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Bridge had not yet been built. Those studying had to face the same sort of hardships that Luang Phaw himself had faced in his early years — success in one’s studies was more closely connected with one’s perseverance in attending classes than with the quality of the teaching per se. Basically, all the temples did, was provide teaching. Scriptural study and meditational study went hand-in-hand at Wat Paknam. Luang Phaw had studied both scripture and meditation. Luang Phaw’s disciples were expected to do the same. Whoever had special aptitude for the study of Pali emphasised academic studies (gantha-dhura). Whoever had special aptitude for the study meditation emphasised Dhamma practice (vipassanā-dhura). If anyone lacked either the aptitude to study or meditate, there was always the choice of helping with the administration of the temple. Luang Phaw didn’t insist that his monks should study but he did insist they be active. The temple was soon established as a seat of learning. It occupied a newly built, three-storied edifice, 60 metres long and 11 metres wide, and cost about 2½ million baht. The Pali Institute was on the lower two floors. The top floor was for meditation teaching to the public. The building was eventually used by about a thousand bhikkhus and novices, not only the resident bhikkhus and novices of Wat Paknam, but also those from other temples. Monks from the Bhasicharoen area changed their place of examination to Wat Paknam and were able to take their midday meals in temple’s refectory. One day Luang Phaw returned to Wat Songpinong and met his nephew who was ordained as Phra Kru ‘Chua’ Obhaso, who was the monastic governor of that 1. from ibid. p.13