Monday 24 March 2008

何是“三好”( Collecting Amulet Knowledge )

按照泰國人選擇及恭請聖物的規矩,完美的聖物需由“三好”條件所構成。(請仔細看以下的資料)

1. 第一好;聖物需由“好高僧”進行製造。

如何基本地調查該位製造聖物的高僧是否夠好﹗首先,需要詢問當地善信。若是真正的好高僧,一定會有不少當地的善信崇拜他。

注意﹗有不少特別在佛牌報刊長期做廣告而漸漸有名的所謂高僧(半真半假),若是詢問該位高僧所住持寺廟附近的民眾,常常發現無人知曉該位高僧的名節。此類高僧所製的聖物,推出市場時常伴隨著廣告,但過了一段時間之後,沒有了廣告的支持,就再也沒有人願意收藏和恭請,而且會發現已恭請過及配戴過的善信,會將當初此些聖物便宜賣出或四處亂扔。這真是奇怪的聖物啊﹗

2.第二好;好聖物需要經過“好的製造儀式”而完成。

也就是說,製造聖物的每一階段過程,都需按照傳統的製造方法,而且此過程,皆需由高僧親自管理而督作。 

注意﹗數十年以來,市場上新推出的聖物,大多數皆是在工廠裡大量開模製造而完成,而且製造儀式的每一階段過程中,皆與高僧無關(高僧並未親自管理而督作)。

3.第三好;製造聖物必須具有“好的目的”。

也就是說,製作與出售聖物所賺來的金錢,應該使用於利益眾生與功德之事,例如;修繕佛塔、修繕廟牆、建築學校、修補馬路、製造佛像等等。

並不是落入某人的口袋或錢包裡。注意﹗目前百分之九十以上的新推出聖物,可說皆是某人、某老闆或某佛牌中心,在幕後出錢製造的,他們雇用工廠大量生產,並廣做廣告,利用高僧之名氣而推出聖物於佛牌市場,此類聖物泰國,人們稱為“老闆聖物”。

據說缺少第三好條件的聖物,將不會得到天上的佛祖、龍波師傅們及神仙們的保佑

Luang Phor Lid


Achan Nong


Wat Sai Khao is located in Changwat Pattani Province, Thailand and is a Maha Nikai Buddhist Temple.

Wat Sai Khao was built in B.E. 2300 and the temple's old church was built in B.E.2478. There are two Nikai or sects of Buddhism in Thailand namely Maha Nikai and Hinayan Nikai, most of the temples in Thailand are Hinayan Nikai temples.

According to the history of Wat Sai Khao, Mr.Peng or Than Pakdichumpol, who moved from Sraiburi (now part of Malaysia), donated the land and money to build the temple before inviting monks to take up residence.Wat Sai Khao was established as a juristic person in B.E.2432, and passed the Pook Pattasima ceremony in B.E.2435. (The ceremony was aimed to define the temple area.) Because of the vast area of the temple, part was used to locate a primary school which has now been in existence since B.E.2460.

Since the construction of Wat Sai Khao, six abbots have taken up residence, the first one was Long Phor Man, and the latest one is Long Phor Peng Pamuto B.E 2543, and a direct descendant of Archan Nong Dharma Bhuto. Wat Sai Khao has been continuously developed with many of the buildings renovated such as Pra Vihara, library, belfry, monks' residences etc. Today it is considered one of the most beautiful temples in the kingdom.

Archan Nong Dharma Bhuto, or Prakru Dharma Kitkosol, was one of two famous monks who were responsible for creating the now famous Long Phor Thuad, Wat Chang Hai amulets in B.E.2478. His co-worker at that time was Phra Ajahn Tim Dharma Taro.

Archan Nong Dharma Bhuto, formerly named Mr.Nong Northong, was born the son of Mr. Rueng and Mrs. Thonpeng, on December 15, B.E.2462, at Tumbol Bankluay, Ma-krood District, Pattani Province. More recently the district's name has changed to Kokbhoti District.

