Luang Por Waen Sujinno
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Luang Por Waen Sujinno or Phra Ajahn Waen Sujinno is one of the longest living students of Phra Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta (died at the age of 102, after 90 over years in the Sangha), Phra Ajahn Waen Sujinno (popularly known as Luang Por Waen meaning Venerable Grandfather) was a very popular monk amongst the Thais. Luang Por Waen Sujinno was also featured in the Asia Magazine. Another true ascetic at heart, he lead 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 Por Waen Sujinno was a revered monk, highly skilled in Samadhi and Dhamma. The most remarkable characteristic of Luang Por 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. Some people said that Luang Por 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".
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[edit] Biography
Luang Por Waen was born on 16 February 1883 (BE 2431) in Tambon Na Pong, Muang 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 his studies under. Luang Por 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 Por 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 Bovoranives in 1921 with whom Luang Por 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 Por 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 Por 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 Por 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 Por 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 Por 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 Por Waen as his disciple. He studied Dhamma at Wat Chedi Luang.
After Ajahn Mun left Wat Chedi Luang for Thudong, Luang Por 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 (Khow Pansah).
Luang Por 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 Por Waen to stay in Wat Doi Mae Pang permanently. He resided in Wat Doi Mae Pang until his passing away.
Luang Por 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 Por 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 Por 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.
[edit] Quotes
“What is 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 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 Por 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.)
[edit] See also
- Ajahn Plien
