Never steal from monks
One of the top 10 great Guru monks of the country (Thailand) is Luang Phor Chong of Wat NaTangNok Temple, BangSai district, Ayuthaya province. He passed away on the Buddhist important MaKhaBuCha day of February 17th, B.E. 2508, with the age of 93. Luang Phor Chong and Luang Phor Parn of Wat BangNomKho are close friends and respected high Dhamma practices of each other. They had the same teachers viz LP Soon of Wat BangPlaMoh and LP Paan of Wat PikulSokant.
Even Luang Phor Parn reached extremely high miraculous knowledges of “Apinya” and “Wipassana”, he still often admired Luang Phor Chong as a good great monk. Once in the evening Luang Phor Chong was taking a rest at the pier in front of his temple, a small group of men rowed across the canal. After tying a boat robe to a pier hook, one said unrespectably to Luang Phor Chong,”Luang Phor, would you guard my boat because I was told that so many thiefs around here.” The old Luang Phor Chong said slowly and mercifully to that man, “Alright, I’ll guard your boat as mine… don’t worry.”
The group of men came back to the pier at around midnight, they saw Luang Phor Chong still sat alone at the pier. “Wow, how great it is, you’re still sitting here so many hours, I thank you for guarding my boat,” said a man. “You ordered me to guard your boat, I completely did it,” Luang Phor Chong said slowly to the man.
But at the evening of the next day, the men came to Luang Phor Chong’s Kuti(monk’s house) with flowers, incenses and candles on their hands. They had paid obeisance to Luang Phor Chong and said, “I come here to apologize you for ordering to guard my boat, I have been told that the you are Luang Phor Chong, so please apologize all of us for doing a great sin, please grant us your apology.”
“Huh, huh… alright man… you ordered me and I did it for you… it’s no sin… from now on remind yourself do not order any monk as your servant,” said Luang Phor Chong. He also taught them a short brief of Buddha’s Dhamma. All the men listened quietly and wept, then they pay obeisance with full respect to Luang Phor Chong’s legs.
Luang Phor Chong was a great donor. Any temple troubled with lacking of Kutis, he would order his monk disciples dismantle them and brought to the lacking temple. Even thieves came into his temple to steal some thing that’s difficult to get, Luang Phor Chong knew that and called them to get it.Yes, he gave stuffs to thieves but never forgot to taught them that stealing monk’s stuffs was a great sin. Many thieves gave up stealing by his teachings.
Luang Phor Parn of Wat BangNomKho admired Luang Phor Chong to all his disciples that he was like a gold monk statue, and that a monk of this kind one should never beg anything from him because he would give everything that was begged for. Whenever Laung Phor Parn performed any religious ritual at his temple, he would invite Luang Phor Chong to join. Once Luang Phor Parn urged his close monk disciple to go by a motor boat to invite Luang Phor Chong to join a ritual, but Luang Phor Chong told the monk to go back in advance and he would go by himself later. As soon as the monk had come back and reported to Luang Phor Parn that Luang Phor Chong would come later, Luang Phor Parn laughed mildly and pointed to Luang Phor Chong who was sitting right there!!
How did he come with a short time? It’s many miles distance between the two temples, if going by walking it would take a few hours. It was recorded that Luang Phor Chong reached the highest knowledge of “PatiSamPhiThaYan” which covered highest ability to perform miracle of all kinds. Whoever reaches this state will have comprehensive knowledges over all Tri Pitaka automatically and could rush to anywhere in a short time.
Luang Phor Chong created many kinds of amulets since the WW II, such as medals, small statues, ivory-tusk Rajasihas, metal Ta Pian fish , sacred jackets, etc. His amulets are very good for warding off dangers of all kinds, while his Ta Pian fish is good for fortune fetching.
[Source: http://naresuanthaiamulet.blogspot.com/2010/09/luang-phor-chong-of-wat-natangnok.html]
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I was fascinated by the interesting post . Well, I came to know about the Thai, most famous Buddhist monk who have reached his highest spirituality knowledge and able to perform miracle of all kinds. During his presence I think many would had visit the temple and got his blessing I was truly impressed over the monks ability to transform the behaviour of the youngsters who came along his way and guided them with his dharma teaching.
