LP Chan of Wat Bang Sam

Wat Bang Sam in Suphanburi province is the temple of LP Chan, who has recently came out with a batch of amulets to get funds for renovating the temple. Above we see the temple gate and spacious courtyard.
The Kuti of LP Chan.
Rows of small Chedis containing the remains of the faithful.
The main Vihara.
Shrine of the 7-day Buddhas.
The Ubosot.
Main Sala.
A shot taken with LP Chan.
Phra Mahesuan amulets of Nawa material from LP.
Phra Kong amulets of Takua material.

LP Paew of Wat Nongpongnok

LP Paew of Wat Nongpongnok is perhaps the most highly regarded guru monk in Nakhon Pathom now, famous for the strong power of his blessing and amulets. There are 3 temples under him in the province. LP has learned from the top guru monks of the past such as LP Ngern Wat Donyaihom, LP Chaem Wat Tagong and LP Parn Wat Bangnomkho. Above we see the temple gate, which itself is a giant takrut with "Phra Pai" Yant in the middle.
Side view of the Ubosot.
Outdoor Buddha shrine.
Lersi shrine under a tree.
Magic ox?
The grand Vihara still under construction.
Phra Sivali shrine.
The Bell tower.
Front view of the Ubosot.
The temple shop. We see portraits of LP Paew and poster of the Divine Animal Somdej amulets that he blessed.
Entrance of the main Sala.
Main altar in the Sala, with a replica statue of Phra Buddha Chinaraj.
Takrut Phra Pai Sagot Tab, one of LP's most famous takruts.
Takrut Solot Mongkon, another one of his most popular takruts.

Shocking Cruelty of China Drivers

This is a video of a recent TV news program talking about a traffic accident in Foshan, China. A 3-year-old girl was knocked down by a van. Although the driver realized he had bumped into a girl, instead of stopping to help, he accelerated his van so that its rear wheels run over her again. Later another driver also ran over the girl without stopping. Meanwhile, dozens of pedestrians walked past the dying girl, but none of them even stopped to take a look at her. In the end only a trash collector old lady showed some sign of humanity.

Currently the little girl is already brain dead in hospital after being ran over 4 times by the cruel and inhuman drivers. Just as inhuman are all those passer-bys who just walk past or around her as if she was invisible. Even after being arrested, the first driver showed no remorse at all for his cruelty nor any concern for his victim. This incident really reflects the complete moral decay of China's populace today. Although they are clothed like humans, they are no better than beasts. Devoid of the traditional values of Confucianism, Taoism & Buddhism, such a nation is doomed to self destruction despite its whatever economic success.

The Dhammapada says:

"Fools, their wisdom weak,
are their own enemies;
for they go through life,
doing evil that bears bitter fruit."

The minds of the present generation of people in China are hopelessly trapped in deep ignorance and greed, no thanks to the cultural revolution and relentless pursuit of material progress since the economic reforms of the 80s up till today. Everyday they commit all sorts of evil deeds just to be better off than the next man, ignorant of the karma that they create for themselves. Atheistic in their outlook, firmly believing that there is nothing after death, they fear no wrongdoing, other than the harsh punishment of the law. One can say this is the remaining ills of socialism in a nominally socialist China, caught up in the unstoppable wave of capitalism. All of them are laying the seeds of future suffering which will bear fruit in a very collective and powerful way. The only way to curb this widespread inhumanity among the Chinese is for the leadership to revive the traditional teachings of Confucianism, Taoism & Buddhism across all the schools in China, instilling wholesome qualities in the children from young. Only then can they grow up to be pillars of the country and lamps for the whole world. If not, it is not difficult to predict that the future of China is truly bleak indeed.

Red Shirt Leader's Amazing Escape

Last week there was an article by our local correspondent in Thailand, Liang Dongping regarding the escape of Red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruanrong from the crackdown in Bangkok last year to Cambodia. After disappearing for many months since the crackdown, he was thought to be dead, probably killed by the soldiers. But recently he resurfaced in Cambodia, telling the Thai media through the phone an amazing story on how he managed to escape at that time.
Arisman related how he was given 3 amulets by a monk and taught a katha of invisibility some time ago. At first he did not make much of it, but after the monk appeared in his dreams reminding him to wear the amulets, he started to do as he was told. So when the troops moved in to attack the protesters on May 19th last year, he wore his amulets and calmly walked barefooted out of the Rachaprasong barricade, while reciting the katha. He walked all the way to the Makasan bridge a few kilometers away before making his escape on motorbike. Believe it or not none of the soldiers at Rachaprasong was able to see him and he travelled all the way to Cambodia unstopped. Arisman hid in Cambodia until today, and fearing persecution he only dared to resurface after the Peua Thai party came back to power.

Mr Liang commented that he was sceptical of this story, but there were many in Thailand who believed Arisman. Mysticism has always been a part of Thai culture and history, deeply rooted inside their psyche. Liang added that there were many "magic men" or white-robe Ajarns in Thailand, the most famous one being White Dragon King in Pattaya. He was like the Godfather of many HK and Taiwan celebrities, but hardly known in Thailand itself. But Liang didn't really believe much in such things, dismissing the mysticism as superstition.

However, there's no need to doubt the protective powers of properly consecrated amulets as they have been proven since ancient times up to today. That is why so many people both in and out of Thailand believe in them. There is no point trying to convince sceptics as such things have to be experienced for oneself before one can believe that they are real. As for mystical powers such as the katha of invisiblity, that is real too. This kind of Wicha exist in many Asian mystical traditions since time immemorial and are only taught to a selected few. Arisman must have great affinity with the monk for him to teach the katha to him. But I think it is also his good karma and that he is not destined to die or be captured at Rachaprasong. Let's hope that he can make good use of his luck and knowledge to help bring reconciliation back to a politically torn Thailand.

Ajarn Pon in Bangkok

Ajarn Pon aka Lersi Payakarat is the top young Ajarn in Bangkok today. He is a disciple of LP Hong Wat Petburi and famous for his display of magical powers as well as Maha Amnaj Kongkapan amulets. I visited him at his house temple recently.
We can see the many Lersi statues on the altar behind AJ Pon.
AJ writing Yants on the amulets that I chowed.
Another closer shot.
AJ blessing palakits for me on my 2nd visit there.

Video of AJ making the palakits "come alive" with his mental power.

On my 3rd visit there he does the same with some bigger Palakits.