Luang Pho Waen Sujinno (Thai: หลวงปู่แหวน สุจิณโณ, RTGS: Luang Pu Waen
Su-Chin-No, also Phra Ajahn Waen Sujinno, popularly known as Luang Pho Waen
meaning Venerable Grandfather; 16 February 1883 - 2 July 1985) is one of the
longest living students of Phra Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta and a very popular monk in
Thailand. Luang Pho Waen Sujinno was also featured in the Asia Magazine. Another
true ascetic at heart, he lead the thudong life until the point where he could
not physically travel any more and had to settle in a forest monastery in the
Chiang Mai region.
Luang Pho Waen Sujinno was a revered monk, highly
skilled in Samadhi and Dhamma. The most remarkable characteristic of Luang Pho
Waen was his dislike of crowded places. He loved to live alone in the forests
away from people and urbanized areas just like his teacher, Ajahn Mun
Bhuridatta. Some people said that Luang Pho Waen had achieved Arahant level.
Tahn Joo Koon Nor ( Wat Dhepsirin ) had in fact mentioned that "There is a Phra
Arahant, but he lives far away, deep in the forest".
Luang Pho Waen was
born on 16 February 1883 (BE 2431) in Tambon Na Pong, Mueang District of Loei,
Northeast (Isan) of Thailand to a blacksmith's family. He was named Yarn and had
one elder sister. He ordained as a novice in 1892 at Wat Bodhi Chai in Na Pong
at the age of nine to fulfill the wish of his mother when she died while he was
five years old. At the age of 13, he became a Naen (novice monk) at Wat Poh
Chai, Loei province. He studied with a number of teachers and later ordained as
a monk at a temple in Hua Taparn District of Ubon Ratchathani at the age of 21.
As a novice monk, he studied the Dharma and Pali, even at that young age
he showed exceptional ability. He eventually went Thudong (forest monk) with his
teacher, Ajahn Wuhan, travelling from Loei to Ubon Ratchathani, where he
remained to learn Dhamma from another teacher, Ajahn Sing.
During his
Thudong, he met many disciples of Ajahn Mun whom he had wanted to further his
studies under. Luang Pho Waen met Ajahn Mun in BE 2462 (at the age of 31) at
Bahn Kor forest, Udon Thani province. Luang Por Mun Bhuridatta in Udon Thani who
taught him the pursuance of a secluded life and the practice of meditation and
Dhamma in the jungles. Subsequently Luang Pho Waen travelled very widely in the
Northeast of Thailand in search of isolated places where he could meditate. His
travelling also took him to Bangkok where he met Chao Khun Phra Upali
Gunupamacariya of Wat Bowonniwet in 1921 with whom Luang Pho Waen spent several
years studying and practising the Dhamma. Later Chao Khun Phra Upali took him to
Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai where Luang Pho Waen decided to change from the
Maha-Nikaya sect of Buddhism to join the stricter Dhammayut sect ( forest
tradition ).
Later he went Thudong again with Ajahn Dteu. Luang Pho
Waen, endured many difficulties during his Thudong, he encountered ghosts, wild
animals and other dangers but was never afraid despite warnings from local
villagers. It was his wish to experience and learn from everything.
Luang Pho Waen spent most of his monkhood as a forest monk, travelling
from one province to another on foot, climbing hills, crossing rivers and deep
forests. He had also went as far as Laos, Cambodia, Burma and even Vietnam on
Thudong. At BE 2470, age 39, Luang Pho Waen arrived in Lampang.
He met
another disciple of Ajahn Mun called Ajahn Keow. He was told that Ajahn Mun was
in Chiang Mai. Luang Pho Waen quickly Thudong to Chiang Mai to look for Ajahn
Mun. Finally he met Ajahn Mun and Ajahn Dteu at Wat Chedi Luang. Ajahn Mun
officially accepted Luang Pho Waen as his disciple. He studied Dhamma at Wat
Chedi Luang.
After Ajahn Mun left Wat Chedi Luang for Thudong, Luang Pho
Waen also went Thudong in Chiang Mai. He stayed at Wat Huainumrin in Chiang Mai
Province for 10 years. During his long stay in Wat Huainumrin, he stayed most of
his time in forests and only returning to the temple during the rainy seasons
(Khao Phansa).
Luang Pho Waen travelled extensively by foot through
jungles and across mountains and even ventured to Burma and India where he paid
homage to several historic Buddhist sites. However, in 1955 news of a foot
injury sustained during his stay in seclusion of Wat Paa Ban Pong in Mae Tang
District, Chiang Mai, reached Phra Ajahn Noo Suchitto of Wat Doi Mae Pang who
later arranged for Luang Pho Waen to stay in Wat Doi Mae Pang permanently. He
resided in Wat Doi Mae Pang until his passing away.
Luang Pho Waen
entered Maharaj Hospital on 15 April 1985 when he was found unable to eat or
move and was operated on 4 June 1985 in order to feed him through a tube which
was inserted into his stomach. However, complications developed and Phra Ajahn
Noo, the abbot of Wat Doi Mae Pang, requested doctors not to perform any more
operations as he wanted Luang Pho Waen to rest peacefully. His request was
accepted by doctors and the Chiang Mai Governor, Mr. Chaiya Punsiriwong.
On 2 July 1985 at 9:54 pm, Luang Pho Waen finally died at the age of 102
years and 5 months after having been in the monkhood for almost 90 years. He was
given a royal-sponsored bathing ceremony at Sala Ang Klaew in Chiang Mai
University which was attended by the King and Queen of Thailand as well as the
general public. His remains were cremated at a Royal Funeral on 16 January 1986.
credit given to msiathaibuddha.com