The teachings of Luang Pu Hong and Luang Pu Doo

The teachings of Luang Pu Hong and Luang Pu Doo

LP Hong was a monk that many Singaporean and Malaysian Thai Buddhists have heard of and respect. He was one of the most famous monks in Surin province, and many Singaporeans would drive all the way to his temple to get his blessings and amulets. He passed away in 2557 (2014), at the ripe old age of 96. 

But did you know that he also shared the same monastic name, "Prompanyo" as LP Doo? LP Hong told his disciples that he respects LP Doo like an elder brother. This is LP Hong's story.

Luang Pu Hong was born on Thursday, 23rd March 1918 at Tungmon village, Prasart District, Surin Province. His father’s name was Boak and his mother’s name was Auen – they were farmers. Luang Pu Hong had 8 brothers and sisters – he was the eldest son. He entered priesthood as a novice at 18 years old and ordained as a monk at the age of 20. As a novice, his masters called him "Samanane Bromsorn" (Novice Bromsorn). After his ordination he was given the new name "Prompanyo", one with the wisdom of Brahma. 

Luang Pu Hong had studied both theoretical and practical dharma from many masters. Seven years after his ordination, he travelled to Cambodia to practice meditation and to seek peaceful places to practice. In addition, he studied magical incantations from many masters. He finally returned to temple where he was appointed as Abbot in 1973. 

Luang Pu Hong had high level of dhamma and loving kindness and he could communicate with all domestic animal which seems to be unbelievable. Back in the 1970s, the Vietnamese liberation forces attacked Cambodia. Cambodian troops retreated to the village of Bankru, where they were fired upon and shelled by the Vietnamese forces surrounding the village. 

Many bombs were dropped on the village, and they failed to explode. They did not go off due to the strong Maha Ut (invulnerable, 刀枪不入) powers displayed by Luang Pu Hong. 

An old man described the scene, "It was so strange. I could not believe that a bomb as big as a watermelon fell on a straw roof of a hut, but it did not fall through and instead bounced off, and we all saw and thought we would die when the bomb hit the ground. Amazingly, there was a "thud" sound and the bomb was half buried in the soil but it did not explode. Prompanyo Bhikkhu was meditating nearby and it was believed that his parami protected the whole village of Bankru."

After that incident, the villagers held him in awe and tried their best to get him to stay. 

Whenever Luang Pu Hong entered the village, the villagers would lay down on the ground and request him to step or walk on their back. They believed that Luang Pu was an Ariya Sangha and that allowing him to walk on them would bring them tremendous blessings.

Teachings of Luang Pu Hong

1) Wealth and possessions may be separated from us, or disappear and vanish. Wealth of merit from Dana (generosity, giving), can be kept and consumed for a long time in this world and the next.

2) May everybody observe the 5 precepts of not killing, stealing, committing sexual misconduct, telling ties or taking alcohol or drugs. Whoever holds the 5 precepts - that person is the disciple of Luang Pu Hong.

If you are already my disciple, you don't have to be afraid. You won't meet a violent death, you won't undergo hardship and nobody can harm you.

3) Whosoever meditates a lot, and put in the effort to meditate is a person of morality. If you practice well, the teachers and the celestial beings will help to protect you. If you do good, you will be rewarded. May all disciples develop their meditation. When you are sitting, sleeping, standing, walking, be mindful. Lest in emergency, such as your final moments of your life, you can't move on mindfully.

Don't be heedless because heedlessness (lack of mindfulness) will bring on your downfall. Don't lack awareness even for a minute.

Be firm with mindfulness. 

Consider the causes and effects of things so you can be free from suffering.

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