For this journey, King Pasenadi Kosala ordered the construction of many bamboo rafts
to travel along the Achirawadi River, which was the usual downstream route for
merchants to transport large quantities of goods to various regions in the south
because it was the most convenient and time-saving method. Master Bavari, along with
500 disciples who had initially ordained with him, and 100 supporting soldiers, set out.
The bamboo rafts were fully loaded with equipment, tools, and provisions. Master
Bavari’s raft was at the head of the procession, and he would plan where to stop for the
night, which way to go at junctions, and ultimately, where he would decide to settle.
That journey was like an adventure because they had to travel during the flood season
when the water level was high to prevent the rafts from running aground, and
sometimes they had to face late-season rain.

“Lord Phoche, what river is this Achirawadi River?” I interrupted, while journeying
through Achita’s memory.

“Today, you call this river the ‘Yom River,’ which is over 500 kilometers long from the
city of Savatthi before joining the Kothawari River, which splits into two branches and
rejoins at an island. There is a story related to you: the place where Master Bavari
chose to establish his hermitage is the same area where you chose to build Buddha
images two thousand years later, or what is now Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Island. It
was originally just an island between two regions, with the Kothawari River, or what
you call the Chao Phraya River, as the boundary,” Lord Phoche explained.

“The place where I built Buddha images? Does that mean I have had a connection with
this place for over two thousand years, since I was born as Achita the ascetic?”
“Yes.”

“The concept of lifetimes is so complex,” I remarked.

“There are even more stories than that, but I’ll reveal them to you later,” Lord Phoche
said.

“Okay,” I replied.

I returned to Achita’s memory with great curiosity to find out where Master Bavari
would discover a place for his hermitage.

One morning, after the raft procession stopped at a city that Master Bavari said he had
never traveled further than in his life. He had once accompanied King Pasenadi
Kosala’s father to attend a celebration in this southern region. So, he was excited to
explore new places he had never been. In fact, his intention was to go as far as possible.
After traveling for almost a month, it rained heavily that day, even though the rainy
season had been over for a month. I went to ask the teacher if we would continue
traveling. The answer was to continue. Soon after we started, it began to drizzle.

Throughout the day, the sky was dark, and not a single ray of sunlight penetrated the
clouds. The raft paddlers were soaked almost all day.

I could feel the weariness of everyone that day due to the uncomfortable journey on
the raft, inadequate cooking, insufficient rest, combined with the continuous rain all
day, causing some to show obvious signs of exhaustion. And then, as evening
approached, after traveling about 30 kilometers, it seemed everything was perfectly
arranged. What I saw at that moment was like we were emerging from the dark, hazy
curtain of rain clouds. As soon as we came out of the gloomy atmosphere, we arrived at
a fork where we could choose to go left or right. The golden light of the early winter
evening sun shone on the area in front of us. In front of us was a natural fruit forest,
looking lush and devoid of any signs of human habitation. It was a sight that everyone
knew immediately Master Bavari would choose as his place.

“This place is where I will live until the end of my life,” Master Bavari said to me with
confidence.

“Yes, teacher,” I replied.

“Have everyone unload all the belongings and equipment here. From now on, we will
travel no further,” Master Bavari said firmly.

That evening, after setting up temporary accommodation, Master Bavari called a
meeting with all the accompanying officials and my group of 16. He inquired of the
officials, most of whom had knowledge of the boundaries, which region this area
belonged to. He learned that this area was a large island, 10 kilometers wide and over
40 kilometers long, where the Kothawari River split into two branches, encircling the
island. It was the border between the Assaka and Mulaka regions, with the Kothawari
River as the boundary. Originally, neither region claimed ownership of this area
because a hermit used to live there. After the hermit passed away, it was unclear which
region would claim ownership.

“Tomorrow, you will divide into two groups. One group will go to the capital of the
Assaka region, and the other group will go to the capital of the Mulaka region, to
negotiate the purchase of this land from both rulers with half of our gold coins for each
side,” Master Bavari instructed.

“Yes, teacher,” the head official replied.

“I am pleased with this place. I consider this an auspicious sign because this district
used to be inhabited by a virtuous person. I am confident that the gods who protect
this land intentionally led me to find and reside here,” Master Bavari said.

After sending the officials to negotiate the purchase of the land, both rulers readily
accepted Master Bavari’s offer because this area seemed to be a point of contention
between the two regions. But because it was a small area, and both regions had
friendly relations, waging war to claim ownership of such a small area was not
worthwhile. Both rulers were pleased and even granted the land along the riverbanks surrounding the island, from where the river split into two branches, 10 kilometers on
each side. Combined with the width of the island, the area became much larger, 32
kilometers wide and 60 kilometers long.

Soon after the soldiers who followed Master Bavari helped build residences and other
necessary structures to accommodate the 16,016 ascetics who would later arrive, they
returned to the city of Savatthi. This place had all the necessary conditions for Master
Bavari’s practices: it was far from people because it was a border area, and it was
abundant with crops and wild fruits, so there was no shortage of food. The 16,016
ascetics could fully practice the life of hermits, living separately in various areas
throughout the island, especially in the south where the Kothawari River converged, or
where Ayutthaya province is located today.

As time passed, the townspeople from afar learned that a group of ascetics had
established a school on this island. They traveled to pay respects and discuss the
teachings. But when they came, they couldn’t return within the same day, so they asked
to stay overnight. As more people stayed overnight, some began to live there
permanently, to discuss the teachings and serve the ascetics. Master Bavari kindly
allowed them to build houses both on and off the island. Their livelihood depended on
the land owned by Master Bavari for farming, raising livestock, and trading. Eventually,
this area became a community, without the status of any city-state. It was merely a
community with Master Bavari’s group of ascetics as its center.

When the villagers were kindly allowed to make a living on the land, normally, they
would have to pay taxes to the ruler of the city. But here, there was no ruler. They felt a
sense of duty and voluntarily gathered the proceeds from their labor to give to the
rulers of both regions. But both rulers refused because the land belonged to Master
Bavari. So, the villagers brought the proceeds back to Master Bavari, but he also
refused. Master Bavari said that his purpose in coming here was to avoid involvement
with wealth, to cut off defilements, so there was no reason for him to accept those
assets.

But because it was the villagers’ intention, they suggested that Master Bavari keep
those assets. If there were poor or destitute people in need of help, he could give them
these assets as an act of charity. Master Bavari agreed, and this made his school famous
very quickly. The word spread that the head of this school was very kind, and anyone
who was poor and helpless could come to seek assistance. So, people from near and far
traveled there constantly. Master Bavari designated a specific day each year to donate
gold coins to the poor and needy. So, every year, wandering beggars and ascetics from
all directions traveled there to receive charity, and this was the origin of the suffering
that Master Bavari had to face.