Luang Phor Plien Panyapatipo | 龙婆变。盘呀吧啼钵 (Eng)
Luang Phor Plien Panyapatipo | 龙婆变。盘呀吧啼钵
Background
Luang Phor Plien Panyapatipo (Born 16 November BE2476. Died 15 February BE2561. Aged 84 years old, 59 Paansa) Originally from Sakon Nakhon Province. Luang Phor’s father was name Ging, mother was named Orandee, Luang phor was borned into the the family of Wong-sachan. Luang Phor Plien had 5 siblings,4 brothers and 1 sister,Luang Phor ranked third amongst them. Luang Phor’s family were engaged in their own family business and were doing well economically.
Before ordination, Luang Phor Plien was helping out with the family business. Other than running their family business, Luang Phor was also attending the village school and was an exemplary student. After completing his stint in the army, Luang Phor developed an interest in medical studies, so he seeked out the village doctor (which was also Luang Phor’s uncle) and studied medicine under his guidance. Seeing the interest that Luang Phor had for medical studies, the doctor recommended Luang Phor to continue his education in Chulalongkorn University. But Luang Phor’s mother strongly opposed this idea and did not allow Luang Phor to study at Bangkok, instead she wanted him to stay and take care of their family business.
Budding interest in Buddhism
During Luang Phor’s childhood years, he had the chance to visit and pay respects to Luang Pu Mun Bhurridtato with his mother, but due to his young age, he did not had the chance to learn from Luang Pu Mun. However, as Luang Phor Plien grew older, he had the chance of meeting a monk named Phra Ajahn Lee. Sensing the young Luang Phor Plien had great interest in meditation and Dhamma practice, Phra Ajahn Lee recommended Luang Phor to seek guidance from Luang Pu Phrom Jirapunyo, one of the early disciples of Luang Pu Mun. Luang Phor seek out Luang Pu Phrom and practiced meditation under him while also taking care of the old master. During this time, Luang Phor’s interest in Buddhism grew greatly and were actively making merits with his mother whenever possible. Later on, Luang Phor Plien decided to seek permission from his mother to ordain as a monk, but she rejected his request and thus, he had no choice but continue helping out the family business.
After the passing of Luang Phor Plien’s father, his uncle also passed away five years later. Luang Phor again seeked permission from his Mother to ordain in order to make merits for both his Father and Uncle. This time, Luang Phor’s mother gave in and granted his wish, but stipulating that he would return to lay life after 7 days.
Ordination
Luang Phor Plien officially ordained in BE2502 and received the monastic name Panyapatipo meaning “One who is full of wisdom”. After 16 days in monkhood, Luang Phor’s mother came and requested that he return to lay life, but Luang Phor requested to stay in monkhood till the end of the Vassa. Having no choice, Luang Phor’s mother could only agree to his request and leave disappointed. However, Luang Phor had already made plans to leave the temple for his Tudong practice once the Vassa is over.
Luang Phor Plien quickly grew accustomed to the life of monkhood and liked it very much. He decided that Nibbana would be his goal and would dedicate his life to achieving it. Luang Phor Plien focused his efforts on meditation practice and told himself that he would dedicate all his sacrifice to the Triple Gems.
After his ordination, Luang Phor Plien studied under Luang Pu Phrom conscientiously. Luang Pu Phrom also regularly visited the temple where Luang Phor was staying and answered any doubts the monks had with regards to practice. During one of his meditation session, Luang Phor Plien had a vision where Luang Pu Phrom appeared and taught him directly.
Tudong Journey
After the Vassa, instead of returning to lay life as expected, Luang Phor Plien gathered his belongings and started his Tudong journey. He wanted to seek out masters that can teach him more, and so he set out on his journey. Luang Phor Plien had heard of Phra Ajahn Juan Kulachettho, one of Luang Pu Mun’s foremost students. So he set out to find Phra Ajahn Juan in Bueng Kan Province.
