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Monk’s Living Quarters from Four Regions |
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Buddhism is Thailand’s national religion so most people follow what the Lord Buddha taught and adapt Dhamma to match with their way of living. Monks are the ideal example of Buddhists who can successfully follow the footsteps of the Lord Buddha and disseminate precepts or Dhamma to other human beings. Monks preach to people and advise them about morality and goodness. They teach us to avoid doing bad things and urge us to do good things.
Monks who have reached the enlightenment stage and who can shun away from negative things in the world are called “Phra Ariyasong.” Phra Ariyasong can control their minds to fight against greed and many other bad things. There are four stages of the state of Phra Ariyasong: Phra Sodaban means a person who knows goodness and does not want to go back down; Phra Sokkhathami means a person who will not do bad things anymore; Phra Anakami means a person who has won over sexual desire, has no need of sex anymore, but has something better, meaning he can sit with his eyes closed and can see anything, called countless happiness; lastly, is Phra Aurahan, meaning one who can achieve happiness on the Anakami level, who is not afraid of death, and has no ego all the time. Phra Ariyasong of these four stages can be found in many temples and monasteries throughout Thailand. |
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Central Region Monk’s Living Quarters
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Somdej Phra Puttajarn (Toh Prommarangsri) |
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Wat Rakhang Khositaram Worawiharn, Bangkok |
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Most Thai people recognize him by the short name “Somdej Toh.” Somdej Phra Puttajarn (Toh Prommarangsri) is a legend of the Rattanakosin Era. Even if he passed away more than 100 years ago, his name is still mentioned until now as his amulets are the most famous of all. Somdej Toh was born on 17 April 1788, during the reign of King Rama 1. Many kings favored Somdej Toh very much because he was good at teaching and preaching. He was very well versed in Dhamma, Buddhist principles, regulations, and precepts.
He was a sagacious and intelligent monk and yet his conduct was rather eccentric. His mind was also full of generosity and mercy for poor people. He loved to live alone and lived his life peacefully and practiced Dhamma regularly. He passed away at the age of 85. | | |
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His Holy Highness the Supreme Patriarch Somdej Phra Ariyowongsakotayan (Yu Yanothai) |
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Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan |
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Somdej Phra Ariyowongsakotayan (Yu Yanothai) was born in Bangkokyai-Thonburi District, Bangkok, on 1 December 1874 during the reign of the King Rama V. Somdej Phra Ariyowongsakotayan received his first education from his own father and then started spending his life as a monk and studied “Pali” language at Wat Sa Ket. He received many Buddhism awards since he was 28. He was also the first monk to win “Pariean 9 Prayok”, the highest level of studying Pali language, during the reign of King Rama V. He was a magnificent monk at the time and whenever there were any religious rites or someone invited him to preach or teach about Buddhism, he would be taken by royal limousine to the temple. This tradition has been developed from generation to generation until now we have to provide a bus or car to take monks from the temple to the place where a religious rite takes place.
Somdej Phra Ariyowongsakotayan was the “15th Sangkharaj” (His Holy Highness the Supreme Patriarch) in 1963 during the Rattanakosin Era. He passed away at the age of 91 in the year 1965. He was one of the model monks of the country who supported many religious education activities, developed and supported social activities, and supported the development and renovation of temples and monasteries, especially Wat Sa Ket, where he was the main drive for building the Golden Pagoda. It became one of the most significant examples of Buddhist architecture. | | |
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Northern Region Monk’s Living Quarters
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Guru Ba Srivijaya Sirivichyo |
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Wat Bang Pang, Lee District, Lamphun |
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Guru Ba Srivijaya was regarded as the ideal “Saint” of Thai Lanna. “Fuan” or “In-Fuan” was his former name since there was heavy rain and thunder during the time he was born on June 11, 1878 at Pang Village, Mae Tuen Sub-district, Lee District, Lamphun. He was ordained as a novice at the age of 18 and then became monk in 1898 at Wat Ban Hong Luang, Bang Hong District, Lampoon. While in the monkshood, he was given the Buddhist name “Siri Vichyo Phikhu” and learnt spiritual contemplation with Phra Guru Ba U-Pala at Wat Doi Kae, Mae Tha District, Lamphun.
Guru Ba Srivijaya was very stringent in his practice of Buddhism. This made Thai Buddhists very devoted to him and they had strong faith in him until they were inspired to build a special road up to Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, in his honor. The special road was first started on November 9, 1934 and finished on April 30, 1935.
He was also the main force in rearranging the Thai Lanna Tripitaka (book of holy scriptures) and took part in the development and renovation of many temples. It is not surprising that he is called the “Saint” of Thai Lanna or “Phra Guru Ba Sri Dhamma Chao” as he noticeably did many things beneficial to Buddhism. | | |
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Luangpu Wan Sujinno |
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Wat Doi Mae Pang, Phrao District, Chiang Mai |
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Luangpu Wan Sujinno was regarded as “Phra Ariyasong”, an enlightened one. He was born on January 16, 1887 at Ban Pong District, Muang District, Loei. His mother faced a severe illness when Luangpu Wan was only 5 years old. Before she died, she asked him to live his whole life as a monk. He was ordained as a novice at the age of 9 at Wat Pho Ban Pong, Loei Province, and then moved to Wat Sang Tho Nok, Ubon Ratchathani Province, to study Buddhism. He then became a full monk and lived at the temple until he was 20 years old.
