BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF LUANG PHOR LERSI LINGDAM The Former Abbot of Candaram Temple (Wat Thasung), Muang district, Uthaithani province. From the Origin of Ordinary Life Phra Rajabrahmayana or Lung Phor Ruesi Lingdam is preferably called as Luang Phor by his followers. He was born on June 28, 1917 (2460 B.E.) in Tambon Sali, Muang District, Suphanburi Province. His full name as layman-being was Sangwien Sangsuwan. He was the son of Mr. Kuang and Mrs. Somboon Sangsuwan, and third person of five children in family. When he was 6 years old, he had attended the Primary School of Wat Bangnomko in Sena District, Ayutthaya Province until graduated Grade 4. When he was 15, he had lived with grandmother whose house was at the front of Rayrai Temple in Taling Chan District, Thonburi Province, and attended course of Traditional Medicare. When he was 19, he was a Marine Pharmacist of Naval Medical Department until his time of ordination coming at age 20. Entering the Buddhist Monkhood He got ordained in Wat Bangnomko on July 16, 1937 (2480 B.E.) at 1:00 PM. His spiritual teacher: Phra Kru Rattana-bhirom, act-announcing teacher: Phra Kru Vihara-kiccanukara, and ordination proclaiming teacher: Phra Ajaan Lek Kesaro. And then earned 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Scholar of Divinity at the age 21, 22, and 23 respectively. He also got intensive Buddhist meditation practices from couples of teachers during 1937–1938 (2480–2481 B.E.): - Luang Phor Pan Sonandho of Wat Bangnomko - Luang Phor Jong Buddhasaro of Wat Natangnok - Phra Ajaan Lek Kesaro of Wat Bangnomko - Pahra Kru Rattana-bhirom of Wat Baan Paen - Pahra Kru Rattana-bhirom of Wat Namtao - Luang Phor Soon of Wat Bangplamo - Luang Phor Niem of Wat Noy - Luang Phor Nong of Wat Ampawan - Luang Phor Rueng of Wat Mai Pinsuwan He had been staying in Wat Chang Lek during the rains-retreat to attend the course of Pali in 1940 (2483 B.E.) at age 24. Out of that session, he relocated to Wat Anongkaram. He got further training in meditation from Luang Phor Sod of Wat Paknam Pasicharoen and met noble monks there. He earned Grade 3 of Graduate of Theology and his name was transformed to Phra Mahaveera Thavaro in 1943 (2486 B.E.) at age 27. Obtaining Grade 4 of Graduate of Theology in 1945 (2488 B.E.) at age 29, he relocated to Wat Payura Vongsawas. And then got promoted to the Deputy Ecclesiastical Officer of Region 4, and practiced preaching. He had been adopting ascetic practices during the rains-retreat in Wat Lao Tong, Suphanburi Province in 1949 (2492 B.E.) at age 33. He got the invitation to return to Wat Bangnomko in Ayutthaya Province for being the Abbot in 1951 (2494 B.E.) at age 35. He got serious illness and was taken to the Hospital of Naval Medical Department in 1957 (2500 B.E.) at age 41. Getting cured in Shinorasaram Temple in 1959 (2502 B.E.) at age 43, he relocated to Bodhi Bhavanaram Temple, Muang District, Chaiyanat Province. And then got first six followers. He had been staying in Wat Pruan, Chaiyanat Province, and earned one rains-retreat session in 1962 (2505 B.E.) at age 46. A Cessation of Being a Future Buddha Big text Returning to Wat Bodhi Bhavanaram at age 47, he decided to cease the wish for a Future Buddha in the middle of June, 1963 (2506 B.E). In 1965 (2508 B.E.), he had been adopting ascetic practices during the rains-retreat in Wat Pak Klong Makamtao, Chaiyanat Province. He also began teaching Buddhist meditation in Wat Saphan with coming and leaving everyday at age 49. He taught one subject of Buddhist meditation practices – Manomayiddhi in 1967 (B.E. 2510) at age of 51. And then had been adopting ascetic practices during the rains-retreat in Wat Saphan, Chaiyanat Province. Luang Phor & Wat Thasung Big text Candaram Temple or Wat Thasung in the past was in ruins with Buddhist chapel collapse and weak structure. Luang Phor was persuaded to engage in restoring it by the former abbot – Phra Aroon Aruno. After their meeting in Wat Pak Klong Makamtao, he did not give his word yet. Getting the invitation from Air Chief Marshal Athorn and his wife Sirirat Rojjanavipat and participants, he decided to leave Wat Saphan. He had been living here since 1968 (B.E. 2511) at age 52. It had been repaired, rebuilt and expanded from a small area of 6 rai (around 24 acres) to a large area of 289 rai (around 1,156 acres). There are 144 