Luang Poo Doo / หลวงปู่ดู่
May 10, 2447/1904 - Jan 17, 2533/1990
Luang Poo Doo (officially called “Pra Prompunyo”) was born
on May 10, B.E.2447 in Uthai District (Ayuttaya Province). His parents Mr.Put
and Mrs.Puang were farmers. It seemed like he was destined to be a famous monk
since the day he was born was one of the most important Buddhist days, called
“Visakha Bucha Day” - a day to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death
of Lord Buddha.
(note: It is recorded that Lord Buddha was born, enlightened
and passed away on the full moon night of the sixth month according to the
lunar calendar. Really a great miracle that all the three events occurred on
the same date.)
CHILDHOOD:
Floating baby story
He was just a little baby when a strange thing happened on
one rainy day. It was raining so hard that their house and all the surroundings
were flooded. The parents was very poor and therefore aside from daily farming
they were also making little snacks to sell at the downtown-market. On that
day, while they were cooking, they suddenly heard the dogs barking loudly. When
they came out to see what was going on they almost fainted because their little
baby, Doo, was floating on the river, flushed away from the yard by the quickly
growing stream. The baby was lying on a big pillow, which helped to save him
from drowning and Mr. Put managed to bring the boy back home. However the
incident made his parents believe that their baby had some magic power that had
helped saving his life - otherwise he would have been killed by the wild river.
Poor orphan
Unfortunately Mr.Put
and Mrs.Puang had no chance to see Luang Poo Doo ’s success in the priesthood
as they both passed away around the time when Luang Poo Doo was just 4 years
old. He had become a little poor orphan who was raised by his grand mother and
sisters. They later sent him to be
educated at Wat Pradoosong Dharma.
EDUCATION:
Luang Poo Doo had begun his education at Wat Pradoosong
Dharma, where he was ordained as a novice. When he’s 21 years old (May 10,
2468), he was ordained as a Buddhist monk at Wat Sakae by another famous sacred
monk named Luang Phor Klun, the abbot of Wat Pra Yatikaram (as well as Luang
Poo Chai, the abbot of Wat Klang Klongsrabua and Luang Poo Dae, the abbot of
Wat Srakae). After that he had moved to stay at Wat Sakae to continue learning
higher levels of Lord Buddha’s Dharma as well as to spend the most of his life.
Soon he started learnig Dhamma from many senior monks including Luang Phor
Klun, Luang Phor Nueng, Luang Phor Chom, Luang Phor Rod and Luang Phor Pao.
Particularly Luang Phor Klun had taught him about meditations, which was the
most important science that would later helped him to become a famous
magic-power expert, as well as Luang Por Pao, who was teaching him a lot of
magic sciences which later helped to
create sacred amulets to help protecting people from danger and evil.
MAGIC SCIENCE:
Luang Phor Doo, just like other sacred monks, tried to learn
various magic sciences. To get the right experience he set out for travel to
the deep forests in Karnchanaburi and Supunburi Province. He also stayed at the
very respected sacred shrine “Pra Tandongrung”. It was recorded that at the
time he was very interested in sacred tattooing, and got tattooed on the most
of his body. However later, when he grown older, he considered that sacred
tattooing was just a magic science that does not really help people being truly
unleashed from the circle of creatures (comprising the birth, aging,, being ill
and dying). That's why he had turned to be more interested in meditations,
which was accepted as the best way to help developing the human soul to be
purified and powerful enough to leave the circle.
(note: According to Lord Buddha’s teachings all creatures in
this world must be reborn repeatedly until their souls are purified and void of
sins, which had bounded them to the circle. By practicing meditations your mind
gets more and more purified and powerful until you could get rid of all sins
and leave the circle.)