This article has taught me a great lesson never under estimate a person by their personality and appearance. One never knows how, when or where their blessings can come from. Always take each situation and find it as important and keep positive affirmations always in your mind.
The Wat NaTang Nok Temple was very fortunate to have a wonderful guru Luang Phor Chong and high dharma practice.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for this interesting sharing. WHile the Theravada tradition focuses on self-liberation, Luang Phor Chong has a compassionate mind for he always teaches Dharma to people he comes across, for example, the young people who ask Luang Phor Chong to guard the boat and the thieves. Especially in the case of the thieves, he not only relieve these sinners from their actions by giving them things, but he also gives them Dharma knowledge that stops them from perpetuating this sin.
It’s simply great to know that there are Highly Attained Masters in Thailand too. Please forgive my ignorance on this.
For me, actually it taught me a great lesson on this. Never look down on anyone, even if they are not Sangha. Stealing is one of the five main vows that we have adhered to. Besides, I did read many great Masters who lived simply as laypersons. We always have to visualize that everything as pure and divine. This is a good way for us to train ourselves.
Thank you Rinpoche.
My Guru, H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche has always taught us to reverend Monks and Nuns as they are people of the Robes and hold the holy vows of the Vinaya. In our reverence and service to Monks and Nuns, we gain merits for our spiritual journey.
This is an interesting story of which stealing from the Monks is not only of material items but also in taking for granted services from such highly attained beings. Or even demanding such services like we do from servants which is in nature extremely rude and uncultured.
Dear Rinpoche ,
Thank you for sharing this inspiring story about the monk, Luang Phor Chong. From the boat guarding story, it is very obsvious that he has no ego at all. He is a highly attained master, yet he stil grant the request of the owner of the boat and guarded the boat until they returned. After that incident, when the men came to apologize to him, he showed them compassion and also gave them a teaching on not to order monk as a servant.
His generosity can be seen when he gave other temples and the thieves items from his temple. Due to his compassions, many thieves stopped stealing and saved themselves from producing heavy negative karma.
Generosity and compassion is traits of a highly attained masters. I should learn from them. Rinpoche had always urged us to practice generosity through giving as well.
Humbly,
Chris
Thank you Rinpoche for this interesting post! I found that even though usually people says that Thai monks only practice to self-liberate, but from this post, I know that Thai monks are very skillful and have compassion in them as well. Like Luang Phor Chong would gave stuffs to thieves but never forgot to taught them that stealing monk’s stuffs was a great sin. Many thieves gave up stealing by his teachings. How skillful Luang Phor Chong is!
And from this, I recall that Rinpoche said before, though it is a great sin to steal from the 3 Jewels, but when they steal, they actually still create a connection to the 3 Jewels. For people who has the karma to steal, they will do it anyway. And when they do this, they will have the negative karmas to be born in the 3 lower realms too. If they don’t have any karma to be near with the 3 Jewels, then they will just keep doing this in the future lives, there is totally no way out.
Compassion and wisdom are the must elements to free sentient beings from sufferings. And no matter what monks/nuns you are, they are all beautiful and should be treated well with respect.
Very important teaching from Rinpoche through this story-telling – that we should not order monks as if they are servants and steal stuff from them à Great Sin.
Never judge a book by its cover. The group of men looked down on Rev Luang Phor Chong probably because of his old age and humble attire. However as a highly cultivated person, Luang Phor Chong did what he’s asked to do without responding negatively.
When these men discovered Luang Phor Chong’s true identity , they were humbled and thereby able to receive the dharma from the Rev. Such is Rev’s skilful way to teach people dharma.
From reading the above article, what I can see portrayed in Luang Phor Chong is integrity, discipline, sincerity and compassion. This quality is not only seen within Luang Phor Chong, this can be seen across all beings regardless of religion. It is whether we want to work on and develop it or not.
I fold my hands to Luang Phor Chong for holding his vows so dearly. This also applies to many of the sangha members that I have personally observed, who have been so sincere and genuine, and has the only aim to benefit others.
