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3 years ago the restoration works to the old Doi Pa Som Temple of the whole village led by Pra Sorayuth had begun.
An ancient holy relic was restored. With whole-hearted dedication, and true faith, the long-neglected temple in the jungle was then revived back to be the spiritual center of the community once again. With a closer bond to the villager,
Pra Sorayuth had learned and witnessed all the change and suffering the village folks had to go through.
Pra Soryauth Chayapanyo, Acting Abbot, Wat Doi Pa Som: "We truly appreciate the villagers' kindness and sincere heart. No matter how poor or how difficult they face in life, they never stop offering food to the monks each morning. We eat all their food every day.
And when we need help with the Temple repair works, they all came to help. Road building, any construction big or small, they all came to help; heavy works such as rock carrying,
sand carrying do not worry them. Today when they are facing the hardship, what can the temple be any help to them?"
With the kind and passionate heart, the monks truly want to also return the good deed by eliminating the villagers' suffering. They started to look out for the cause of the problem and started to learn that most villagers were living in a huge debt.
The debt was caused by single crop farming with extensive cost from chemical substances. They expected quick money in return and heavily relied on external farming resources. While the nature and lands were degrading by chemical farming; young people were living home. The family was broken and in turmoil.
The best and safest way to get out of this vicious circle is to lead a life on "Sufficiency Economy" philosophy or Middle Path".
As a result, "Sufficiency Economy Philosophy Learning Center for Morally-lead Community" initiative has been started with the Temple being the center collaborating the effort from all parties in the community. (Household, Temple, School ).
This integrated Sufficiency Economy way of life initiative was concurrently undertaken evolving 4 missions:
1 Environmental Restoration activities to cover all aspect of forestation: Water shed revival, Vetiver grass growing to help prevent soil erosion, check dams building for keeping moisture.
2 Building Four Requisites by means of Organic Farming and Bio Technology. Being self reliance in our daily needs as much as we can. Making our own household supplies, organic food, shelter, medicine
3 Alternative Energy from domestically available resources. Learn to appreciate and value natural resources.
Being self reliance on energy by making our own energy such as bio diesel using domestically available resources.
4 Creating Sufficiency Economy Education to instill sufficiency knowledge and ethical mind to the young people. The education must serve the need of the community.
For our community to be strong, we must start from having the righteous view. This is extremely important. Having the righteous view is having Sufficient way of life
For the past 2 years of with the Om Long whole community's effort, today they can enjoy the fruit of their hard work in a happy and well-balanced environment
The forest becomes fertile now; it is now easy to look for food in the forest. We can easily find bamboo shoots, mushrooms. We can find everything we need in the forest. Noisri Jansewee , Om Long Villager Samoeng District , Chiangmai Province
We are making our own fertilizer; I don't have to buy now. Janta Chaiyana , Om Long Villager Samoeng District , Chiangmai Province
We don't have any debt now. Jandee Boonmala , Om Long Villager Samoeng District , Chiangmai Province
No more alcohol, all quit Saengla Pota , Om Long Villager Samoeng District , Chiangmai Province
I am happy. I live in a warm family . Sirinart Pota , Om Long Villager Samoeng District , Chiangmai Province
Sufficiency way of life on the righteous view have led the community to a truly sustainable path; a path to the freedom of life and true happiness.