Sharing of Short - Down to Earth Dhamma 6

Sharing of Short - Down to Earth Dhamma 6

Since today is the death anniversary of Phra Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo, I thought I would like to share a story. Around the year 2499, at Tham Phra Sabai, Mae Tha District, Lampang Province, Phor Than Lee Dhammadaro of Wat Asokaram, also known as Phra Khru Suthithammajarn, led his disciples to establish a chedi to enshrine the relics in the Phra Sabai cave. He also decided to hold a puja ceremony and plant three Bodhi trees in front of the cave. 

After the chedi was built, he invited his 4 fellow friends and very powerful monks, Luang Pu Dteu Ajolathamo, Luang Pu Cham Mahapunyo, Luang Pu Wan Thanapalo and Than Phra Achan Noi Suparo to hold a puttapisek puja. All four of them chanted prayers from the early evening until 4am the next morning.

In this special ceremony, each of them sat in an opposite direction of the chedi, and had a prayer tray in front of them. They had decided that the amount of Phra That or relics that appeared would depend on the parami and amount of contribution that each of them had individually made to the Buddha Sasana. During this puja, each of them chanted their own mantra in accordance with their memory and preferences. 

They prayed until around 4am, having made a determination (adithan) for a miraculous sign, when the sound of falling glass broke the silence of the cave. Therefore, that was a signal for them to withdraw from concentration, and each of them examined the tray in front of their seat. 

It appeared that in Phor Than Lee Dhammadaro's tray there are the most relics. Followed by Luang Pu Cham Mahapunyo, then by Phra Achan Noi Suparo, Luang Pu Dteu Acholathamo and Luang Pu Wan Thanapalo respectively.

All of the Sangha agreed to let Luang Pu Dteu use his psychic powers and samadhi to find out the reasons why, since he was known for his powerful visions. 

When Luang Pu Dteu meditated, he saw that in the past Phor Than Lee was Ashoka the Great and Luang Pu Cham Mahapunyo was the king named Devanampiya of Sri Lanka. Phra Ajarn Noi Suparo is the minister of the Sri Lankan King (Devanampiya), Luang Pu Dteu Acholathammo was a benevolent thief who robbed the rich to help the poor, with his bandit camps near Tham Phra Sabai. Finally, Luang Pu Wan Thanapalo was the former governor of Lampang.

Before that, I had a similar suspicion. Why must Phor Than Lee's temple be called Wat Asokaram? Indeed, it is because in his past life, he was none other than King Ashoka the Great.

Source: ธรรมะทะลุโลก ประวัติท่านพ่อลี ธมฺมธโร วัดอโศการาม จ.สมุทรปราการ