Famous monks
Far from the commercial stuff, from
naughty newspaper articles there are still monks devoted to the other.
In year 2006, the chief of the
Religious Affairs Department has sought the use
of state television airtime to air admirable activities of Buddhist monks. Good and
decent monks still exist in Thailand despite so much news about monks being bad in the
papers these days.
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For example Thai monks in "ISAN" area are key people for the
development of the area. They are often the only way for government to
introduce new laws, new medicine through remote villages. Farmers
listen and have faith in monks more than in the central Bangkok government.
Some monks even organise and collect founds to help poor farmers to cope with
everyday problems.
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These monks in "ISAN" area are called
development monks ("PHRA NAK PHATTANA" -
พระนักพัฒนะ).
- Phra Chamroon Panchan, abbot of "WAT
THAM KRABOK", in Saraburi, died of kidney failure on year 1999 at age 73. His temple was a sanctuary
for drug addicts and his work won him wide respect and awards. His
unique drug therapy, using herbal remedies, was one of the few ways
Thai addicts could receive treatment and was effective.
- For the past decade, Phra Alongkot
Tikapanyoa has devoted his life to helping Thais with Aids to die
with dignity near Lopburi.
- Luang Pho Sung is the abbot of "WAT
DAM" in the district of Bang Kaen in Bangkok. This abbot is
famous because he is the tallest monk in the world, i.e. 2m30.
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One of his fingers is a long as a hand! His name is
quite funny and simple because "SUNG"
(สูง) means "high" in Thai
language. He must be about 35-40 years old and since his arrival the
temple has changed a lot.
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| Luang Pho Sung |
- Luang Ta Meuang is the abbot of
"WAT SRI MEUANG" in NongKhai center.
He is 93 years old. He is a monk since he was 12 years old.
So he is highly worshipped by all inhabitants of NongKhai. He often
goes outside the country in order to explain Buddhism.
- Phra Prajak Kutajitto did protect
with the help of the neighbouring
villagers the forest of Hua Nam Pood in the province of Buriram.
Despite the threat of the loggers and influential land speculators, he
did declare the forest a meditation centre and a religious sanctuary.
They even tried to make him disrobed. By this action the senior monk
wanted to show that through bribery, Thai forests are sold to wealthy
and influential men that don't care about preservation and destroy
them.
- In year 1999 at least 5,000 people
queued to make donations to revered monk Luang Ta
Mahabua (Udon Thani), who has raised almost a tonne of gold and
more than US$1.2 million to help the debt-ridden nation. This money
was given to the Bank of Thailand in order to help the country to get
rid of the economic crisis.
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In year 2000 when
the government tried to restructure the National fund deposits,
Luang Ta Mahabua interferes saying that officials steal the money given
by Thai people. Some criticized him for forgetting his Buddhist detachment
but government stopped the fund restructuration.
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Luang Ta Bua |
On the fourth anniversary of
the baht disaster, Luang Ta Mahabua
turned over 55 gold bars and $300,000 to the government.
It was the latest installment of his campaign to help shore up
the country. So far, he has raised $5.3 million and over two
tonnes of gold.
- Some monks in Chiang Mai area have opened schools for hill
tribes young boys and girls. For example Phra
Poonchai Thanwuthitho abbot of "WAT MAE PAA PHAI"
received little boys from hill tribes. Little girls from tribes can
study at "WAT BUDDHA DHARMA NONG HOH", whose abbot is Phra Chaiyot Chaiyaso. Those temples received in
priority children from broken or poor families.
Phra Suthat Wachirayano abbot of "WAT PA DAED"
offers a fine temple education for boys from disadvantaged families.
- Abbot Phra Khru Nithes Phromkhun is the
abbot of "WAT SRAI NUA" in Nakhon Sawan. He helps "bad"
boys to learn some religious teachings so they could reflect and change
their attitudes and behaviour. Boys can become novices during one
year.
- The picture of Luang Phor Khoon Parisuttho
("WAT BAN RAI" in Chayaphum area) can be
seen on many amulets, calendars, posters in every house.
Sometimes with banknotes in hands !
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Thai people believe that Luang Phor Khoon has supernatural powers
and knowledge in white magic. White magic is a good magic. On the
contrary black magic is an evil magic.
Highly worshipped monks
are supposed to possess wisdom, knowledge and are said to
master all kind of power spirits.
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| Luang Phor Khoon Parisuttho |
- To protect forests against logging, some monks ordain trees and wrapped
them up with a thin orange cloth. Trees were then sacred. For Bouddhist
people it was now impossible to harm the trees. Alas sometimes officials
used another monks to defrock the trees.
- Abbot Phra Panya Nantha Bhikku, 96 years old, is the revered abbot
of Wat Cholaprathan Rangsarit. He has been named the national elderly person in
2007 for his outstanding and continuing contributions to Thai society.
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| Naga |
Click to see more pictures |
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