ScMc South Wing (South Wing or Sub-wing) A Return to Nature
Building on the architecture of the North Wing, which embodies a harmonious fusion of multicultural influences, blending the heritage of Sri Satchanalai-Sukhothai ( symbolized by Ruyi / Suphannaphrueksa, meaning prosperity and success) with the modern elegance of New York Architecture, masterfully crafted from premium marble and brick—the South Wing marks a return to nature.
Our South Wing embodies the profound concept of returning to nature — a philosophy that appears simple, yet holds immense depth. It reflects the essence of human existence: the recognition of beauty within the natural course of life — from birth, aging, illness, to death. This journey echoes the timeless truth of the “Four Heavenly Messengers,” symbols of human suffering that awaken us to life’s impermanence, struggle, and constant change. Nothing is certain; all things are marked by impermanence (Anicca), suffering (Dukkha), and the absence of a fixed self (Anatta).
From the Buddha himself to revered contemporary teachers – Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (Nguam Indapanno), the distinguished Professor Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya (Prayudh Payutto), Ajahn Maha Bua, Phra Pramote Pamojjo, and Somana Bodhiraksa — whose profound influence helped shape the modern Buddhist renaissance during the mid-Buddhist era (circa 1957 CE) — all conveyed a shared message: the art of mindful living.
The mindful contemplation of the arising and passing of consciousness, awareness of the body, and the observation of subtle mental states — collectively known as dhamma practice — forms the very essence of the path toward liberation from suffering. This path, established long ago, continues to be followed by countless devoted practitioners.
For Srisukho Clinic’s South Wing, this concept was inspired by Dr. Gla’s parents encouraging him and his siblings to ordain and pursue monastic studies in the past. The primary temple connected with this journey is Wat Pasukato in Chaiyaphum, a renowned forest monastery.
During his ordination, Dr. Gla resided in a forest hermitage, a profound experience that mirrors the unique setting of our Srisukho Clinic at Mahanakhon Center (SCMC). Our clinic stands upon one of Bangkok’s most renowned historic cemetery grounds, a site that once housed schools such as Soi Sueksa Witthaya, also known as Silom 9.
Anyone who has read about the architectural narrative of our North Wing may recall that Dr. Gla spent his childhood in the doctor’s quarters at Phichit Hospital, located adjacent to both the mortuary and the wastewater treatment plant.
This return to nature draws not only from Buddhist principles but also from Dr. Gla’s deep-rooted connection to the legacy of the Srisukho family, known for healing and alleviating suffering within the Phichit community. Much like the wastewater treatment next to his childhood home.
This journey represents a profound affirmation of identity. During his youth, trips to Bangkok often brought condescending attitudes from adults who looked down on him as “just a country boy.” Throughout his education, childhood peers dismissed Phichit as one of the most underdeveloped provinces in Thailand.
The establishment of ‘Mali Clinic’ was fraught with challenges, including former investors who deeply undermined Dr. Gla’s sense of humanity. His hardships were nearly unbearable—comparable to the extreme ascetic practices of the Buddha’s time, where suffering was pushed to its utmost limit. Through these trials, he came to realize that excessive struggle does not lead to true liberation. Instead, he found wisdom in the Middle Way—the path of balance, truth, and ultimate reality.
Through growing up refined by family guidance and societal challenges, and supported unwaveringly by loved ones—parents, siblings, relatives, close friends, community members, and patients both Thai and international, as well as many collaborators—Dr. Gla was empowered to establish ‘SCMC.’ This achievement stands as a powerful testament that a “country boy” from Thailand’s most underdeveloped province could rise to become a master in his field.
The South Wing’s concept is rooted in the subconscious—a deep source of noble intent—embodied by the name “Gla,” which translates to ‘seedling’ or ‘young sprout,’ reflecting his parents’ wish for a life that would flourish and grow strong, no matter the circumstances. This resilience captures the true essence of a young sprout’s journey toward growth and success.
His parents instilled in him a deep sense of gratitude—teaching him to honor those to whom he is indebted, from his earliest teachers to those who played a role in his birth. Among them was Professor Yuvan Anuman Rajadhon, M.D., the youngest daughter of Phraya Anuman Rajadhon (Yong Sathiankoset), who brought him into this world. She was also the one who prescribed fertility medication to Dr. Chanwalee (his mother) before her pregnancy—only to later discover that the medication had expired.