In the story above, there are 2 points which are highlighted:
1. Not to order a monk around (as if he is your servant)
2. Not to steal from a monk.
Ordering someone to do your work for you, let alone a monk, is not correct because you should be the one doing more work, so others can do less. That is the initial stages to develop compassion for others. Ordering a monk to do your work shows that you have no respect for the sangha members, who are here with one aim – that is to spread the Dharma. Therefore instead of ordering a monk to do something, you should do it, so that the monk can focus on their dharma practise and to spreading the Dharma.
Stealing is breaking your vows. Stealing from somebody is already terrible, let alone stealing from a monk who has given everything to the Dharma, who has nothing. This action creates such negative results that I can only imagine that the consequences that would come back to you is that you will always lose something close and dear in your life. Scary. It shows the attachment of samsara, and in this case, the kindness of Luang Phor Chong, because instead of you stealing from him, he is “giving” his belongings to you, so as to reduce the impact of karma, I feel. How compassionate. If you can steal from even a monk, you can steal from anybody. Shows how greedy you are.
Views that always say our view is the only correct any there is no other way but ours is really suspicious to say the least. Many traditions of Buddhism are valid and suitable for a variety of minds and a variety of times.
Theese realised Thai monks are really skilful they can turn a theft situation into a dharma teaching and convert the thieves to stop stealing.
Luang Phor Chong was a very compassionate monk, he did not get angry with the theives who stole stuff from the temple, neither did he get angry with group of men who asked him to look after the boat. He always took the opportunity to educate them.
Rinpoche is the same, you have never given up on people who have disappointed you through out the year. What I learn from Rinpoche and Luang Phor Chong is that we should not get angry with the people who have hurt us or disappointed us, we should instead forgive them and help them whenever possible.
Stealing things in general is a global crime when caught and is punishable by the law of the land. Stealing emotions from others is also a crime.
To steal from monks is much worse, be it money or material things. The personal possessions of monks are little and if they have some money it is for sustenance and purchase of robes, books etc for their spiritual practices. Only the heartless will stoop to such a level.
There have been many related instances that miraculous feats have been done by highly attained monks, like what has been revealed in this blog. In record it has been mentioned that Luang Phor Chong has achieved the highest knowledge of “PatisamPhithayan”, which gives one the ability to perform miracles of any kind. Yet Luang Phor Chong has remained so humble even to guard the boat for the people who instructed him to do so, but who later apologised and expressed regrets and obeisiance with offerings of flowers, incense and candles when they realised what a great monk Luang Phor Chong really was! As charity forms one of the Buddhist perfections and has long been an integral part of its culture, no one needs to steal from monks. Giving away something with the intention of making life easier for another being, will certainly make any true buddhist a happy one in heart and mind, but as Lord Buddha said, “it should be done without any expectation of personal reward – nor any strings attached!” The inclination towards charity seems very strong today, but to a buddhist, the highest gift of all is the gift of Dharma, which has the great power to change one’s life!
Thanks for a wonderful story Rinpoche regarding this highly attained monk.
I think whether you are a Thai monk, a Burmese monk or a Tibetan monk, a monk is a monk. What makes them the same is they are the holder of the vows and they are the same. Monks are humble and compassionate, even when people are conducting “negative” or bad actions towards them, they will allowed them to do so. Because it is their negative karma, but at least a seed is planted… whether they saw a Buddha image or steal from a monk, no doubt it is very bad karma but at least this life or at least next life hoping that they will have the karma to get in touch with dharma again.
It is so compassionate of a monk to do so.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this very interesting story about the highly attained Thai monk Reverend Luang Phor Chong.
Indeed, he showed tremendous skills in the encounter with a group of men, who, not knowing who he was, disrespected his age and told him to look after their boat.He actually(literally) looked after it for hours till midnight. When they came back the next day to make offerings (after they found out who he was), and to apologize,he skillfully used that occasion to give them a Dharma teaching. That teaching touched the very depths of their hearts and they cried. How beautifully touching all this is. How humble and compassionate Reverend Luang Phor Chong is!