On Tuesday 16th September 2014 at Wat Charoen Samanakit on Toh Sae Road in Phuket City, Phra Jamras Jantachoto – Abbot of Wat Charoen Samanakit and Phuket Governor – Khun Maitree Intusut welcomed a number of Buddhists from China and Malaysia who came to the temple to witness Chinese computer software businessman Mr. Zhang Jian, or in Thai Khun Supachai Rujathorn, donate 30 million baht cash for the temple to build a pagoda. Mr. Zhang has previously purchased land on either side of temple, totaling 6 rai and worth 4,000,000 baht, to donate.
Phra Jamras from the temple said “Mr Zhang Jian and his group have very strong Buddhist beliefs and their visits to this temple have been regular and are ongoing. Mr Zhang decided to be ordained here on August 29 2014 and he learnt that Wat Charoen Samanakrit needed 40 million baht to build a pagoda. With his donation, we will now build the pagoda in memory of Phra Ajaan Thate Desaransi, one of the most famous masters of Theravada Buddhist meditation, known as the Thai Forest Tradition, who lived in northern Thailand and who was a former to supporter in the building of Wat Charoen Samanakrit.”