MEDITATION AND OTHER SACRED TEACHINGS:
Actually Luang Poo Doo was really lucky because of his
teacher Luang Por Klun, who showed him how to practice meditation by
controlling his breath by both, the inhalation and exhalation. By the way, when
he inhaled he would say “Buddh” and when exhaled he would say “Dho”. By the
practicing his mind, one becomes to be more and more purified and his soul
would get closer and closer to Lord Buddha. For ordinary people it isn't that
simple because human hearts naturally lack the concentration. Sometimes you
might be worried about your family, your children, your businesses etc, and
therefore it is quite necessary to practice meditation at the right place and
under a sacred control and help of monks. That’s the main reason for some
people can be successful in meditation while others are not. All the people, who were led by Luang Poo Doo
were really lucky because apart from the senior monk’s heartfelt dedications,
his sacred power would also help to protect the peoples' souls from spirits
that might try to obstruct or disturb them while they are meditating.
A wonderful dream story
Around the year B.E.2500, LP Doo had a dream that he ate
three stars. After he awakened he concluded that the three stars were the three
main parts of Buddhism: Buddha (Lord Buddha), Dharma (Lord Buddha’s teachings)
and Sangkha (monks). Therefore he decided to recite the sacred spell called Tra
Saranakom:
Buddhung Saranung Kutchami,
Dharmung Saranung Kutchami,
Sangkhung Saranung Kutchami
A spell to get rid of thieves story
There was annoying period when Wat Srakae was often visited
by thieves who kept regularly stealing various things. LP Doo was trying to
find a way to get rid of them and he had found the name of “Archarn Choti”, a
famous ancient monk, who used to have a special spell that could help tu push
the thieves away.
(note: Acharn Choti, was an ancient Buddhist monk who is
famous in the Thai history. Around 250 years ago, when the Burmese armies had
invaded the Kingdom of Siam(Thailand), Archarn Choti led a group of people in
Bang-rajun Village, a group of villagers with almost no weapons to fight and
kill Burmese invaders .)
Thus, LP Doo kept praying and asking Archarn Choti in his
dreams for the spell, but there was no responses until several years after,
when Luang Poo Doo almost forgot about the issue:
A young man visited Wat Sakae and was ordained a Buddhist
monk by LP Doo, who had also helped teaching him to practice meditations. After
some time this young monk approached LP Doo with an amazing question.
“Have you ever known Archarn Choti?” The
question really surprised LP Doo since he had been waiting for many years for
any response from the ancient sacred monk.
“Yes, I have.”, replied Luang Poo Doo.
“Archarn Choti had come to me in my
meditations and wished to tell you that you should be interested in that sacred
spell because these spells are black magic and it would hinder you from your
future enlightement.”, said the young monk.
A lot of witnesses were present and could hear their
conversation. They could also hear Luang Poo Doo saying: “Actually, I almost
forgot about the spell already because too many years had passed. But
eventually Archarn Choti gave me the
answer through you.”
(note: It was believed that the persons, who had succeeded
in practicing meditations would be able to contact the spirits and souls of
dead people.)
“Kumarn Hoo-tum” story
Luang Poo Doo was very famous for his simple way of teaching
Lord Buddha’s Dharma. He would always tell an easygoing story that could be
easily understood by the rustic local people to help them find the true
instructions of Lord Buddha. One of his most famous story was called “Kumarn
Hoo-tum”. The story was about a millionaire, who was mean and never wanted to
pay money in any way even when his son named “Kumarn Hoo-tum” got seriously ill
and needed some help. Eventually the boy died. Because of the mercy of Lord
Buddha, before he had seen a miraculous light, caused by Lord Buddha’s sacred
power. He recognised that the light Lord Buddha's mercy for all creatures. At
that moment the boy fell to respect to Lord Buddha and after his soul had left
his body he was born in heaven and was renamed to “Mutta Khuntasi Dhepbutra”,
and blessed to stay in heaven forever.
Mercy for all
Luang Poo Doo was famous for his mercy for all creatures and
everyone, who visited the temple, would be allowed to touch his mercy. LP Doo
would never refuse welcoming them despite being very tired, after working hard
all day.
IMPRESSIVE WORDS:
“Just only thinking of Lord Buddha’s
mercy could cause you a lot of virtues. Therefore if you often remind
yourselves of Lord Buddha, Dharma and Sangkha you would surely gain lots of
virtues that would lead you to heaven after you have passed away.”, used to say
LP Doo.
