Luang Pu Budda Thawaro

Luang Pu Budda Thawaro

In Singapore, we often use red packets when we want to offer money as it seems more polite and appropriate. However, in Thailand, it is not actually uncommon to just offer money directly to monks. Many Singaporeans may be surprised when they see this for the first time, but they’ll get used to it.

Once, Luang Phor Sanong Katapunyo, the teacher of Ajaan Tippakorn and grandteacher of LP Jira, wanted to go pay respects to Luang Pu Budda Thawaro. As he arrived, he saw Luang Pu sitting down and unpacking the envelopes [of money] that his devotees had offered to him. 

Luang Pu was arranging all the offerings together neatly. Luang Phor Sanong was not happy and thought in his mind, “It seems that Luang Pu Budda isn’t really that strict a practitioner. I wonder why my teacher [Luang Pu Sangwan] has so much admiration for him?”

As soon as he just finished thinking that thought, Luang Pu Budda called out to Luang Phor Sanong and asked him to come forward. 

Then Luang Pu spoke, “Do you know how many monks who have handled money have gone to become Phra Arahants? Money is merely paper. 

Newspaper is merely paper. If the heart does not cling to it, they are just papers. The Buddha forbade it for the sake of monks who do not understand this.”

After saying this, Luang Pu Budda stood up and walked away, leaving all the money lying there.

Luang Pu Budda Thawaro

Wat Klang Chu Sri, Singburi

26 July 2023

1 Century of Luang Pu Budda Thawaro, Wat Klang Chu Sri Charoensuk, Bang Rachan District, Singburi Province

1 Century of Luang Pu Budda Thawaro, Wat Klang Chu Sri Charoensuk, Bang Rachan District, Singburi Province

In the year 2519, Phra Rajpromayan Weera Thawaro or more popularly known as Luang Phor Lersi Lingdam of Wat Tha Sung, Uthai Thani Province was to perform the Phitee Buang Suang at Phra That Chom Kitti at Chiang Saen District in Chiang Rai Province. 

He gave instructions to Dr. Parinya Nutalai and his sister, Ms. Chalinee Niamsakul, as well as Pol Lt. Col. Dr. Somsak Suebsanguan, former Chief Medical Officer of the Police Department, to pick up Luang Pu Budda Thawaro to bring him to meet Luang Phor Lersi Lingdam at Chiang Saen District. 

The trio thought that this was a great opportunity for them because they could have an opportunity to serve and interact with a great geiji ajaan. Dr. Somsak wrote down the questions he wanted to ask Luang Pu Budda on a piece of paper. 

“I sat in the back with Luang Pu and Maha Thong. During the journey, I read out all the questions and doubts I had one by one. Luang Pu was kind enough to explain the Dhamma to three of us on the way, which was why I felt we reached Chiang Saen so quickly”, commented Dr. Somsak. 

On the journey back, the three decided not to use the same route and took Luang Pu Budda and Phra Maha Thong Kanchano to stay at Wat Thaen Sila at Uttaradit Province for 1 night, while the 3 laypersons rested at a hotel in town. 

In the morning, they took the car to pick Luang Pu up and continue their journey. “I saw Luang Pu having his meal together with three local monks. The three of us bowed down and sat there waiting for him. But I (Pol. Lt. Col. Dr. Somsak Suebsanguan) could hardly believe my eyes. 

I saw Luang Pu floating around 1cm above the sitting area, while the other three monks were sitting on the floor normally. I took off my glasses, rubbed my eyes, and put them back on. Yet I still saw Luang Pu floating like that. 

I still had my doubts, so I crawled to another corner to see from another angle. But it still appears the same [as though Luang Pu was floating]. So I crawled back to my original spot. I waited until Tahn finished and got up to head back to the lodge, when the three of us got up and came out. 

All of us thought that we alone witnessed the scene exclusively. So we felt that it was Tahn’s kindness to allow us to witness this. Other people, even if they had entered the area, would not have seen it the way we did. Even the other three monks did not have the privilege of perceiving this.”

Source: 1 Century of Luang Pu Budda Thawaro, Wat Klang Chu Sri Charoensuk, Bang Rachan District, Singburi Province