mun. He stayed with Ven. Ajahn Mun for seven years, right until the Ven. Ajahn's passing away.

The vigour and uncompromising determination of his Dhamma practice attracted other monks dedicated to meditation and this eventually resulted in the founding of Wat Pa Bahn Taad, in some forest near the village where he was born. This enabled his mother to come and live as a nun at the monastery.

Ven. Ajahn Maha Bua is well known for the fluency and skill of his Dhamma talks, and their direct and dynamic approach. They obviously reflect his own attitude and the way he personally practiced Dhamma.

This is best exemplified in the Dhamma talks he gives to those who go to meditate at Wat Pa Bahn Taad. Such talks usually take place in the cool of the evening, with lamps lit and the only sound being the insects and cicadas in the surrounding jungle. He often begins the Dhamma talk with a few moments of stillness — this is the most preparation he needs — and then quietly begins the Dhamma exposition. As the theme naturally develops, the pace quickens and those listening increasingly feel its strength and depth.  The formal Dhamma talk might last from thirty-five to sixty minutes. Then, after a more general talk, the listeners would all go back to their solitary huts in the jungle to continue the practice, to try to find the Dhamma they had been listening about — inside themselves.