Pra Acharn Chan (The Abbot)

(Translation)
Sermon by Venerable Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno
A part of the sermon to laymen at Wat Pa Baan Tad,Udornthani
On 30th August 2004

“….. Than Chan (Pra Acharn Chan) of Muang Kan Monastery (Tiger Temple, Kanchanaburi) had also been here (Wat Pa Baan Tad, Udornthani) for at least 6 years. He had practiced with me closely since the day he was ordained at this monastery. He was very close to me. After leaving here, he went to Muang Kan (Kanchanaburi). When he went to Muang Kan, they happened to offer me the place (land) he is staying now. When the place (land) was offered and I knew after making inquiry that there was no monastery there. In addition, the place is proper. It will be good if I accepted the place then there would be monks there. So, I accepted the offering. After accepting, I summoned Than Chan. Than Chan was staying next to Myanmar. It’s a deep forest called Thung Naresuan with plenty of wildlife. Upon his arrival, I asked him about the place he stayed, and whether he had any objection if I asked him to stay at the place they offered me. He said he had no objection. So I accepted the offered land and let Than Chan to stay in place of me. As a result, it has become another presence there……”.

(Translation)
Sermon by Venerable Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno
A part of the sermon to laymen at Wat Pa Baan Tad,Udornthani
On 3rd August 2004

“….One of Than Chan (Pra Acharn Chan)’s goodness is that he is kind to animals. Than Chan is a native of Khlong Dan, Samut Prakarn, but was a monk at Wat Pa Baan Tad. After being ordained, he had stayed here for several years, about 6 or 7 years. He really paid attention to the practice. He has been very close to me. Then, he left here to stay there, at Thongphaphum towards the Myanmar. When they offered the land for building a monastery, I, therefore, asked him to stay there. I scolded him when it was proper. But when I saw his kindness to animals, my strictness decreased. So, we can stay together comfortably, as he feels pity for animals, and so do I…"

(Translation)
Sermon by Venerable Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno
A part of the sermon to laymen at Wat Pa Baan Tad, Udornthani
On 1st March 2004

…..(Luangta greeted a disciple) “….. I thought you were not well, as most of regular visitors who fail to turn up will often be unwell. I feel pity for Acharn Chintana (Phunglaor). I went all the way to see her at her place, as I hadn’t seen her for such a long time. Achan Chintana had given quite a lot of patronage. I bought land for Wat Koksathon. Suddenly I went short of funds. Here, she topped it up instantly. She had been sick and had not come here for a long time. I felt sorry for her, and so I went to her place. We asked people until getting to her home at Paknam. It was pitiful. She has one son only, named Nok. He was ordained here for 3 months. He was ordained at the same time as Than Chan (Pra Acharn Chan) of Wat Pa Luangta Bua. Long time ago she would like her son to be ordained here. It is known that normally this monastery is always full. But she wouldn’t feel comfortable to let her son be ordained elsewhere. She felt comfortable here, but it was always full here. So she decided to write to me. After reading, I asked the monks to find a place for Nok and another one, Than Chan, to be considered urgently. When that was ready, the monks told me, and I wrote to Achan Chintana. She remembered that it was my letter. “Don’t feel like to read it”. If read, it would be to get the disappointment, as my letter would tell her of the rejection. When read, she felt very cheerful..on the news that her son was accepted to stay here…her only son. He was ordained together with Than Chan. Than Chan (Pra Acharn Chan) stayed for several years. After leaving here, he went to Muang Kan (Kanchanaburi). Thus, I appoint him as the abbot there, at the Tiger Monastery…..”.

(Translation)
Sermon by Venerable Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno
A part of the sermon to laymen at Suansaengtham,Bangkok
On 17th December 2002 (a.m.)

“….So this rice will be taken there. I feel pity for the animals at Wat Pa Luangta Bua. I feel sympathy for Than Chan (Pra Acharn Chan). Than Chan was a monk at Wat Pa Baan Tad. After ordination, he had been at Wat Pa Baan Tad for several years, not less than 6 years. After that, he went to stay at Muang Kan (Kanchanaburi). Then they offered the land here. I considered about the meditation place for monks, benefit from the meditation by monks. These places are in the remote parts. There were hardly any monks who really paid attention to the practice to stay around here. So, I accepted the land as offered by the owner. Normally, I am offered a lot of lands. To build a monastery may be easy for some. But for me, if I accept any, there will be reason behind that.
Like this Pathumthani Monastery, they offered, and I considered. When I accepted, I must find someone to stay. Then, I invited Acharn Chia to stay, and he came promptly. So, that is to relieve my burden. That is the way, when accepting any place, one must bear the responsibility. Not to accept thoughtlessly, no, not like that. I accepted the Tiger Monastery and Pathumthani Monastery, so I must find someone to stay (the abbot). I have reason for doing anything, not to do anything thoughtlessly.

(Translation)
Sermon by Venerable Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno
A part of the sermon to laymen at Wat Pa Baan Tad,Udornthani
On 12th January 2002

"…In Pathumthani I got Acharn Chia to stay there. I must be responsible for any places accepted by me. At Muang Kan (Kanchanaburi), it’s Wat Pa Luangta Bua. Because that area is very far from the meditation circle, there is at Thongphaphum, which is far. Then, they offered the land here. I asked about the location and they said around Saiyok District. So I went to have a look and accepted. After accepting, I asked Than Chan (Pra Acharn Chan) to stay. He’s a native of Khlongdan, with a Master Degree. After ordination, he stayed here (Wat Pa Baan Tad) for several years. After leaving here, he went to stay at Muang Kan (Kanchanaburi). When I was offered the land at Muang Kan, I asked him to stay here. He accepted at once when he saw that there were monks staying there (his old monastery).
Acharn Chia stays at Pathumthani. This is good as well. There are 2 monasteries that I accepted, one at Pathum (Pathumthani), another one Wat Pa Luangta Bua at Saiyok, Muang Kan (Kanchanaburi)…".