But upon reaching Phu Tok Mountain where Phra Ajahn Juan was practicing, he found the cave empty and Phra Ajahn Juan was away to practice somewhere else. Regardless, Luang Phor decided to stay and practice in Phra Ajahn Juan’s cave. Luang Phor described the dwelling of Phra Ajahn Juan as being very simple, he only had 2 wooden planks to act as a bed and meditation platform. Behind this platform was a cliff and if one didn’t have great concentration during practice, one might very possibly fall to his death.
Practicing with Phra Ajahn Juan
After some nights in the cave, Luang Phor Plien left and continue his search for Phra Ajahn Juan. Upon meeting Phra Ajahn Juan, Luang Phor Plien was deeply impressed by how Phra Ajahn Juan practiced. During his short stay here, the way that Phra Ajahn Juan practiced had left an indelible impact on Luang Phor and filled him with determination to put more effort into practice. Luang Phor then continued his Tudong journey after spend some time with Phra Ajahn Juan, seeking out quiet places to practice.
Impermanence of life
Luang Phor Plien’s journey brought him back to Sakon Nakorn. Luang Phor had made up his mind to ordain for life, and so he returned home and gave away all his lay belongings to his family members. This decision caused his mother great sadness and fustration. Not long after his return, a relative had passed on, and they invited Luang Phor to officiate the funeral for them. During the funeral, Luang Phor observed that even though the deceased had great fortunes in life, but upon his death, none of the fortunes could be brought along with him. Luang Phor saw the impermanence of life and spurred him on to finding the path leading out of this suffering.
Asubha Kammathan
Once the funeral was over, Luang Phor Plien returned to his Tudong journey, visiting many great from the Kammathana Tradition. During this time, Luang Phor Plien visited Phra Ajahn Jan-dee Khemapanyo. Luang Phor Plien practiced Asubha Kammathan along with Phra Ajahn Jan-dee and it was during this time that Luang Phor Plien developed the ability to see the truth of the human body, going from a beautiful body and deteriorating into a corpse and finally into a pile of bones.
Meeting with Luang Pu Thate
Later on, Luang Phor Plien met with one of the greatest master of Kammathan Tradition, Luang Pu Thate Thatesarangsi. Luang Pu Thate was a senior disciple in Luang Pu Mun’s lineage, he was greatly respected and was considered a senior to many venerable forest masters such as Luang Pu Fan Ajaro, Luang Pu Waen Succino and Luang Ta Maha Bua Yannasampano. Luang Pu Thate had deep knowledge in regards to meditation practice and many monks that had encountered obstacles in their own practice would travel from all over Thailand to visit Luang Pu Thate in his temple located in southern Thailand.
Luang Phor Plien studied directly under the guidance of Luang Pu Thate and this sky rocketed his meditation practice. Luang Phor Plien took even a step further and started to control his diet in an attempt to improve his practice. He would only eat 5 spoonful of rice and on some days, would forgo eating completely in order to practice. Upon learning of this, Luang Pu Thate personally warned Luang Phor Plien that this is a dangerous way to practice and that he should practice the “Middle Way”. Luang Pu Thate also warned Luang Phor that the happiness resulted from his meditation practice is not the bliss of attaining Nibbana, and one might easily mistake this for the Nibbana and end up lost in their own practice.
Meeting Luang Pu Khao
After spending sometime with Luang Pu Thate, Luang Phor Plien then left on his Tudong journey again. This time he came to visit Luang Pu Khao Analayo, another accomplished disciple of Luang Pu Mun. He practiced under the guidance of Luang Pu Khao and seeked Luang Pu’s help to clear all his doubts regarding practice. During his stay with Luang Pu Khao, not only did Luang Phor Plien practiced meditation, he also had the chance to take care of Luang Pu Khao, he then used those chance to learn personally from Luang Pu himself.