His parents had three children namely; Mrs.Thongchan, Archan Nong Dharma Bhuto and Mr.Nuam. His parents divorced and remarried, and subsequently had a further three daughters, Mrs.Woon (his stepmothers daughter), Mrs. Nuem Kaewthongprakum and Mrs Nium Siriphorn (his stepfathers daughter).

Archan Nong Dharma Bhuto, was ordained as a novice at the age of 19 and as a monk aged 21 on June 27th, B.E. 2482, at Wat Napradoo. Phra Ajahn Tim Dharma Taro, his co-worker, was also ordained on the same day. His preceptor was Prakru Wibul Samanawatra of Wat Mujjarintawapiwihara, who gave him his new Pali-language name as Dharma Bhuto.

B.E.2488 Archan Nong Dharma Bhuto passed the examination for Nak Dharma Chan Aek, or first class Dharma expert.
B.E.2508 Appointed Vice Abbot of Wat Chang Hai.
B.E.2511 Appointed Abbot of Wat Sai Khao, and the monk group leader of Tumbol Kokbhoti,Or Kokbhoti sub-district
B.E.2514 Appointed by the supreme patriarch as Prakru Dharma Kitkosol, as 3rd class Dharma Teacher.
B.E.2524 Appointed by the supreme patriarch as Prakru Dharma Kitkosol, as 2nd class Dharma Teacher.
B.E.2537 Appointed by the supreme patriarch as Prakru Dharma Kitkosol, as 1st class Dharma Teacher.

As previously mentioned he and Pra Ajahn Tim, were ordained on the same day, and naturally were good friends often helping each other on various missions, including an occasion in B.E.2497 when they both co-created the Long Phor Thuad Pranuewan amulets. these amulets are now very rare and expensive, well beyond the budget of the average collector. Fortunately there are however many amulets that do fall within the range of the enthusiast and in the next article on Archan Nong we will be looking at the various amulets he created.

Archan Phor Nong Dharma Bhuto was known as a merciful priest. He often helped the poor, both ordinaries and monks, to be educated. Furthermore, he also helped renovate many buildings, including temples' and public buildings.

He also devoted his entire life to all of Buddhist affairs, regardless of troubles or hardship. Due to his dedication to Buddhism and hard work, Archan Nong Dharma Bhuto was plagued with many diseases, including high blood pressure and lung disease. Although he was treated at hospital his conditioned continually worsened.

Eventually, Archan Nong Dharma Bhuto passed away at 03.27 a.m., on September 11th, B.E.2542, at Kokbhoti hospital. He was aged 80 years of which 60 were devoted to Buddhism. His cremation took place at 03.59 p.m., on the 20th May May B.E.2545, at Wat Sai Khao. Though, his body was burnt, his name will be respected eternally not only by the locals of Patani but by all of Thailand and many international devotees.

His virtues, along with Phra Acharn Tim's, will be always admired, due to their great devotion to Buddhism and the general public. Not only were they some of Thailand's greatest guru monks but the creators of the legendry Long Phor Thuad amulet.

Luang Phor Tae


Holy Venerable Long Phor Tae KongThong, Wat Sahm Ngahm, Nakhon Pathom passed away on the 25th December BE 2524 at his temple, aged 90.

Long Phor Tae was born on 15 September B.E.2434 in Tambon Sahm Ngahm, Amphur Gamphengsean (now called Dong Thom), Jangwat Nakhon Pathom. He was born the 5th child in a family of 7 children. Both LP Tae's parents, Nai Jan Sam Nagm Noi and Nang Boo Sam Nagm Noi were farmers.From the age of seven years he was raised by his Uncle Daeng, who was a monk at Wat Gahlong in Samutsakorn province, where LP Tae first started to study knowledge of Dhamma.At the age of 10 he returned with Long Phor Daeng to their home village, to construct a new temple 20KM south at Tambon Don Pusah.

After three years, in B.E. 2447, the newly built temple was moved from Tambon Don Pusah to Tambon Sam Nagm, and the temple was known as Wat Sam Nagm.Thereafter LP Tae continued to reside at the new temple studying Dharma and magic under his uncle until the age of 20 when he was finally ordained as a monk.

