I would like to introduce a great monk who had contributed a lot to the district of Plah Phak, Nakhon Phanom province. He is regarded as the father of development for the district of Pla Pak.
He is Luang Pu Kamphan, the former abbot of Wat That Mahachai.
Luang Pu Kamphan
Luang Pu Kamphan is also known as Phra Soon Ton Ma Gon. He was the former Chief Monk of Wat That Mahachai, which is located at Ban Mahachai, district Pla Pak, Nakhon Phanom province. Luang Pu Kamphan had devoted 59 years of his life to monk hood. He passed away at the age of 89.
The funarel of Luang Pu Kamphan
Luang Pu Kamphan was born on the 10th January, B.E. 2458 (Which is equivalent to the year of 1915, a few years just after the first world war). His father was Nai Ken Soo-Wong while his mother was Nang Lom Soo-Wong. By the age of 17 at 7th September B.E. 2475, Luang Pu Kamphan joined Wat See Boon Reuang as a novice. Arcariya Cheuam was the monk who officially ordained him. After 3 years of Dharma practice under Arcariya Cheuam, he was then ordained as a monk in B.E. 2478, by the age of 20.
His first Tudong (the forest wandering practice) was completed in the Leoi province. He met Arcariya Sao at Wat Pohn Meuang. Arcariya Sao was the teacher of Arcariya Mun Bhuridatta Tera, the famous forest wandering practitioner as well as guru. Arcariya Sao had given numerous valuable advices to him on the meditation method. Beside Arcariya Sao, he had also learnt the Dharma teaching from Arcariya Kroot Seung Ben Phra Kao.
Arcariya Sao
Arcariya Mun
At the age of 24, B.E. 2482; he was forced to leave the monk hood due to his mother passed away. Thus he had to take care of his family. 6 years later upon his family was settled down, he was once again re-ordained as a monk, in B.E. 2488. He repeated the tradition of 3 years Tudong. In B.E. 2491, he was invited to be the Abbot of Wat That Mahachai (Wat That Mahachai was once been called Wat Kot Sa Ga Ram).
Luang Pu Kamphan completed his basic primary study in Banphu School at the age of 14. He passed the Pali language Level 3 at the age of 22, B.E. 2479. In B.E. 2488, he obtained the best final examination results of Pali language and in B.E. 2489, he reached the highest ranking of Pali language studies in Wat Phra Bat Jom Thong. Since 2490, Luang Pu Kamphan was actively involved in the activities of Buddhism propagation and urban development in the Nakhon Phanom province.
Luang Pu Kamphan was an expert in many disciplines. He was well-verse in writing Khom and Tai Noi which enabled him to make many powerful sacred objects. He was one of the well known Dharma teacher in the North-Eastern region in Thailand (especially in Isan) and was frequently invited to lead and teach other novices and monks. His knowledge in the Isan language enabled him to write Dharma poems in Isan language. He mastered the Vipasana meditation from his teacher, Arcariya Sao, enabled him to teach the meditation in Wat Pa Mahachai, Wat Sang Phra In and Wat Pu Phan Dang Sao Koi. He had shown strong enthusiasm in the local development and had helped many temples in the reconstruction as well as renovation works.
Below is the list of his major achievement:
B.E. 2492: Chairman, rebuilding the Ubosot of Wat Phra Poot Baat Jom TongB.E. 2494: Chairman, rebuilding the bell tower of Wat Phra Poot Baat Jom Tong
B.E. 2498: Chairman, rebuilding Wat Mahachai
B.E. 2500: Chairman, rebuilding the ‘Miraculous Buddha Image’ of Wat Mahachai
B.E. 2509: Promotion, became the Chief Monk of district Mahachai
B.E. 2509: Appointment, he was appointed as the abbot of Wat Koht-Sa-Gaa Raam (Wat Tat Mahachai), a post he held till his passing in B.E. 2546.
B.E. 2514: Chairman, rebuilding the Buddha Relic Pagoda in Wat That Mahachai
B.E. 2518: Appointment, he was appointed as the Assistant Chief Monk of district Pla Pak
B.E. 2518: Promotion, a Grade 3 Dharma teacher
B.E. 2519: Promotion, the Head of the Dharma School (Dharma and Pali) in district Pla Pak
B.E. 2519: Nomination, Pra Upacha (Preceptor)
B.E. 2520: Chairman, to build the Ubosot in Wat That Mahachai
B.E. 2520: Promotion, a Grade 2 Dharma teacher
B.E. 2524: Chairman, to build the surrounding wall of Wat That Mahachai
B.E. 2527: Chairman, to build the monks’ cells
B.E. 2527: Chairman, rebuilding the Wat Pa Mahachai and Wat Arayankam
B.E. 2528: Chairman, to build the extension of monks’ cells
B.E. 2528: Promotion, a Top Grade Dharma teacher
B.E. 2531: Appointment, he was appointed as the Chief Monk Monk of district Pla Pak
B.E. 2534: Chairman, to build the Tumkorsitwitaya Secondary School for the under privileged
B.E. 2535: Promotion, he was bestowed the title of Prasoon-ton Tan-ma Gon by His Majesty, the King of Thailand
B.E. 2536: Chairman, to build the Tummagonweethaya Secondary School
B.E. 2537: Chairman, to create the big Gagroon Buddha image for Wat Sarn Phra In
B.E. 2537: Chairman, to build the Mahachai Witthayakom Secondary School for the under privileaged
B.E. 2542: Appointment, he was appointed as the Senior Advisor of district Pla Pak
B.E. 2545: Chairman, to build the Pla Pak hospital
Extra notes:
1. Where is Nakhon Phanom province?
See the map below......
See the map below.....
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