Luang Por Waen Sujinno
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Luang Pho Waen Sujinno ' onMouseout='HidePop("24576")' href="/topics/Royal_Thai_General_System_of_Transcription">RTGS
: Luang Pu Waen Su-Chin-No, also Phra Ajahn Waen Sujinno, popularly known as Luang Pho Waen meaning Venerable Grandfather; 16 February 1887 – 2 July 1985) is one of the longest living students of Phra Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta and was a very popular monk
in Thailand
. Luang Pho Waen Sujinno was also featured in the Asia Magazine. Another true ascetic at heart, he led the thudong life until the point where he could not physically travel any more and had to settle in a forest monastery
in the Chiang Mai
region.
Luang Pho Waen Sujinno was a revered monk
, highly skilled in Samadhi
and Dhamma. The most remarkable characteristic of Luang Pho Waen was his dislike of crowded places. He loved to live alone in the forests away from people and urbanized areas just like his teacher, Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta. Some people said that Luang Pho Waen had achieved Arahant level. Tahn Joo Koon Noh had in fact mentioned that "There is a Phra Arahant, but he lives far away, in the forest".
Na Pong, Mueang District of Loei
, Northeast (Isan
) of Thailand
to a blacksmith
's family. He was named Yarn and had one elder sister. He ordained as a novice in 1892 at Wat Bodhi Chai in Na Pong at the age of nine to fulfill the wish of his mother when she died while he was five years old. At the age of 13, he became a Naen (novice
monk) at Wat Poh Chai, Loei province
. He studied with a number of teachers and later ordained as a monk at a temple in Hua Taparn District of Ubon Ratchathani
at the age of 21.
As a novice
monk, he studied the Dharma
and Pali
, even at that young age he showed exceptional ability. He eventually went Thudong (forest monk) with his teacher, Ajahn Wuhan, travelling from Loei to Ubon Ratchathani, where he remained to learn Dhamma from another teacher, Ajahn Sing.
During his Thudong, he met many disciples of Ajahn Mun whom he had wanted to further his studies under. Luang Pho Waen met Ajahn Mun in BE 2462 (at the age of 31) at Bahn Kor forest, Udon Thani province
. Luang Por
Mun Bhuridatta in Udon Thani
who taught him the pursuance of a secluded life and the practice of meditation
and Dhamma in the jungles. Subsequently Luang Pho Waen travelled very widely in the Northeast of Thailand in search of isolated places where he could meditate. His travelling also took him to Bangkok
where he met Chao Khun Phra Upali Gunupamacariya of Wat Bowonniwet
in 1921 with whom Luang Pho Waen spent several years studying and practising the Dhamma. Later Chao Khun Phra Upali took him to Wat Chedi Luang
in Chiang Mai where Luang Pho Waen decided to change from the Maha-Nikaya sect of Buddhism
to the stricter Dhammayut sect.
Later he went Thudong again with Ajahn Dteu. Luang Pho Waen, endured many difficulties during his Thudong, he encountered ghosts, wild animals and other dangers but was never afraid despite warnings from local villagers. It was his wish to experience and learn from everything.
Luang Pho 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 Thudong. At BE 2470, age 39, Luang Pho Waen arrived in Lampang
.
He met another disciple of Ajahn Mun called Ajahn Keow. He was told that Ajahn Mun was in Chiang Mai. Luang Pho Waen quickly Thudong to Chiang Mai to look for Ajahn Mun. Finally he met Ajahn Mun and Ajahn Dteu at Wat Chedi Luang. Ajahn Mun officially accepted Luang Pho Waen as his disciple
. He studied Dhamma at Wat Chedi Luang.
After Ajahn Mun left Wat Chedi Luang for Thudong, Luang Pho Waen also went Thudong in Chiang Mai. He stayed at Wat Huainumrin in Chiang Mai Province
for 10 years. During his long stay in Wat Huainumrin, he stayed most of his time in forests and only returning to the temple during the rainy seasons (Khao Phansa
).
