BIRTHPLACE
ACCEPTANCE OF REAPONSIBILITY
DISPOSITION TOWARD THE NOBLE PATH
ORDINATION-THE TAKING OF THE YELLOW ROBES
PRESENTING HIMSELF AS A STUDENT OF LUNG BOO MUN
Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai Tidhawiriyo (The Venerable Somchai Tidhawiriyo) is a native of Roi Et Province, Northeast Thailand. He was born on April 7, 1925, at noon on a Tuesday, the 15 th day of the waxing moon in the year of the Ox, in the village of Lao-ngui, Janghan Tambon, Central District,Roi Et Province.
His father's name was Sawn Madiyapak, his mother's name was Boon Madiyapak, His mother was the youngest daugther of Khun Luang Sean, the leader of the Hindus in that locality. Tan phra Ajarn Somchai had one brother, named Manu Madiyapak. His mother passed away when he was only about two years old, so he became ward of hid grandfather, Khun Luang Sean. However, his time with Khun Luang Sena was short because he passed away also.
A look at Khun Luang Sena, Tan phra Ajarn Somchai's grandfather. Shows that he was an important figure in that locality, being the leader on of the Hindu religion and thus the one who arranged the various religious ceremonies in keeping with that religion.
It so happened that on the day of Tan phra Ajarn Somchai's birth, there was an important Hindu ceremony. His mother, who was still carrying him, joined in the local procession. However, during this procession she suddenly gave birth, causing the enitre ceremony to come to a half. This was taken as an omen that the time of the Hindu religion in that locality was also about to come to an end. Tan phra Ajarn's grandfather himself gave this prediction about Than Phra Ajarn: "This child is destined to be the one who change the religion of out family in the future." So, the breakup of the procession was taken as a sign that Hinduism was finished in that village. And so it was that later,after having taken the yellow robes, Tan phra Ajarn Somchai retured to the village and converted all the villagers to the way of Buddhism.
Following the sudden death of Khun Luang Sena from cholera, the very sheltered existence that Than Phra Ajarn Somchai's grandfather had provinded was no more and future looked veery bleak ineed - where to ture in life?
His mother had dies he had had a chance to know what she looked like, his grandfather had then passed way, tihs own father had never taken any interest in his welfare-he was left alone with no way out. After these stormy periods had passed Than Phra Ajarn Somchai was taken in by a relative, a cousin who was like an elder brother, with whom he was able to re side happily for a short periode - until the third turning point came when his sister-in-law died, leaving 4 or 5 children as orphans.
Than Phra Ajarn Somchai had to take on the reponsibility of looking after these children just as though he were their mother and only parent, especailly after the elder brother developed into a hooligan who paid no afftention to the family. So, Than Phra Ajarn Somchai took on the reponsibility of caring for the children and trying lift up the standard of the family to equal that of other in the village. He took on the work of a merchant, trading in sundry goods between the market and the village. When businesswas goods he would use the profits to buy food to share with the elderly and the children in the village. This habit of Than Phra Ajarn's of sharing which was developed as a child has stays with him to the present time.
At the time Than Phra Ajarn Somchai was looking after 4 or 5 others and trying to build up his life he was only 14, living under the house of the relative who was not of much help or support. That's why he had to work so hard to find enough to live on and buy a house. still, the elder brother would steal the money he had put aside instead of helping to provide for this own children, and this was very upsetting to Than Phra Ajarn Somchai.
Anyway, after two years of hard work, when Than Phra Ajarn was about 17 or 18, he was able to buy a house for 75 bath, a cart and a pair of oxen for another 75 bath, plus many other items. This ability was a mark of his caracter as a good leader who knew from the time of his teens how to take reponsibility both for him and the welfare of other. ADn these traits were recognized and praised by those close to him, and he was repected by the villagers as well. Than Phra Ajarn Somchai lived life of the layman until of 19th year, a life in which he was fed up with the world, a life of confusion, suffering and uncertrainty. Thus it was that Than Phra Ajarn Somchai decided to forsake the life of a layman and enter the monkhood in order to seek the way to overcome suffering in the future.
