Venerable Luang Phu Mun Bhuridatta Mahathera

Luang Phu Mun Bhuridatta Mahathera (1870-1949) was born on Thursday, 20th January in 1870 at Kham Bong Village, a farming village in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Northeastern Thailand. He was a son of the Kankaew family. Kamduang was his father and Jan was his mother. He was named Mun (มั่น in Thai), meaning ‘firm’. Mun was the eldest among seven brothers and sisters. He was small in stature and had fair complexion. He was, from childhood, agile and full of vigor, intelligent and resourceful.

At fifteen, Mun was ordained as a novice in the village monastery of Khambong. He spent two years as a novice and then disrobed on the request of his father. He, however, never forgot it and resolved that sooner or later he would return because of an unshakable confidence in a chaste life. Later, he, at the age of twenty-two, was ordained as a monk at Wat Srithong in Ubolrajathani province on the 12th June BE. 2436 (1983), with Vernerable Phra Ariyakavi as his preceptor, Venerable Phrakru Seetha as the Annoucing Teacher and Venerable Phra Kru Prachak Ubolguna as the Instructing Teacher during the ordination procedure. He was given the name Bhuridatto (Blessed with wisdom). After his ordination he went to practice vipassana with Acharn Soa Kantasilo at Wat Liab, along with studying a primary practice focused on good manners for monks and rules for teachers and preceptors. His study was satisfactory to his preceptor. After studying the theory enough for the remainder of his life in the monkhood, the young monk Mun wandered through Thailand, Burma, and Laos, dwelling for the most part in the forest, engaged in the practice together with his teacher, Phra Ajahn Sao Kantasilo Mahathera (1861-1941).

Luang Phu Mun wandered throughout the northeastern villages and towns of Thailand from the beginning of his practice until he had achieved a necessary strength of mind and calmness. This level of practice help him to resist the interest and temperaments characteristic of his ultradynamic mind as well as external stimuli. Then, he journeyed up and down between the central part and the northeastern part of Thailand. He stayed for a Rains Retreat at Wat Pathumvanaram where he regularly went for instruction and advice from his Eminence Phra Upaligunupamacariya (Siricando) of Wat Boromnivas in Bangkok. After the rainy retreat, he journeyed up to Lopburi province and stayed at various caves such as Phaiwang Cave, Mount Khao Phra Ngama, and Singto (Lion) Cave. In all three places he speeded up his efforts regularly developing his meditation and profound insight. A major site of his practice was the Sarika Cave in Khao Yai (Big Mount) in the province of Nakorn Nayok where he had stayed for 3 years and attained anagami (Non-Returner that is the Third Noble one of Four). Later, he became the Perfected One (arhat).

Luang Phu Mun passed away in 1949 at Wat Suddhavasa, Sakon Nakhorn province. His bone fragments, which later became relics including his hairs, were distributed after the cremation ceremony. At present, his teachings and the mode of practice are recognized as a good model that is attracting numerous people who seek enlightenment.

Luang Puh Mun had observed four ascetic practices (thudanga) throughout his life. Even if he became an arahant (perfected one) at a later time he still practised. The ascetic practises are ways to eradicate defilements, thirteen in total . His four ascetic practices were:
1. The practice of wearing robes made from thrown-away cloth
2. The practice of going for alms
3. The practice of eating one's food only from one's bowl
4. The practice of eating no more than one meal a day

Besides these, he also observed the practice of living in the wilderness occasionally, which for him was at least 1 kilometer from the nearest village.