Luang Pho Waen travelled extensively by foot through jungles and across mountains and even ventured to Burma and India
where he paid homage to several historic Buddhist sites. However, in 1955 news of a foot injury sustained during his stay in seclusion of Wat Paa Ban Pong in Mae Tang District, Chiang Mai, reached Phra Ajahn Noo Suchitto of Wat Doi Mae Pang
who later arranged for Luang Pho Waen to stay in Wat Doi Mae Pang permanently. He resided in Wat Doi Mae Pang until his passing away.
Luang Pho Waen entered Maharaj Hospital on 15 April 1985 when he was found unable to eat or move and was operated on 4 June 1985 in order to feed him through a tube which was inserted into his stomach. However, complications developed and Phra Ajahn Noo, the abbot of Wat Doi Mae Pang, requested doctors not to perform any more operations as he wanted Luang Pho Waen to rest peacefully. His request was accepted by doctors and the Chiang Mai Governor, Mr. Chaiya Punsiriwong.
On 2 July 1985 at 9:54 pm, Luang Pho Waen finally died at the age of 102 years and 5 months after having been in the monkhood for almost 90 years. He was given a royal-sponsored bathing ceremony at Sala Ang Klaew in Chiang Mai University
which was attended by the King and Queen of Thailand as well as the general public. His remains were cremated at a Royal Funeral on 16 January 1986.
"Sujinno Building", a 15-level building of Maharat Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital, was named in his honor. It is located at 18.789617°N 98.974151°W.
? Everyone has something sacred within themselves. To have been born as a complete human being is already sacred. One can be sacred only from within oneself, and not by any amulet
or other so-called sacred objects. Dhamma is sacred, and to have this sacredness, one must have Dhamma within oneself.”
(As a very popular monk
, Luang Pho Waen is often rumoured to have “sacred amulets” - something which Thai people
from all walks of life like to receive from revered monks - for their protective value. People from all over Thailand would often travel to Wat Doi Mae Pang to seek these amulets or other sacred objects from him. He would always give the same answer as the one quoted above.)
Royal Thai General System of Transcription
The Royal Thai General System of Transcription is the official system for rendering Thai language words in the Latin alphabet, published by the Royal Institute of Thailand...
: Luang Pu Waen Su-Chin-No, also Phra Ajahn Waen Sujinno, popularly known as Luang Pho Waen meaning Venerable Grandfather; 16 February 1887 – 2 July 1985) is one of the longest living students of Phra Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta and was a very popular monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Luang Pho Waen Sujinno was also featured in the Asia Magazine. Another true ascetic at heart, he led the thudong life until the point where he could not physically travel any more and had to settle in a forest monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in the Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
region.
Luang Pho Waen Sujinno was a revered monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, highly skilled in Samadhi
Samadhi (Buddhism)
In Buddhism, samādhi is mental concentration or composing the mind.-In the early Suttas:In the Pāli canon of the Theravada tradition and the related Āgamas of other early Buddhist schools, samādhi is found in the following contexts:* In the noble eightfold path, "right concentration" In Buddhism,...
and Dhamma. The most remarkable characteristic of Luang Pho Waen was his dislike of crowded places. He loved to live alone in the forests away from people and urbanized areas just like his teacher, Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta. Some people said that Luang Pho Waen had achieved Arahant level. Tahn Joo Koon Noh had in fact mentioned that "There is a Phra Arahant, but he lives far away, in the forest".
Biography
Luang Pho Waen was born on 16 February 1883 (BE 2431) in TambonTambon
Tambon is a local government unit in Thailand. Below district and province , they form the third administrative subdivision level. As of the 2009 there are 7255 tambon, not including the 169 khwaeng of Bangkok, which are set at the same administrative level, thus every district contains 8-10 tambon...
Na Pong, Mueang District of Loei
Loei
Loei is a town in the north-east of Thailand. In 2005, it had a population of 22,677. Loei covers the whole tambon Kut Pong of Mueang Loei district.Loei is the capital of the Loei Province.- References :...
