Luang Pu Chan Khemiyo (1881-1973)

Luang Pu Chan Khemiyo (1881-1973)

Luang Pu Chan Khemiyo (1881-1973) of Wat Si Thep Pradittharam was a well-practiced monk and trained with Luang Pu Sao Kantasilo when he was young. He is one of the 20 holy monks whose fiberglass figures are being venerated at Wat Yanasangvararam.

One night while he was meditating at his temple in Nakhon Phanom province, a nimitta occurred to him. 

A vision of a shallow pool or jar in which contained 6 fishes appeared. There were 3 catfish and 3 "pla mor" or directly translated, "doctor fish". 

Luang Pu observed the fish were struggling to survive due to the waters around them drying up. Luang Pu concentrated his mind to ask them whether they were here to come to claim a kammic debt or not. 

The fish replied that they were Bodhisattas who had come down to be reborn as fishes in order to perfect their parami further. 

Unfortunately, they are still subject to kammic outflows and their negative kamma ripened, causing them to be caught by a man called Boonchuay Suwantonrop. He did not kill them but placed them in a banana plantation behind the temple. 

Now the waters they are in are drying up and they will die soon if no one rescues them. If they die now, they will not have accomplished their mission to perfect their parami. 

Luang Pu continued questioning the fishes why they appeared to him when he was sitting in samadhi. The fishes told him that they had adithan-ed for assistance, recalling their good deeds performed for many lives and focused on their desire for Buddhahood in the future. 

They thought to seek assistance from anyone who practises well and had a kammic affinity with them due to having supported each other in a past life. 

Hence, they appeared to Luang Pu Chan during his meditation. But Luang Pu was still unconvinced. He thought that it could be a false vision, as not all nimittas can be trusted. So Luang Pu himself adithan-ed that if it was a false vision, may the vision disappear. But if it was a true nimitta, may he hear the fishes chant the Phutthakhun. 

As soon as he thought that, the fishes started chanting "Namo Tassa..." three at a time until all 6 had finished. Hence, Luang Pu gave the fishes his word that he would assist them. 

In the morning Luang Pu went for pindabat (alms round). When he reached one of his attendant's houses, he called out to his devotee's daughter named Hom Huan, who was at that time around 10 years old. He instructed her to bring a large water bowl to the temple in the afternoon after she had her meal. 

When she arrived later, Luang Pu told her to add some water into the bowl and ask Mr. Boonchuay for 6 fishes, which he trapped in the banana plantation behind the temple, as this girl also knew Boonchuay. 

When the girl went to visit Boonchuay, she told him that Luang Pu asked him for 6 fishes, 3 doctor fish and 3 cat fish which he kept in the banana plantation.

Boonchuay was surprised at the request and said that he didn't know if he had any fishes or not, and would go to tell Luang Pu if he couldn't find any. When he went to the banana plantation, he reached the hut at the end of the orchard when he suddenly remembered that he had been fishing some time back and left some fish there. It was such a long time ago until he forgot. 

So he looked at the fishes and counted 6, exactly like what Luang Pu said. He hurriedly placed the fish in the bowl and went back to the temple together with the girl. When he met Luang Pu, he praised Luang Pu for being wonderfully psychic to know that he had caught 6 fish and forgot about them. 

Luang Pu replied that it wasn't he who was the great one, it were the fishes because they were able to appear to him during his meditation. Fortunately, Boonchuay didn't kill and cook the 6 Bodhisattas if not it would cause trouble for the whole family. 

Then Luang Pu sprinkled holy water on the fishes and bless them to be safe until they could complete their life's mission to perfect their parami. Then, he had them released into the sacred Mekong river. 

Surprisingly when the fishes were released, they did not swim away but jumped out of the water 3 times, as if to pay their respects to Luang Pu. 

If any brother or sister goes to Nakhon Phanom, don't forget to pay homage to the statue of Luang Pu at Wat Si Thep Pradittharam, Muang district to bless your life with all kinds of auspiciousness and good tidings. Even though Luang Pu has passed away, some disciples believe him to be a Bodhisatta as well hence he is still able to respond to prayers.