Friday 28 March 2008

Kruba Srivichai


KUBA SRI-VI-CHAI of Wat Bahn Phang. He was born on 11 September1878 at LUMPOON province, North Thailand. On that day, there was a thunderstorm with lightning. When "KUBA SRI-VI-CHAI" was born, the sky suddenly turned clear and sunny. After became a monk for 11 years (BE2450), Buddhism was gaining more popularity in Thailand and many people became monks. The government established some rules to control the people becoming monks. One of the rules was that, whoever wanted to ordain, had to apply for permit from the province head. Many people in Bahn Pahng wanted to ordain as monk under Phra Krubah Seewichai. Phra Krubah Seewichai applied the permit for them to be ordained. However, after waiting for a few months, there was no reply from the province head. Phra Krubah Seewichai, felt that as long as the parents of the person had given permission for his son to be ordained, it was alright to ordain him even there was no permission from the province head. He went ahead and ordained many people in the village without permission. The province head came to know and was very furious, saying that Phra Krubah Seewichai was arrogant and did not respect authority. Phra Krubah Seewichai explained to the province head, and finally forgiven. However since that time, Phra Krubah Seewichai had to asked for permit for people to be ordained as monks frequently as there were many people wanted to be ordained under him. "KUBA SRI-VI-CHAI" was unable to attend meetings held by the Buddhist Council, because he had spent most of his time practicing Sammahdti. This caused the head of the Buddhist Council in Lampoon very angry and punished "KUBA SRI-VI-CHAI" by sending him to become a normal monk in Wat Pratahirikonchai thus stripping him of his abbot appointment in Wat Bahn Pahng. "KUBA SRI-VI-CHAI" accepted the punishment without questions and stayed in Wat Pratahirikonchai, practising Sammahdti and never left the temple for one year.On the day, he went to Bangkok, there was a huge crowd to send him off. When he reached Bangkok, he stayed in Wat Benjamabopit. The King of thai monk asked him about the whole issue, and found that there was no faults committed by "KUBA SRI-VI-CHAI" .The King of thai monk allowed Phra Krubah Seewichai to return and stay in any temples in Lampoon as he wished.