The enthusiasm with which Buranakarn “Jumbo” Chatupornpaisarn shares her vision to build one of the first eco-friendly holistic centres for monks in Kanchanaburi is truly inspiring.
The travel agent, who owns R.S.P Jumbo Travel & Events, says she first got the idea for the project when she was a child, but it was only last year that she began to make her dream a reality. The Kanchanaburi-native’s experience and contacts in the tourism industry have played
a vital role in getting the project off the ground.
Provisionally named the Holistic Centre for Monks in Commemoration of the 19th Supreme Patriarch, the premises will provide 10 beds, designed after monks’ sleeping quarters and offer a combination of traditional and modern day medicines. The facilities are housed on
a 20 rai plot of land in Wang Dong sub-district, known for its scenic landscapes. Approximately 10% of the building is completed so far, Buranakarn says, adding that the entire project is reliant on donations and people’s time and know-how.
The Holistic Centre for Monks will not resemble a typical medical facility, she said, as the idea is to make it as natural and eco-friendly as possible. Kanchanburi is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty, so the idea is for the centre to blend seamlessly with the green backdrop.
“The architect, who has offered his services free of charge, and I spoke at length about the need to keep it simple, with an emphasis on white energy and functionality,” said the travel agent.
“To further commemorate the life of the 19th Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera, who passed away last year and who the building is dedicated to, we are using certain information, such as his birthday, his death anniversary and the number of years he spent in monkhood as measurements to construct the building.
“One storey will be equipped with solar panels and made entirely with bamboo and
a Buddha image will be the focal point. To keep it inexpensive, peaceful and quiet, we will be maximising usage of solar cells, ozone water treatment and bio-gas technology.”
As it is not a fully-equipped hospital,
the centre will serve to check patients in the preliminary stage and refer them to a provincial hospital if they require a more thorough examination.
In terms of health issues, Buranakarn said that according to research, a large percentage of monks suffer from diabetes, largely because of the high-calorie alms they tend to receive.
This regular consumption of rich food and lack of proper exercise, combined with age-related ailments has led to various health issues for those in the monkhood.
Buranakarn said that whenever possible traditional medicine and treatments, such as acupuncture and massage, would be used to address illnesses. Local knowledge will also be utilised to create herbal drinks and menus for patients.
Recruiting medical experts to volunteer their time at the health centre is another priority for Buranakarn and a necessity for the project to work.
Both the provincial public health centre and hospital have agreed to a couple of days a week support, but Buranakarn is also looking into possibilities of inviting medical professionals from overseas to volunteer their time at the centre and encourage retired medical experts and medical students to volunteer. Moreover, Buranakarn is also planning to set up a foundation to help start a volunteer tourism programme. Accommodation will be provided for all volunteers.
Buranakarn stops short of calling herself religious and admits that what chiefly inspired her to start this project was observing the acute lack of healthcare for monks residing in rural areas.
Other contributing factors to her starting the project was the fact that the 19th Supreme Patriarch was born in Kanchanaburi, giving her all the more reason to build a holistic centre in his honour. She was also greatly influenced by a big-hearted monk named Suri, who used money donated to him by his followers to build a holistic medical centre for monks in a community far away from his abode, chiefly because monks there lacked proper healthcare.
Buranakarn said this is probably the first time both the government and private sectors have been involved in such a merit-making endeavour.
“We cannot entirely wait for the government to help us,” said Buranakarn. “Working together as a unit for such a huge merit-making cause will certainly bear fruit. Volunteering your talents and financial resources for a good cause such as this is a great form of merit-making. When people die they cannot take their money or educational knowledge with them. It is the actions we do in this world which will eventually define us.
“I hope this can be a blueprint for other provinces to follow.”
To contact Buranakarn Chatupornpaisarn, email jumbo@jumboriverkwai.com.
