Luangpor Thong
Encyclopedia
Commonly referred to as Luangpor Thong, Luangpor Thong Abhakaro is a Buddhist monk and teacher of Mahasati Meditation
—a meditation
method developed by his teacher, Luangpor Teean Jittasubho. The title Luangpor is used in Thailand to express respect for senior Buddhist monks and it means "venerable father".
, Nong Bua Lamphu Province, Northeast of Thailand
. Luangpor Thong’s parents were both farmers. His father died when the young boy was only 7 years old. From then on, the future monk was raised mostly by his mother.
In 1961, at the age of 22, he was fully ordained as a monk, and received his Buddhist name, Abhakaro. Then Luangpor Thong studied the traditional Dhamma courses for six years.
In 1967, he met Luangpor Teean Jittasubho, the founder of Mahasati meditation
. Luangpor Thong asked his teacher for an intensive meditation retreat under his guidance. Luangpor Thong asked permission to remain secluded in a small cottage practicing by himself, without any obligation to go chanting or asking for alms. Luangpor Teean agreed. Since then, this arrangement became a regular practice during Luangpor Teean's meditation retreats. The young disciple practiced this method
continuously for thirty days and reached the state of Roop-Nahm (body-mind basic stage). Luangpor Thong continued practicing without interruption for another nine days, and achieved the state of “Birth-Extinction”—a doubtless understanding of life and death.
In 1985, Luangpor Teean appointed Luangpor Thong as the abbot of Wat Sanamnai, the most important Mahasati Meditation Center in Thailand. In 1989, Luangpor Teean died. That year, the “Luangpor Teean Jittasubho (Pann Intapew) Foundation” was founded, with Luangpor Thong as its president.
In 1995, Luangpor Thong established the “Mahasati Association of America,” a non-profit organization with the mission of teaching the Mahasati Meditation in the United States.
Nowadays, Luangpor Thong continues spreading his Teacher’s method throughout the United States
, China
, and Taiwan
.
or insight meditation, Mahasati meditation uses movement of the body to generate self-awareness
and is a powerful method for self-realization
. Mahasati Meditation is practiced throughout Asia and in the United States and is appropriate for anyone regardless of religion
or nationality
. It is suitable for beginners or those with previous meditation experience.
Mahasati Meditation
Also known as Dynamic meditation, Mahasati Meditation is a form of mindfulness meditation. It is a technique developed by the late Thai Buddhist reformist, Luangpor Teean Jittasubho. Mahasati Meditation uses movement of the body to generate self-awareness and is a powerful tool for self-realization...
—a 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....
method developed by his teacher, Luangpor Teean Jittasubho. The title Luangpor is used in Thailand to express respect for senior Buddhist monks and it means "venerable father".
Biography
Luangpor Thong Abhakaro was born on May 14, 1939 at Mueang DistrictAmphoe Mueang Nongbua Lamphu
Mueang Nongbua Lamphu is the capital district of Nongbua Lamphu Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Non Sang, Si Bun Rueang, Na Klang of Nongbua Lamphu Province, Kut Chap and Nong Wua So of Udon Thani Province.-Administration:The district is subdivided into 15...
, Nong Bua Lamphu Province, Northeast 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...
. Luangpor Thong’s parents were both farmers. His father died when the young boy was only 7 years old. From then on, the future monk was raised mostly by his mother.
In 1961, at the age of 22, he was fully ordained as a monk, and received his Buddhist name, Abhakaro. Then Luangpor Thong studied the traditional Dhamma courses for six years.
In 1967, he met Luangpor Teean Jittasubho, the founder of Mahasati meditation
Mahasati Meditation
Also known as Dynamic meditation, Mahasati Meditation is a form of mindfulness meditation. It is a technique developed by the late Thai Buddhist reformist, Luangpor Teean Jittasubho. Mahasati Meditation uses movement of the body to generate self-awareness and is a powerful tool for self-realization...
. Luangpor Thong asked his teacher for an intensive meditation retreat under his guidance. Luangpor Thong asked permission to remain secluded in a small cottage practicing by himself, without any obligation to go chanting or asking for alms. Luangpor Teean agreed. Since then, this arrangement became a regular practice during Luangpor Teean's meditation retreats. The young disciple practiced this method
Methodology
Methodology is generally a guideline for solving a problem, with specificcomponents such as phases, tasks, methods, techniques and tools . It can be defined also as follows:...
continuously for thirty days and reached the state of Roop-Nahm (body-mind basic stage). Luangpor Thong continued practicing without interruption for another nine days, and achieved the state of “Birth-Extinction”—a doubtless understanding of life and death.
In 1985, Luangpor Teean appointed Luangpor Thong as the abbot of Wat Sanamnai, the most important Mahasati Meditation Center in Thailand. In 1989, Luangpor Teean died. That year, the “Luangpor Teean Jittasubho (Pann Intapew) Foundation” was founded, with Luangpor Thong as its president.
In 1995, Luangpor Thong established the “Mahasati Association of America,” a non-profit organization with the mission of teaching the Mahasati Meditation in the United States.
Nowadays, Luangpor Thong continues spreading his Teacher’s method throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
Teachings
A form of vipassanaVipassana
Vipassanā or vipaśyanā in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the true nature of reality. A regular practitioner of Vipassana is known as a Vipassi . Vipassana is one of the world's most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Gautama Buddha...
or insight meditation, Mahasati meditation uses movement of the body to generate self-awareness
Self-awareness
Self-awareness is the capacity for introspection and the ability to reconcile oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals...
and is a powerful method for self-realization
Self-realization
Self-realization is a self-awakening.Self-realization may also refer to:* Self-Realization Fellowship, worldwide spiritual organization founded by Paramahansa Yogananda...
. Mahasati Meditation is practiced throughout Asia and in the United States and is appropriate for anyone regardless of religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
or nationality
Nationality
Nationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity....
. It is suitable for beginners or those with previous meditation experience.
Further reading
- Luangpor Thong Abhakaro, Beyond Text, Beyond Scriptures
- _____________, Mahasati Meditation, Taiwan: Mahasati Meditation of Taiwan, 2009 (Chinese Version)
- Luangpor Teean, To One that Feels. Bangkok: Supa Printing Co, Ltd., 3rd Ed 2005, ISBN 974-94394-3-0
- _____________, Normality, Bangkok: Luangpor Teean Foundation, 2004
- _____________, Nibbana, Bangkok: Medchai Printing House, 2006 (Thai Version)
- _____________, A Manual of Self-Awareness, Bangkok: Luangpor Teean Foundation, 1994
- _____________, Teacher, teaching, Bangkok: Luangpor Teean Foundation, 1997, ISBN 974-89976-1-8