, Northeast (Isan
Isan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
) of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
to a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
's family. He was named Yarn and had one elder sister. He ordained as a novice in 1892 at Wat Bodhi Chai in Na Pong at the age of nine to fulfill the wish of his mother when she died while he was five years old. At the age of 13, he became a Naen (novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
monk) at Wat Poh Chai, Loei province
Loei Province
Loei is one of the most sparsely populated provinces of Thailand, located in the North-East. Neighboring provinces are Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Nongbua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok...
. He studied with a number of teachers and later ordained as a monk at a temple in Hua Taparn District of Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani is a city on the Mun River in the south-east of the Isan region of Thailand. It is known as Ubon for short. The name means "Royal Lotus City." The provincial seal features a pond with a lotus flower and leaves in a circular frame. Ubon is the administrative centre of Ubon...
at the age of 21.
As a novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
monk, he studied the Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
and Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
, even at that young age he showed exceptional ability. He eventually went Thudong (forest monk) with his teacher, Ajahn Wuhan, travelling from Loei to Ubon Ratchathani, where he remained to learn Dhamma from another teacher, Ajahn Sing.
During his Thudong, he met many disciples of Ajahn Mun whom he had wanted to further his studies under. Luang Pho Waen met Ajahn Mun in BE 2462 (at the age of 31) at Bahn Kor forest, Udon Thani province
Udon Thani Province
Udon Thani is one of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lamphu and Loei.- Geography :...
. Luang Por
POR
POR may refer to:* Punk-O-Rama, a series of compilations by Epitaph Records* P450 oxidoreductase* Country code for Portugal* Power-on reset* Principle of Relativity* Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin* Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance...
Mun Bhuridatta in Udon Thani
Udon Thani
Udon Thani is a city in Isan, north-east Thailand, and the capital of Udon Thani Province.-Location:The province of Udon Thani has a population of 1,467.200, the city alone 500.000. Geographical location and is approximately 560 km from Bangkok...
who taught him the pursuance of a secluded life and the practice of meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
and Dhamma in the jungles. Subsequently Luang Pho Waen travelled very widely in the Northeast of Thailand in search of isolated places where he could meditate. His travelling also took him to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
where he met Chao Khun Phra Upali Gunupamacariya of Wat Bowonniwet
Wat Bowonniwet
Wat Bowonniwet Vihara Rajavaravihara is a major Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. The temple is a center of the Thammayut Nikaya school of Thai Theravada Buddhism and has been a major temple of patronage for the Chakri dynasty. It is the shrine-hall of Phra...
in 1921 with whom Luang Pho Waen spent several years studying and practising the Dhamma. Later Chao Khun Phra Upali took him to Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang is a Buddhist temple in the historic center of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The current temple grounds were originally made up of three temples — Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Ho Tham and Wat Sukmin.-History:...
in Chiang Mai where Luang Pho Waen decided to change from the Maha-Nikaya sect of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
to the stricter Dhammayut sect.
Later he went Thudong again with Ajahn Dteu. Luang Pho Waen, endured many difficulties during his Thudong, he encountered ghosts, wild animals and other dangers but was never afraid despite warnings from local villagers. It was his wish to experience and learn from everything.
Luang Pho 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
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Burma and even Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
on Thudong. At BE 2470, age 39, Luang Pho Waen arrived in Lampang
Lampang
Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and Khelang Nakhon. The city is still growing rapidly as trading...
.
He met another disciple of Ajahn Mun called Ajahn Keow. He was told that Ajahn Mun was in Chiang Mai. Luang Pho Waen quickly Thudong to Chiang Mai to look for Ajahn Mun. Finally he met Ajahn Mun and Ajahn Dteu at Wat Chedi Luang. Ajahn Mun officially accepted Luang Pho Waen as his disciple
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
. He studied Dhamma at Wat Chedi Luang.
After Ajahn Mun left Wat Chedi Luang for Thudong, Luang Pho Waen also went Thudong in Chiang Mai. He stayed at Wat Huainumrin in Chiang Mai Province
Chiang Mai Province
Chiang Mai is the second-largest province of Thailand, located in the north of the country. Neighboring provinces are Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Tak, and Mae Hong Son. In the north it borders Shan State of Burma...
for 10 years. During his long stay in Wat Huainumrin, he stayed most of his time in forests and only returning to the temple during the rainy seasons (Khao Phansa
Vassa
Vassa , also called Rains Retreat, or Buddhist Lent, is the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada practitioners...