While Khun Luang Sena was still alive, he tried in every way possible to train his grandson so that he could one day take his place because he saw the special characteristics of Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai which were those of someone who was destined to become and important personage in the future.
However, because of habits Tan Phra Ajarn had developed in previous existences. Experienced he had of boredom ad a layman. And satisfaction with the life of an ascetic where life was simple, solitary, and one of seekly only to overcome suffering, his satisfaction had increased steadily. At the time when Khun Luang Sena was still living, Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai had already developed an interest in the moral path of Buddhism. He always tried to read everything he could about the Buddhist faith. The book he enjoyed most at that time was "The History of Buddhism." And sometimes he sneaked out to listen to Buddhist sermons, one attending a sermon given by a disciple of Luang Boo Mun Pooritadhatera, who was quite well known in that period. However, none of these actions were undertaken openly because Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai felt that were directly against the beliefs of his forefathers. If his grandfather were to discover what was going on, he would be punished severly, and there were times when he was beaten or tied up and left in the sun of given some other form of punishment in order to set an example for others and to learn his lesson. So even though he was as careful as he could be, he could be, he did not escape the attention of his grandfather. He was caught and punished as described above. No matter how harsh the punishment was, Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai did not cry. He never asked for mercy; he always took his punishment quietly and stoically. When his grandfather asked whether he had had enough, or whether he had learnwed his lesson, he remained quiet, stoic and mute.
This interest in reading about the Noble Truth or the History of Buddhism, along with attendance at sermons and joining monks in merit making at various temples where Buddhist practiced were taught remained a continuing activity of Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai. This time, though he was a bit more circumspect in his actions in deference ti his grandfather and for fear of more punishment. Thus was this very strange situation where in Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai had been born into a Hindu environment yet had developed an interested and belied in the Buddhist faith.
The writer, on hearing Tan Phra Ajarn relate this story, could not help thinking of the time of the Lord Budddha, when each of the followers had been of another faith. Thus, Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai's story is not so strange after all because it originated in an-born disposition that made it so.
The aboce events acted to hasten Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai's decision to turn to the world of the Natural Truth. After the death of his sister-in-law he carried out his responsibilities in a satisfactory manner in every respect. When he saw that the time was right, he told his elder brother about his desire to enter the monkhood. His brother thought the idea was rather far-fetched but said, "Do it if you want; I won't stand in the way." On receiving permission like this without any fuss, Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai began to collect his things immediately, fearing that his elder brother would change his mind. After packing his things, it was middnight before he set out across the rice fields heading for Pasripraiwan Temple, On the following morning Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai pesented himself to the Venerable Peng, the acting abbott, saying that he was ready to become a monk. After a suitable peroid of training there, he was ordained as a novice at Nua Temple, Central District, and Roiet, with the Venerable Patiyanmuni, the Abbot of Roi ET officiating at the installation cermony. The ordination took place on June 5, 2487, on the 15th day of the waxing moon in the year of the Monkey, at the age of 19. Then Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai spent the Lenten season at Pasripraiwan Temple.
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While Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai was a novice at Pasripraiwan Temple he heard fabulous stories about Luang Boo Mun being a saintly monk who had freed himself of all human passion. This aroused a great desire to see such a person who was living at that very time. At the end of Lent, then, Tan Phra Ajarn bade farewell to the Abbot and joined the Venerable Peng and five other monks who were going to the temple where Luang Boo Mun was staying. Along the way Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai had the chance to visit and study at various temple, e.g. Pasakwan Temple, Kalasin, with the Venerable Deang, and the temple of the Venerable Son Pookaw. Finally, he arrived at Luang Boo Mun's branch temple, Pabankommanao Temple, which was situated on front of Luang Boo Mun's Temple, with the Venerable Goo as the Abbot. Ordinarily, anyone seeking to enter Luang Boo Mun's temple, had first to under go training, and so it was with Tan Phra Ajarn Somchai's group, comprising: |
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Developer by Mr. Taweesak Rattanakom Science Computer, Rajabhat Institute Rambhaibarni  |