Practicing in the North
In Northern Thailand, there were three great disciples of Luang Pu Mun, they were Luang Pu Tuer Ajaladhammo, Luang Pu Waen Succino and Luang Pu Sim Puttajaro. During those days, Luang Pu Tuer fame as a great Dhamma teacher had spread wide and far, and was considered the one of the foremost Dhamma teacher. Luang Phor Plien had Tudong from north eastern Thailand and was staying at Luang Pu Sim’s temple. Luang Phor Plien had the chance to practice under Luang Pu Sim and also took up the duty of taking care of the aging master.
During his stay with Luang Pu Sim, Luang Phor Plien also had the chance to visit Luang Pu Tuer frequently. On some days, Luang Phor Plien would stay over at Luang Pu Tuer’s temple and return to stay at Luang Pu Sim’s temple. Under the guidance of both these great masters, Luang Phor Plien’s practice was taken to a even higher level. Luang Phor recounted that during one of his meditation sessions, he saw the vision of guests that were about to come visit Luang Pu Tuer the next day. He was glad with his ability to see into the future and went to let Luang Pu Tuer know about this. But before Luang Phor Plien had the opportunity to describe his visions, Luang Pu Tuer had already described to him in details of the same visions. This encounter left Luang Phor Plien with great respect for the meditation attainment of Luang Pu Tuer.
Practicing with Luang Pu Waen
After spending some months with Luang Pu Tuer and Luang Pu Sim, Luang Phor Plien left and headed to meet with Luang Pu Waen Succino. During those days, Luang Pu Waen was staying alone except for another monk that was taking care of the aging Luang Pu. Seeing that having another monk taking care of Luang Pu would be great, Luang Phor Plien then decided to stay and help out. On the first night of arriving, Luang Phor Plien decided to practice throughout the night with no sleep. When Luang Pu Waen saw this, he told Phra Ajahn Nuu (the monk taking care of Luang Pu) that he sees great determination in Luang Phor Plien. That night, Luang Pu Waen gave a Dhamma talk to Luang Phor and encouraged him to carry on his path towards Nibbana. Luang Pu Waen told Luang Phor that the path towards Nibbana is still open for everyone and he should put all his efforts into walking down this path.
Luang Pu Waen was well known for being reclusive and rarely teaches, but every word that came out from Luang Pu was deeply entrenched in the heart and mind of Luang Phor Plien. Luang Pu would frequently remind Luang Phor Plien not to waste his time on lay matters, and focus more on his practice. There was once when Luang Phor Plien was distracted by the building project within the temple, but he kept all the worries to himself. Without Luang Phor Plien saying a word, Luang Pu Waen knew what was affecting him and spoke to Luang Phor, reminding him that worrying about such stuff is a waste of time. We have to put our focus back on meditation, which is of utmost importance.
Metta of Luang Pu Waen
There was once when Phra Ajahn Nuu had returned to his home village and Luang Phor Plien was left in-charge of taking care of Luang Pu Waen. During his meditation, Luang Phor Plien saw Luang Pu Waen appearing in his vision. Luang Pu appeared with bright white lights shining from his body and upon closer inspection, he could see the bones of Luang Pu appearing like clear crystals. After his meditation, Luang Phor Plien asked Luang Pu what he had saw, and Luang Pu said it was the pure metta (loving-kindness) that he had saw. Once we have pure metta, ones own body would shine with bright white lights. Upon hearing this, Luang Phor Plien was greatly moved and asked Luang Pu Waen to teach him with this pure metta.
During another meditation session, Luang Phor Plien investigated and look into the karmic connection he had with Luang Pu Waen, it then he saw that in previous lifetimes, Luang Pu Waen was once Luang Phor Plien’s uncle and that was the reason why Luang Pu Waen had shown such loving-kindness for Luang Phor Plien.