).
Luang Pho Waen travelled extensively by foot through jungles and across mountains and even ventured to Burma and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
where he paid homage to several historic Buddhist sites. However, in 1955 news of a foot injury sustained during his stay in seclusion of Wat Paa Ban Pong in Mae Tang District, Chiang Mai, reached Phra Ajahn Noo Suchitto of Wat Doi Mae Pang
Wat Doi Mae Pang
#REDIRECT []]FileWat Doi Mae Pang is a Buddhist temple in Phrao district, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. It is some 75 kilometres from the city Chiang Mai on route 1001 towards Phrao....
who later arranged for Luang Pho Waen to stay in Wat Doi Mae Pang permanently. He resided in Wat Doi Mae Pang until his passing away.
Luang Pho Waen entered Maharaj Hospital on 15 April 1985 when he was found unable to eat or move and was operated on 4 June 1985 in order to feed him through a tube which was inserted into his stomach. However, complications developed and Phra Ajahn Noo, the abbot of Wat Doi Mae Pang, requested doctors not to perform any more operations as he wanted Luang Pho Waen to rest peacefully. His request was accepted by doctors and the Chiang Mai Governor, Mr. Chaiya Punsiriwong.
On 2 July 1985 at 9:54 pm, Luang Pho Waen finally died at the age of 102 years and 5 months after having been in the monkhood for almost 90 years. He was given a royal-sponsored bathing ceremony at Sala Ang Klaew in Chiang Mai University
Chiang Mai University
Chiang Mai University is a public research university in northern Thailand founded in 1964 with a strong emphasis on engineering, science, and agriculture. Its instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing education offered through resident instruction...
which was attended by the King and Queen of Thailand as well as the general public. His remains were cremated at a Royal Funeral on 16 January 1986.
"Sujinno Building", a 15-level building of Maharat Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital, was named in his honor. It is located at 18.789617°N 98.974151°W.
Quotes
“What is sacredSacred
Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
? Everyone has something sacred within themselves. To have been born as a complete human being is already sacred. One can be sacred only from within oneself, and not by any amulet
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
or other so-called sacred objects. Dhamma is sacred, and to have this sacredness, one must have Dhamma within oneself.”
(As a very popular monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
, Luang Pho Waen is often rumoured to have “sacred amulets” - something which Thai people
Thai people
The Thai people, or Siamese, are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Kradai family of...
from all walks of life like to receive from revered monks - for their protective value. People from all over Thailand would often travel to Wat Doi Mae Pang to seek these amulets or other sacred objects from him. He would always give the same answer as the one quoted above.)
See also
- Thai Forest TraditionThai Forest TraditionThe Thai Forest Tradition is a tradition of Buddhist monasticism within Thai Theravada Buddhism. Practitioners inhabit remote wilderness and forest dwellings as spiritual practice training grounds. Maha Nikaya and Dhammayuttika Nikaya are the two major monastic orders in Thailand that have forest...
- Wat AranyawiwakeWat AranyawiwakeWat Aranyawiwake , also known as Wat Ban Pong is a monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition of the Theravada lineage of Buddhism located in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. Phra Ajahn Plien Panyapatipo is the current abbot of Wat Aranyawiwake, where he resided since 1966...
- Ajahn Mun
- Wat Doi Mae PangWat Doi Mae Pang#REDIRECT []]FileWat Doi Mae Pang is a Buddhist temple in Phrao district, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. It is some 75 kilometres from the city Chiang Mai on route 1001 towards Phrao....
- Wat Chedi LuangWat Chedi LuangWat Chedi Luang is a Buddhist temple in the historic center of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The current temple grounds were originally made up of three temples — Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Ho Tham and Wat Sukmin.-History:...
Further reading
- Acariya Maha Boowa: Venerable Acariya Mun Bhuridatta Thera, a Spiritual Biography. Wat Pa Baan Taad 2003, Baan Taad, Amphoe Muang, Udon Thani, 41000 Thailand (no ISBN, available at this address, or 4MB pdf-download here)