FEATURE: Luang Phor Wean, Wat DoiMaePung, Rian AnamaiPhro B.E 2517 (1974).

Luang Phor Wean, Wat Wat DoiMaePung, Chiang Mai.

Rian AnamaiPhro B.E 2517 (1974).

Luang Phor Waen Sujinno was born on the 16^th February B.E 2430 (1887) in Tambon Na Pong, Muang District of Loei Province to a blacksmith's family. He was named Yarn and had one elder sister. He ordained as a novice monk in 1892 at Wat Bodhi Chai in Na Pong at the age of 9 to fulfill the wish of his mother, when she suddenly died, while Luang Phor Waen was 5 years old. He studied with a number of teachers and later ordained as a monk at a temple in Hua Tapam district of Ubon Ratchathani at the age of 21. Copyright ZapMonster Amulet Tale zapmonster.blogspot.com.

Amongst the teachers he studied with, one of them was Ajarn Mun Bhuridatta Thera in Udon Thani who taught him the virtues of the pursuance of a secluded life and the practice of meditation and Dhamma in the jungles. Subsequently, Luang Pu traveled widely in the Northeast of Thailand in search of isolated places where he could meditate. Copyright ZapMonster Amulet Tale zapmonster.blogspot.com. His travels took him to Bangkok where he metChao Khun Phra Upali Gunupamacariya of Wat Bovoranives in B.E 2464 (1921) with whom Luang Pu Waen spent several years studying and practising the Dhamma. Later, Chao Khun Phra Upali took him to Wat Chedi Luang in Chiangmai where Luang Pu Waen decided to make a switch from the Maha Nikaya sect of the Theravada Buddhism to the stricter Dhammayutika Nikaya sect.

Luang Phor Waen travelled extensively by foot through thick jungles and remote mountains and even ventured into Myanmar and India where he paid homage at several historic sacred Buddhist sites. In the year B.E (1995), news of a foot injury sustained during his stay in the seclusion at Wat Paa Ban Pong in Mae Taeng District, Chiangmai, reached Ajarn Noo Suchito of Wat Doi Mae Pang, who later arranged for Luang Phor Waen to stay in Wat Doi Mae Pang permanently. Wat Doi Mae Pang then became the residence of Luang Phor Waen until his passing away in B.E 2528 (1985) at age of 98.

Luang Phor Waen was widely rumoured to possess the mystical power to float in the air, to cure illness and to energize amulets that protected the wearer from bullets and knives. General Kriangsak Chamanand, supreme commander of the armed forces in B.E 2522 (1979) gave Thai soldiers amulets of Luang Phor Waen to protect them against what he described as Thailand's greatest enemy at that time, the Communist Party.  Copyright ZapMonster Amulet Tale zapmonster.blogspot.com. The King in B.E 2521 (1978) sponsored a medallion with the images of Luang Phor Waen and the royal crown which was sold to pay for the construction of several hospitals. The popular amulets were distributed through banks and businesses and raised billions of baht.

Luang Phor Waen became popular when a pilot of the Royal Thai Air Force was flying a plane and he suddenly noticed a monk sitting meditating outside his cabin. Yet he thought that was strange and he told people about it when he got back but no one knew who it could have been. He was interested, then he got his maps out, looked at where he had been flying and calculated that he had been flying over Doi Mae Pang when it happened. So he went back and talked to the villagers. They told him that Luang Phor Waen was the monk they most respected and he decided it must be him. Besdies, Luang Phor Waen meditates regularly and that makes him "extraordinary". Since after that incident, he has been famous all over Thailand.  Copyright ZapMonster Amulet Tale zapmonster.blogspot.com.

Though he didn't like fame, this incident made him the most popular monk of Thailand in that decade. He attracted the Royal Patronage and King Bhumipol became a closer devotee of Luang Phor Waen. In the latter period of his life, the abbot of his resident monastery 'Wat Doi Mae Pang' had to limit and control the number of people who came to visit Luang Phor Waen.

One day, a doctor had got a rare chance to ask from him about the incident of the air-force pilot. 'Do you think I'm a bird' - was the reply of Luang Por.

This Rian AnamaiPhro batch of amulet was requested by villagers from "Phro" district (Chiang Mai) in B.E 2517 (1974) when Luang Phor was at an age of 87. The chief village name "Artdison Matniwong" came to LP Waen and request Luang Phor Waen to fund money for a clinic in district "Phro". During that time money for this batch of amulet sold full amount was used to build the clinic. This batch was made with the purest intention to help rebuilt a rundown clinic. This clinic located in a remote area of Thailand was the only medical facility the villagers had access to.  Copyright ZapMonster Amulet Tale zapmonster.blogspot.com. But in order to serve the villagers, the management of the clinic had to renovate and purchase many new equipment. But money was an issue and they had no other avenues to raise funds, so they seek permission from Luang Phor Waen to use his image for this batch of amulets. Hearing the purpose of this batch, Luang Phor Waen gave them his permission and blessed this batch of amulet for the longest time ever.

This rian is no longer with me as it was meant to be a gift to a very good buddy of mine.

There is an article from J.M. Cadet’s book “Monks, Mountains and Magic, Chiang Mai, 1990”, Visiting a Famous Monk in Northern Thailand, which is linked here as an interesting read. http://www.chiangmaitouristguide.com/03-2009/feature1.html Copyright ZapMonster Amulet Tale zapmonster.blogspot.com.