Building a new temple – Wat Aranyawiwake
After leaving Luang Pu Waen, Luang Phor Plien then came across a old temple named Baan Pong that was in disrepair. Eventhough the temple was in a bad shape, Luang Phor Plien found the place to be suitable for his practice and decided to stay in this temple for some time. Luang Phor later found out that this used to the dwelling place of both Luang Pu Waen and Luang Pu Khao, and it was actually built by the villagers of Baan Pong for Luang Pu Mun to stay during his Tudong journey here. Before Luang Pu Mun left, he instructed the villagers to take care of this dwelling place and in the future, great monks would come and stay here.
After moving into this temple, Luang Phor Plien gradually developed it and turn the temple into a place suitable for both monastics and laity to practice meditation. He wanted the temple to be a place that would spread the teachings of Dhamma and meditation practice, so as to bring benefits to those who are experiencing suffering.
Palang-jit from Meditation
There was once when Luang Phor Plien was gathering Jackfruit branches in preparations for making of new robes. This particular day when Luang Phor was gathering the branches, there was a group of tourist that had arrvied at Luang Phor’s temple. But as Luang Phor was working and was not properly dressed (not in full robes), he politely asked the tourist not to take pictures of him as he did not want to tarnish the image of monks in Thailand.
Without regard for Luang Phor’s request, they still took photos of Luang Phor. Seeing this, Luang Phor Plien used his Palang-jit (Mental powers) to spread feelings of fear to the tourist. Suddenly feeling fearful, the group of tourist quickly got onto their tour bus and left. Once they were out of the temple, Luang Phor quickly spread thoughts of loving-kindness to soothe the minds of the terrified tourists.
Lersi in previous lifetimes
Luang Pu Chob Thanasamo, one of the great disciple of Luang Pu Mun ever mentioned that Luang Phor Plien had been a Lersi with great powers in one of his previous lifetimes. In this lifetime, Luang Phor Plien still retained much merits and attainments gain from being a Lersi, that is why it was easy for Luang Phor Plien to master various meditation methods. And because of the mental powers attained from previous lifetimes, Luang Phor could easily hurt someone with it if he wasn’t careful with them. That is the reason why Luang Pu Chob recommended Luang Phor Plien to focus on Metta cultivation to curb the mental powers.
Metta
Eventhough Luang Phor had a such strong mental powers, those that had met Luang Phor would agree that Luang Phor Plien had an immense aura of Loving-kindness around him and could calm the minds of those around him. There was once when Luang Phor was returning from overseas, together on the same flight was a Korean boy band. Upon touch down, throngs of fans were already waiting at the exit of the airport. When the fans saw the their idols which was behind Luang Phor, they started shouting and screaming mindlessly. Seeing this, the monks accompanying Luang Phor Plien were at a lost, they were thinking of ways to get Luang Phor pass the screaming crowd safely.
Without much worry, Luang Phor walked steadily towards the screaming crowd of fans. Once Luang Phor was infront of the crowd, they immediately calmed down and respectfully opened a way for Luang Phor to pass through. Some even knelt down and paid respects to Luang Phor Plien. The monks that had witness this were greatly amazed by Luang Phor.
Mind reading
It is widely believed that Luang Phor Plien could read the minds of those around him. So there was once when a Chiang Mai follower had went to visit Luang Phor. But he had came at the wrong time and there was already a crowd waiting to speak to Luang Phor, so he quietly waited at the back and look on as everyone had their chance to pay their respects to Luang Phor personally. Seeing as he had to wait a long time for his chance, he made a wish silently to Luang Phor, he wished that he could have the chance to speak to Luang Phor.
Luang Phor Plien was talking to group of followers, but immediately, Luang Phor looked up and said “We have someone who’s very considerate to other, even though he very much wants to speak to me, but he held back the urge to cut the queue so as to not affect other.” At this moment, Luang Phor was looking directly at the man that had made the wish. This experience convinced the Chiang Mai follower that Luang Phor Plien really had the ability to read the minds of others (ceto-pariya-ñāṇa).