“If you want to be successful you must
begin to do something, not just only waiting for miracle to help you. Lord
Buddha is the best example, he went through everything - he suffered from
various tortures before he could be enlightened and so should do all the
creatures, if they want to follow Lord Buddha’s way. Just begin today, and
success will be waiting for you indeed - sooner or later, it just depends how
hard you’ve tried. ”.
WEAK HEALTH:
In around B.E.2527 Luang Poo Doo ’s health became worse. He
had to visit the hospital several times, and was found to have a serious heart
disease. Although it was suggested to him to stay at the hospital for many
times until his heart becomes better, he
refused and stayed at the Wat. He was
simply felt so responsible for the Buddhism activities and all of his followers
at the temple. LP Doo kept on hard working until the year B.E.2532. Lots of
people were visiting the temple to listen to his teachings, without realising
that the old monk was seriously ill. LP Doo never complained about his weakened
health, he had just kept on teaching Lord Buddha’s Dharma to all visitors.
On Tuesday, 16th January 1990 in the afternoon he talked to
one of his students who was a Thai air force officer. During conversation his
face glowed and he said: “I will no longer feel pain.” In the night of that day
many followers came to visit him. Luang Phor Doo said: “there are no parts of
my body that don't feel pain,” and he confirmed “I am leaving.” In his last
words to his followers, he warned them not to be careless and not to neglect
the dharma. He compared meditation practice to boxing: “Dharma practise is like
a boxer in the ring. You have to start punching right away and don't fool
around.” After that he retired to his kuti where he died peacefully on
Wednesday, 17th January 1990 at the age of 85. On 20th April 1991 royal a
funeral service was arranged in his honour. Luang Phor Doo spent 65 years of
his life in robes. Though he is gone, his teaching lives on in the hearts and
minds of his students.
Although LP Doo has been away for more than 16 years, lots
of people keep visiting Wat Sakae every year to organize a Buddhism ceremony
dedicated to him and his work that helped to lead many people to successful
ways of lives.
SACRED AMULETS:
Due to his reputation in possessing supernatural powers and
mastering magic sciences, many people seek his amulets. Many stories about his
amulets' supernatural power are circulating among Thai people (the amulets
saved many lives and some of them also helped poor people to win lottery
prices). Because of their brilliant reputation it is quite hard to get a
genuine amulet by Luang Poo Doo. Besides the fact that there is always a huge
lot of fakes at Thai amulet market, Luang Poo Doo made so many series of
amulets that it is really difficult to remember and distinguish between the
true and fake amulets.
The most famous of his amulets are probably the silver
rings. They were made of 12.6 - gram gold and called Prohmpun-yo rings.
Luang Phor Thuad
Luang Poo Doo highly respected Luang Phor Thuad of Wat Chang
Hai, and he would always teach all of his followers to give respect to this
sacred monk. “Luang Phor Thuad is a
high-level Dharma practitioner, who would definitely succeed in his
enlightenment as Lord Buddha in the future.”, used to say LP Doo. The local
people from Ayuttaya are ensured that LP Doo was a reincarnation of LP Thuad
himself. LP Doo used to contact LP Thuad during meditations and LP Thuad
reputedly helped him to make particular amulets.
Also, one of LP Doo ’s most famous series of sacred amulets
was called “Rian Perdloke (= Open The World)” - a sacred coin with the portrait
of Luang Phor Tuad embossed on the front side and on the sacred endorsement and
the name of Luang Poo Doo of Wat Sa-kae on back, together with the Thai number
identified B.E.2532 (which was the year that this series of amulets was
made). The followers of Luang Poo Doo
revealed that Luang Poo Doo would tell them them that while he was reciting the
sacred spells to create the Rian Perdloke his mind could touch a miracle light
that had penetrated into the three worlds.
(note: “The three worlds” hereby means the world of human -
beings, the hell, and the heaven.)
Though Luang Poo Doo had confirmed about his amulets’ sacred
power, he had also warned people to avoid sinful deeds because his amulets
would be ultimately sacred when they were hanged on the necks of good people
only.
