Famous Thai Buddha Monks
Luang Poo Waen Wat Doi Mae Pahng
Luang Poo Waen Wat Doi Mae Pahng passed away peacefully on 2nd July BE2528.
Luang Poo Waen Sujitnoh was a very good monk. He was very skillful in Sammahti and Dhamma.
The most unique nature of Luang Poo Waen, was that he did not like crowded places and loved
to live alone in the forests: just like his teacher, Ah Jahn Man; away from people and city.
Some people said that Luang Poo Waen had achieved Arahang level. Tahn Jow Koon Noh ever
mentioned that "There is a Phra Arahang, but he lives far away, in the forest hill."
Luang Poo Waen's hometown was in Leoi Province, North East of Thailand, also known as Issan.
Luang Poo Waen was born in BE2431. At the age of 13, he became a Naen (novice monk) in
Wat Poh Chai, Leoi province.
When he was a novice monk, he studied the Dhamma. He was very good in Pali and Dhamma, even
at that young age. He went Tudong (forest monk) with his teacher, Ah Jahn Wuan, travelling
from Leoi Province to Ubon Province.. After he reached Ubon Province, he learned Dhamma
from another teacher, Ah Jahn Sing.
During his Tudong, he met many disciples of Ah Jahn Man in the forests. They told
Luang Poo Waen that Ah Jahn Man is very good in Sammahti and Dhamma. Luang Poo Waen wished
to meet Ah Jahn Man and become his disciple.
Once, Luang Poo Waen chanced upon another disciple of Ah Jahn Man called Ah Jahn Dteu.
Ah Jahn Dteu said that he knew where Ah Jahn Man was, and was willing to bring Luang Poo Waen
to meet Ah Jahn Man. Finally, Luang Poo Waen met Ah Jahn Man in BE2462 (at the age of 31)
in the Bahn Kor forest, Udon Thahni province.
After meeting Ah Jahn Man, Luang Poo Waen, went Tudong again with Ah Jahn Dteu. Luang Poo Waen,
endured all difficulties during his Tudong, encountered ghosts, wild animals and other dangers
in his Tudong. Luang Poo Waen was not afraid of danger, even the villagers told him that this
place or that place are dangerous and eerie, and full of evil spirits, Luang Poo Waen just
went ahead because he wanted to learn from all these experiences.
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Luang Poo Waen spent most of his monkhood as a forest monk, travelling from one province
to another on foot, climbing hills, crossing rivers and deep forests. He had also went as
far as Laos, Cambodia, Burma and even Vietnam on Dutong.
At BE2470, age 39, Luang Poo Waen arrived in Lampang. He met another disciple of Ah Jahn Man
called Ah Jahn Keow. He was told that Ah Jahn Man was in Chiangmai. Luang Poo Waen quickly
Tudong to Chiangmai to look for Ah Jahn Man. Finally he met Ah Jahn Man and Ah Jahn Dteu at
Wat Jedi Luang. Ah Jahn Man officially accepted Luang Poo Waen as his disciple. He studied
Dhamma with Ah Jahn Man at Wat Jedi Luang. After Ah Jahn Man left Wat Jedi Luang for Dutong,
Luang Poo Waen also went Dutong in Chiangmai. He stayed Wat Huainumrin Chiangmai Province
for 10 years. During his long stay in Wat Huainumrin, he stayed most of his time in forests
and only went to the temple during the rainy seasons (Khow Pansah).
At BE2505, Ah Jahn Noo, the abbot of Wat Doi Mae Pang asked Luang Poo Waen to stayed at
Wat Doi Mae Pang because Ah Jahn Noo treated Luang Poo Waen as a teacher. After Ah Jahn Noo
passed away, the villagers persuaded Luang Poo Waen to become the abbot of Wat Doi Mae Pang.
Luang Poo Waen stayed in Doi Mae Pang until he passed away, living the life as a forest
monk all the time in a small hut away from the temple.