lists of buildings and constructions with total cost over 600 million bahts such as Chanting House, Buddha statues, Building of Buddhist Meditation Practice, Buddhist Sermon Hall, A Hundred Meters Long Crystal Pavilion, New Buddhist Chapel, 2 Rai Hall, 3 Rai Hall, 4 Rai Hall, 12 Rai Hall, Scripture Library, Phra Chulamani Pavilion, Four Deva Kings’ Pavilion, 6 statues of great kings, power plant, and so on. The Welfare Center for the Poor in a Rural Area under the Royal Intention of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama IX had been founded in 1969 (2512 B.E.) at age 53. After getting more supports from his followers, he established the Venerable Pan-Phra Mahaveera Thavaro Foundation in 1977 (2520 B.E.) at age 61. When he was 67, he founded the Hospital of Mother and Child in 1984 (2520 B.E.). It was granted to the Department of Health under the authority of the Ministry of Public Health later. In 1984 (B.E. 2527), he earned a priest’s rank of a clerical title as “Phra Sudhammayana Thera” at age 68. In 1985 (B.E. 2528), Phra Sudhammayanathera Wittaya School was founded when he was 69. In 1989 (B.E. 2532), he earned a priest’s rank of a high ecclesiastical dignitary as “Phra Rajabrahmayana Paisan Bhavananusith Mahakanissara Bavara Sangharam Kammavasi” at age 73. The Time He Passed AwayBig text After ending the last rains-retreat session, his health became worse. He was taken to Siriraj Hospital after getting great care from monks, followers, and physicians. The coming doom signed when he got serious pneumonia and septicemia. Finally, he left his body on Friday, October 30, 1992 (B.E. 2535) 4:10 PM, at age 76. He devoted all his monk's life to the complete works of the Buddhism as follows: - Country Supports: He established the hospital, school, rice bank, visiting with soldiers and border polices to soothe and give them foods, medicines, utilities, and amulets. - Religion Affairs: He taught the Buddhist followers the main focus of Nibbana attainment with the right conduct of bodily-verbal-mental actions, liberality, morality, and the Buddhist meditation practices. His teachings were printed over 15 titles and taped over 1,000 discourses. His doctrinal talks were regularly shown on live TV and radio broadcasting. He also came to visit with his followers in rural area and abroad every year. - Buildings & Constructions: He had engaged in making the Buddha’s statutes and permanent constructions of over 30 temples and restoring Wat Thasung with over 600 million bahts. He also established the library of Tipitaka and Mulakaccayana scriptures and presented over 200 monk’s ropes to other temples. - Royal Activities: He reinforced the purpose of His Majesty the King with the establishment of Welfare Center for the Poor in Rural Area under the Royal Intention of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama IX cooperated with the Venerable Pan-Phra Mahaveera Thavaro Foundation since 1969 (2512 B.E.). Its responsibilities are such as supporting poor people nationwide by giving clothes, foods, and medicines, lending a hand to the sufferers from natural disasters, providing mobile medical units for patients, giving scholarships to students, making donations to foundations, hospitals, and so on. The Last Advice of Luang Phor Big text His last advice was given on Wednesday October 28, 1992 (B.E. 2535) at Guest Building in Candaram Temple (Wat Thasung), Uthaithani Province. “Sons and daughters, these are the common characteristics of the body: existing, aging, illness, and death. It is under impermanence and instability; you are suffering when you are living. Finally, it will be non-self and non-existing. Do not attach to my body!” The Most Precious Message to All Followers Big text A special gift from father to… All sons and daughters, What doctrines I gained from the Noble One Lord Buddha had been totally conveyed to you – my sons and daughters. All these treasures are treated as my substitute. Since I cannot guess how long I can extend my life, all of you should not cling to my five aggregates (Panca-khandha). Do follow the way you like whether it is not beyond your capacity and maintain the higher knowledge attainment. Anytime you can keep this bliss and public benefit, be proud that I am always near you. Even if I have lost my body, my mind will be with yours all the time. I will accompany you everywhere, by all means.