Northern Thailand: Passing of revered monk Luang Phor Phat of Wat Huay Duan at the age of 101
Revered monk Luang Phor Phat of Wat Huai Duan, famously known in Nakhon Sawan, has passed away at the age of 101, having served as a monk for 77 years.
The news was announced today, November 24, by the Facebook page of the Office of the Royal Monk of Vajirajarn, stating that Luang Phor Phat, the former advisor to the provincial body of Nakhon Sawan and former abbot of Wat Thara Thaen, has peacefully passed away at around 1.35am at Bangkok Hospital.
Born on May 12, 1922, in Ban Sa Thaen, Yan Matree Sub-district, Phayuha Khiri District, Nakhon Sawan, Phatthan was ordained in 1946 at Wat Sa Thaen. His ordination was led by Dhammatrai Lokajarn (Yot Akkasawaso) of Wat Khao Kaeo, with Luang Pu Kham of Wat Khao Kaeo as the preceptor, and Athikan Chua of Wat Sa Thaen as the Anusavanacharn. He was given the monastic name Bunnakamo.
Luang Phor Phat was the heir of the teachings of Luang Pu Tets of Wat Sa Thaen, whose lineage includes Luang Pu Dam of Wat Nong Pho, Luang Pu In of Wat Hang Nam Sakorn, Luang Pu Muek of Wat Sa Thaen, and Luang Pu Mod of Wat Khok Due. He later studied the Metta Mahaniyom teachings with Luang Pu Chub of Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang, Uttaradit Province, and served as the abbot of Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang for six years before returning to Wat Sa Thaen, his hometown temple.
Later, Luang Phor Phat’s parents moved to Ban Huai Duan, also known as Ban Thara Thaen, to farm. Phan, the village headman of Thara Thaen at the time, brought Luang Phor Phat’s parents to the temple to ordain and develop Wat Huai Duan in 1970. Luang Phor Phat was appointed as the abbot of Wat Thara Thaen in 2021 and was awarded the royal fan in recognition of his contributions, reported Sanook.
The century-old monk is renowned among the residents of Nakhon Sawan for his creation of sacred objects, notably his various coins, which were made with benevolent intentions to use the proceeds for public benefit. These include the renovation of Wat Thara Thaen, the construction of a hospital, the development of other temples nationwide, and scholarships for children.
In 2021, Luang Phor Phat of Wat Huai Duan was involved in a controversy where a group embezzled over 60 million baht from the temple, leading to disputes over the temple’s money management transparency. The students reported the case to the police, who were able to recover the money while the temple’s group faced legal action for fraud.