Long Phor Tae eventually was to became the close disciple of Long Phor Tah, the preceptor of Wat Panaengtak. Long Phor Tah taught Long Phor Tae everything he knew about Dhamma and Sammahdti. Long Phor Tae would accompany his Master whenever he went Tudung, until such time that Long Phor Tae had gained sufficient experience to go alone.Long Phor Tae eventually was to became the close disciple of Long Phor Tah, the preceptor of Wat Panaengtak. Long Phor Tah taught Long Phor Tae everything he knew about Dhamma and Sammahdti. Long Phor Tae would accompany his Master whenever he went Tudung, until such time that Long Phor Tae had gained sufficient experience to go alone.


After LP Tah passed away in B.E.2465, LP Tae left for Wat Takong in Nakhon Pathom. Long Phor Chaem was the abbot of Wat Takong and was extremely well known for his strict practice in Dhamma and high attainment in Saiyasaat (magical arts). LP Cham unselfishly imparted everything that he knew on the subjects of Dhamma, meditation, tudong and saiyasaat to LP Tae. Once Long Phor Chaem told Long Phor Tae that: "If you want to become Jow Koon (monk with a high title), take a train to Krungthep (Bangkok). If you want to become a real monk, you must enter the forest." Long Phor Tae choose the latter, and went into the forest and became a Tudung monk.

It is said that Long Phor Tae was a monk who possessed a lot of metta(loving-kindness) and bahramee (power). Whenever Long Por Tae went for Tudung, many villagers would give money and personal possessions but he never accepted the gifts, only morning alms. LP Tae was well known for making 'Guman Thong'. The first temples in Thailand to make 'Guman Thong' were Wat Sahm Ngahm and Wat Takong in Nakhon Pathom.

It was believed that LP Tae had the supernormal power to see wondering souls of the dead that roamed the surroundings and especially souls of those young children. In order to give an opportunity for those souls to make merit before rebirth, LP Tae decided to cast the souls into a child-like statue and give it people who needed help. LP Tae had learned such art from LP Chaem of Wat Takong and also an unnamed monk from Cambodia.

In the year BE 2475, at the age of 40, he became the Abbot of Wat Sam Nagm.
One day, a robber wanted to rob Long Phor Tae of the money, but Luang Por Tae did not stop him, however Long Phor Tae told the robber that the money was not his, but belonged to the villagers who wished to make merits. If he took the money, the villagers would be disappointed because the money was meant for merit making. After the robber had listened to Long Phor Tae's, the robber felt very ashamed and ran off.

According to a story told by the villagers of Nakhon Pathom, in year B.E.2483, there lived an unlucky food peddler in the town centre of Nak Kan Bahn. He was a great chef but no matter how hard he worked, he didn't manage to succeed in his business. One morning while travelling to the town to set up his stall, he met a preaching monk along the way. Immediately, he put down his stuff and scooped a big bowl of food and presented it to the monk.

After finishing the food, the monk walked along with the peddler and spoke with him. He then knew the hardship and unluckiness of the peddler. As they parted, the monk took out a clay doll-like statue from his bag and gave it to the peddler, telling him to treat it well everyday so that his luck will change. Soon after that, the peddler's business got better and better. He then came to know that the monk who gave him the statue was LP Tae, abbot of Wat Sahm Ngahm and the statue was called 'Guman Thong'.

Wat Sahm Ngahm produced numerous pendants of Luang Phor Tae that has brought extreme good luck and great fortune to many people since. Many occasions were recorded that people wearing Long Phor Tae's amulets were unharmed from accidents and there were also stories told by many villagers ( some still living today) and people from all over Thailand that they were saved from both evil spirits and ghosts after wearing LP Tea's amulets. It is also believe that it will bring great Metta to one by wearing amulets of LP Tae.

Besides being a disciple of Long Phor Tah and Long Phor Chaem, Long Phor Tae had also learnt Wichah from a Cambodian Ajahn in Kanchanaburi province. It was said that it was from him that he learnt the arcane secrets of making the famous Guman Thong.

Fortunately most of the knowledge was passed down to his own disciple Ajahn Yem who has continued the tradition.