This architectural creation draws inspiration from nature, forests, trees, flowing water, and stone—reflecting the way forest monks attain peace and insight through close communion with the natural world. Many of these monks became dedicated conservationists, including Luang Por Kham Khian, Dr. Gla’s spiritual teacher from the lineage of Luang Pu Thien, who also guided Luang Por Paisal Visalo, a well-known peace monk and respected figure from his parents’ generation.
The journey from Wat Pa Sukato to Bueng Si Fai in Phichit—a natural lake area thoughtfully developed by His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)—exemplifies how mindful stewardship can nurture and elevate the natural landscape.
This deep connection between spiritual practice, environmental harmony, and natural beauty guides the architectural approach of our South Wing at Srisukho Clinic (SCMC).
The use of wood to build pavilions and meditation huts, the stone formations creating natural seats for Dharma practice, sand-covered paths for walking meditation, and the presence of trees and flowing streams—long regarded as the nectar of life—all reflect the fundamental elements that have sustained living beings since the beginning of time. As we know, life on Earth emerged through the vital presence of these natural forces.
Even the fabric symbolizes the funeral shrouds once repurposed by monks into their sacred robes—sabong, civara, and sanghati. Amid the world’s decay, the inner spirit of morality, compassion, and the healing of suffering remains central to the path of practice: cultivating sila (ethics), samadhi (concentration), and pañña (wisdom).
True Dharma—doing good, avoiding evil, and purifying the mind—is not out of reach, though often overlooked. It demands effort, perseverance, and a will to learn—echoing the name of our street: Soi Sueksa Witthaya, the lane of study and insight.
Before building the South Wing, Dr. Gla took the entire Bangkok team to Park Nai Lert, home of the newly opened AMAN Park Nai Lert hotel. They experienced the brand’s ultimate luxury—a global icon with locations in New York and other major cities—while embracing a deep connection with nature and absolute privacy.
We entrusted Thailand’s top architectural firm—the same visionary team behind the North Wing—to craft a distinct identity that perfectly captures the “Sub” in Sub-wing: the subconscious.
True healing at Srisukho Clinic goes beyond treatment; it transforms patients on a subconscious level, inspiring healthier habits in eating, sleep, rest, lifestyle, as well as in their appreciation of music and art.
Guided by his parents’ vision, Dr. Gla’s expansive studies and childhood travels abroad transformed him from a humble rural boy from an overlooked province into a highly respected professional.
This journey shaped his architectural philosophy—crafting spaces of profound, uncommon tranquility that gently draw one into rest and contemplation. Here, the body’s natural elements and states are observed and allowed to be just as they are—flowing and existing in their own authentic rhythm, true to their nature.
This is nature itself, or the advanced Buddhist principles of cause and effect. These are the laws of Ittappaccayata and Pratityasamutpada, teachings about how things arise and dissolve through causes and conditions.
Visiting Dr. Gla’s Srisukho Clinic in Bangkok echoes the timeless philosophy of his parents’ care in Srisukho, Phichit—the “Answer to Health.” Here, seeking treatment means uncovering the root causes and conditions of illness and healing within the cycles of life.
Architectural Summary: The North and South Srisukho wings of Mahanakhon Center represent paired design philosophy.
This concept follows principles that interest humanity: light and darkness, Yin and Yang, and the Eight Worldly Concerns—gain and loss, fame and disgrace, pleasure and pain, praise and blame. It includes basic biological principles that Dr. Gla’s parents encouraged him to explore scientifically: the brain’s two hemispheres and the body’s bilateral symmetry.
Dr. Gla’s acclaimed approach to Western medicine is rooted in this fundamental principle. Early teams in Bangkok fondly recall the white marble trays for morning medications and black marble trays for evening doses.
Stimulation must be balanced by inhibition; treatment must address side effects.
Life flows from dawn to dusk, mirroring the earth’s rotation as it welcomes and bids farewell to sunlight.
At Srisukho Clinic of Mahanakhon Center, this philosophy is embodied in the North Wing (Expectation) and South Wing (Consciousness), harmonizing to deliver personalized, optimal outcomes—always with the patient’s well-being at the core.
3P Medicine Program
(Patient-based , Personalized, Precision Medicine)
