In memory of our young and beloved student, Dung April 16 2011

With great sadness we remember one of our dearly beloved pagoda pupil, Dung, whose untimely depart of our realm bring us all family, friends, and teachers, great anguish and grief to our hearts.

On the last day of the Cambodian new year, as a rows of temple pupils line up to wave their goodbyes to visiting worshipers from other provinces, Dung collapsed and fell into way of a moving van carrying the departing passengers.

Time and destiny took him away from us, but we shall not forget all the joys, laughters, and memories we share with him.

Dung was a nice, funny, and hardworking student. He was 16 years old, and had been living with our Wat Phum Thom temple several years where he undertook studying in Khmer, Pali, and Vietnamese with other students under the tutelage of our resident monks.

In honor and recognition of his merit acts and pure wishes - his life preparation to become a monk as temple pupil while he was with us, his family and the temple sent him to the next realm with white and orange robes and cloths which signifying his intention and the path he took during his youthful stay here with us.

May Buddha and Dharma guide your soul to a new a better place.

Bolton Abbey

by Geoff Sanderson

Down those awkward steps on a windy day
To the wattle boundary fence they carried him.
There, at one with the clay
The curlews and the sky, they left him.

Ashes to ashes, the river's sound,
Did it make any sense to his friend?
Blinking back tears as they gathered around
He wondered if this was the end.

...........In memory of our friend, and beloved student, Dung, April 16, 2011