Luangpu Wan traveled to Sakon Nakhon Province in the Northeastern part of Thailand to be a disciple of Phra Arjarn Man Phurithat Toh before moving to Wat Phra Boromniwas in Bangkok to meet with Phra U Ba Lee Khu Nuu Pa Jarn (Siri Chantho), who once learnt Dhamma under the Venerable Phra Arjarn Man Phurithat To. He was also the monk that Phra Arjarn Man Phurithat Toh had praised and admired about his good morality and Dhamma. Then, Luangpu Wan returned to the north on a pilgrimage during the lunar month in 1962 and stayed to live at Wat Doi Mae Pang. He passed away on July 2, 1985, when he was 98 years old. He had lived his life as a monk for 78 years. | | |
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Northeastern Region Monk’s Living Quarters
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Phra Arjarn Mun Phurithatto |
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Wat Pa Suthavas, Sakon Nakhon |
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He was born into the “Kaen Kaeo” family on January 20, 1870 at Baan Khambong, Khong Jeam District, Ubon Ratchathani, a province in northeastern Thailand. First ordained as a novice monk when he was 15 at Wat Khambong, he later had to leave the temple to help his family’s business. But when he turned 22, he was ordained as a monk again and learned Dhamma, meditation, and spiritual contemplation with Phra Arjarn Sao Kantasrilo, one of the most renowned and respected monks in the northeastern region who specialized in meditation and contemplation.
Phra Arjarn Mun Phurithatto is one of the most highly respected monks of the country. His disciples who are well known to most Thai people include Luangpu Dul Atalo, Luangpu Wan Sujinno, and Luangpu Fun Arjaro.
Phra Arjarn Mun Phurithatto was dubbed by his student as “Arjarn Yai”, meaning the head teacher or guru. Incomparably, Phra Arjarn Mun Phurithatto is the ideal prototype of a good monk who provided solace for Thai people whenever they faced problems or trouble in life. He lived his life as a monk for 56 years and passed away at the age of 79 on November 11, 1949 at Wat Pa Sutthavas. | | |
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Wat Arunbanphot, Sri Chiang Mai, Nong Khai |
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He was born on January 8, 1912 at Baan Mho, Sri Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, a province in northeastern Thailand. His former name was Rhean Jaikhan Samanasak. He bid goodbye to his parents and was ordained as a monk on January 1932 when he was 20 years old. He lived as a monk at Wat Baan Hong Thong, Tha Bo District, Nong Khai.
Luangpu Rhean Woraphapho had a very profound faith in Buddhism. He traveled to many places in the north, south, and Isaan region to practice meditation. He also met with many gurus such as Phra Arjarn Mun Phurithatto and Luangpu Tes Tesrangsi. Luangpu Rhean Woralapho ardently adopted their suggestions and advice about Buddhism. He also preached and helped disseminate Dhamma to general Thai Buddhists until he passed away at the age of 93. | | |
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Southern Region Monk’s Living Quarters
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Phra Ratchamunee Sameeram Khunupamajarn
(Luangpu Thuad) |
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Wat Chang Hai, Pattani |
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According to the history gazette, he was born in 1582 at Suan Jan Village, Sathing Phra City. The time was the late era of King Phra Maha Dhamma Racha of the Ayuthaya period. The exact time when he was first ordained is not indicated. He had the Buddhist name “Ramo Dhammamiko”, but usually people called him “Chao Sameeram” or “Chao Sameeramo.”
He studied at many temples and sacred places before eventually journeying by boat to further his studies at the capital of the Ayuthaya Kingdom. He stayed at Wat Kae and studied at Wat Lumpini Nawad and then stayed at the temple of Somdej Phra Sangkharaj (His Holy Highness the Supreme Patriarch). When he was dexterous enough in Dhamma and Buddhism, he journeyed to Wat Rachanuwad to practice Dhamma during the Khao Phansa or rains retreat period.
The King Somdej Phra Ekathossarod promoted and appointed him as “Somdej Phra Rachamunee Sameeram Khunupamajarn” when he took the gauntlet from abroad and won in the competition of Buddha Riddles and Script Decoding. He also journeyed in many places to spread Dhamma and preach to people. Wherever he stayed, that site would be the centre of Buddhism for people of all classes to learn. | | |
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Phra Guru Visaisophon (Phra Arjarn Tim Dhamma Tharo) |
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Wat Chang Hai, Pattani |
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Phra Arjarn Tim Dhamma Tharo, formerly known as Thim Phompradu, was born on August 21, 1912 at Baan Na Pradu, Khok Pho District, Pattani. He was ordained as a novice at the age of 18 before defrocking himself to help his parents on their farm.
When he was 20, he was ordained as a monk at Wat Na Pradu and stayed there for two years before moving to Wat Mudjalin Thawapee Vihan to study Buddhist scripture and Dhamma. In 1941, he became abbot of the ancient Wat Rat Burana (Wat Chang Hai). The temple was very old and had been left unattended for so long he had to wholly redevelop and renovate all the facilities of the temple so that it would be more convenient for people to go there to make merit. He had to journey to and fro between Wat Chang Hai and Wat Pradu at the time since he was a monk student and at the same time he was also abbot.
Phra Arjarn Tim Dhamma Tharo kept to the Buddhist path very stringently and was revered by both Thai Buddhists and foreigners. He eventually succumbed to digestive tract cancer and peacefully passed away on November 30, 1969. | | |
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