Famous Thai Buddha Monks

Holy Venerable Luang Phor Tae KongThong, Wat Sahm Ngahm, Nakhon Pathom passed away in BE2524 at age of 90 years old.

Luang Phor Tae was born on 15 September B.E.2434 in Moo 4, Bahn Sahm Ngahm Noi, Ampher Dong Thom, Jangwat Nakhon Pathom. Both LP's parents were farmers. He was raised and brought up since birth by his uncle Daeng who was then a monk. Thus, Luang Phor Tae had spent his entire life in the temple. LP Tae served as a temple boy for 6 years. He was very sincere and serious in studying and practicing the Dhamma until some villagers accidentally saw LP Tae performing some miracles in healing people and they firmly believed that he had attained Arahantship then.

Upon knowing this, his uncle 'Daeng' brought him to Wat Gahlong in Changwat Samutsakorn for further pursuit of his Dhamma knowledge until he was 7 years old. Then, LP Tae returned to live with his parents for 3 years to perform filial piety.

Thereafter, his uncle took him back to the temple until the age of 15 years old when LP Tae finally ordained as a Naen(novice monk) under his uncle Daeng in B.E.2449. LP Tae resided in Wat Gahlong, which was a forest temple where his uncle was the abbot.

Luang Phor Tae ordained as a monk at the age of 20 years old. Luang Phor Tah Wat Panaengtak was the preceptor and became Luang Phor Tae's teacher, after which Luang Phor Tae followed Luang Phor Tah to Wat Panaengtak.

Luang Phor Tae became the close disciple of Luang Phor Tah. Luang Phor Tah taught Luang Phor Tae everything he knew about Dhamma and Sammahdti. Luang Por Tah would bring Luang Phor Tae with him whenever he went Tudung, until such time at Luang Phor Tae had gained enough experience to go Tudung alone.

After LP Tar passed away in B.E.2465, LP Tae left for Wat Takong in Nakhon Pathom. Luang Phor Chaem was the abbot of Wat Takong at the time and he was extremely well known for his strict practice in Dhamma and high attainment in Saiyasaat (magical arts). LP Cham unselfishly imparted everything that he knew on the subjects of Dhamma, meditation, tudong and saiyasaat to LP Tae. Once, Luang Phor Chaem told Luang Phor Tae that: "If you want to become Jow Koon (monk with a high title), take a train to Grungtep (Bangkok). If you want to become a real monk, you must enter the forest." Luang Phor Tae choose the latter, and went into the forest and became a Tudung monk.

It is said that Luang Phor Tae was a monk who possessed alot of metta(loving-kindness) and bahramee (power). Whenever Luang Por Tae went for Tudung, many villagers would give money and things to him, but Luang Por Tae never accepted them, except the morning alms only. The villagers were not happy because they wanted Luang Phor Tae to accept the money so that he could use the money to make merits for them. Luang Phor Tae accepted some of the money and carried with him because he did not know where to keep them.

LP Tae was well known for making 'khunmantong'. The earliest monasteries in Thailand to make 'khunmantongs' are both Wat Sahm Ngahm and Wat Takong in Nakhon Pathom. It was believed that LP Tae had the supernormal power to see wondering souls of the dead that roamed the surroundings and especially souls of those young children. In order to give an opportunity for those souls to make merit before rebirth, LP Tae decided to cast the souls into a child-like statue and give it people who needed help. LP Tae had learned such art from LP Chaem of Wat Takong and also an unnamed monk from Cambodia.

One day, a robber wanted to rob Luang Phor Tae of the money, but Luang Por Tae did not stop him, however Luang Por Tae told the robber that the money was not his, but belonged to the villagers who wished to make merits. If he took the money, the villagers would be disappointed because the money was meant for merit making. After the robber has listened to Luang Phor Tae's, the robber felt very ashamed and ran off.

According to a story told by the villagers of Nakhon Pathom, in year B.E.2483, there lived an unlucky food peddler in the town center of Nak Kan Bahn. He was a great chef but no matter how hard he worked, he didn't manage to succeed in his business. One morning while traveling to the town to set up his stall, he met a preaching monk along the way. Immediately, he put down his stuff and scooped a big bowl of food and presented it to the monk.

After finishing the food, the monk walked along with the peddler and spoke with him. He then knew the hardship and unluckiness of the peddler. As they parted, the monk took out a clay doll-like statue from his bag and gave it to the peddler, telling him to treat it well everyday so that his luck will change. Soon after that, the peddler's business got better and better. He then came to know that the monk who gave him the statue was LP Tae, abbot of Wat Sahm Ngahm and the statue was called 'khunmantong'.

Wat Sahm Ngahm produced numerous pendants of Luang Phor Tae that has brought extreme good luck and great fortune to many people since. Many occasions were recorded that people wearing Luang Phor Tae's amulets were unharmed from accidents and there were also stories told by many villagers (some still living today) and people from all over Thailand that they were saved from both evil spirits and ghosts after wearing LP Tae's amulets. It is also believed that it will bring great Metta to one by wearing amulets of LP Tae.

Besides being a disciple of Luang Por Tah and Luang Por Chaem, Luang Phor Tae had ever learnt Wichah from an Ah Jahn from Cambodia. The Wichah that Luang Por Tae used for making the famous Gumahn Torng was learnt from the Cambodia Ah Jahn.

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