Why tudong monks are so respected is because they are willing to put their lives on the line in search of the Dhamma. Luang Pu Doo would have died of malaria if LP Thep Lok Udon did not save him.
Sharing the story of LP Thep Lok Udon and Luang Pu Doo
Many monks who have spent time in tudong around the forests of Kachanaburi province would have given testimony about the tall dark skinned monk who would appear out of nowhere to assist them in times of need. One such monk is the late revered Vipassana teacher, LP Jarun of Wat Ampawan in Singburi, who even learnt a thing or two from him, a monk he nicknamed "LP Dam".
Legends state that LP Thep Lok Udon has been around for hundreds of years, with some even stating that he originated from Nepal centuries ago. Luang Pu Doo also encountered LP Thep Lok Udon when he went tudong in the deep rainforests of Thailand.
At that time, Luang Pu was close to death due to being inflicted by a virulent strain of Malaria.
Suddenly, a large, tall and dark skinned monk approached him and offered him a traditional herbal pill to take. After taking just one of these pills, Luang Pu's fever and other symptoms subsided and he was able to carry on his journey. When Luang Pu returned to the temple, he shared his experience with his teacher, LP Klan. LP Klan told Luang Pu that he was very lucky to have met LP Thep Lok Udon, who has been helping sincere practitioners for many generations already.
(https://www.facebook.com/luangpudoo/posts/172490127616510).
LP Waen might not have been able to survive if the devas didn't shield him from the rain when he was suffering from severe malarial fever and collapsed where he was. But today's protagonist is Ajaan Chah, who almost gave up on himself once when he was in the forest.
Luang Phor Chah had not come across a village for a few days and he was starting to become weak from lack of food. He felt tired and light-headed, his legs were rubbery climbing uphill and his breath short.
And then a fever struck. As he lay in the shade of a tree too exhausted to move, he took stock of the situation: little water, no sign of a village – and his body on fire.
As Luang Phor made peace with the realization that his chances of survival were low, a disturbing thought arose in his mind: suppose a hunter should discover his corpse and send news back to Ubon. How distressing and inconvenient it would be for his family to have to come such a long way to arrange a funeral. He groped in his bag for his monk’s identification booklet. If the worst came to the worst, he would burn it so that nobody would ever know who he was.
Just then, he was roused from these sombre thoughts by the sound of a barking deer echoing loudly through the forested valley below. It made him ask himself:
Do barking deer and other creatures get ill?
Yes, of course they do. They’ve got bodies just as we do.
Do they have medicines? Do they have doctors who give them injections?
No, of course not. They make do with whatever shoots and leaves they can find.
The creatures in the wild don’t have medicines, they have no doctors to look after them and yet they don’t seem to die out. The forest is full of them and their young, isn’t it?
Yes, that’s true.
These simple thoughts were enough to shake Luang Phor out of the despair that was enveloping his mind. He struggled up into a sitting position and forced himself to sip some water. He crossed his legs and started to meditate. By morning, the fever had abated and he could find the strength to continue his journey.
Cr. Related by Phra Ajaan Jayasaro
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