Ajahn Maha Bua

Forest Dhamma Books of Wat Pa Baan Taad A short Biography of the Venerable Ajahn Mahà Bua ¥àõasampanno translated from the Thai into English and edited by Bhikkhu Martin Piyadhammo Second edition: September 2013 Published by: www.luangta.com/english & www.luangta.eu this booklet is a gift of dhamma and printed for free distribution only! 67 Venerable Ajahn Mahà Bua ¥àõasampanno A short Biography Father and Mother of Luangta Mahà Bua Family Background Luangta was born into a farmer’s family with the last name “Lohitdee” in the village of Baan Taad, city district of Udon Thani, Udon Thani Province on Tuesday 12 th August 1913. This date falls on the 11 th night of the waxing moon 9 th month, the year of the Ox. His father’s name is “Mr Thongdee”, his mother’s name is “Mrs Phaeng”. His parents gave him the auspicious name “Bua” (which means lotusflower). Childhood When his mother was pregnant, she mentioned to the family and relatives that “naturally when a baby in the womb grows, it will move around and the mother will be able to feel this. However, the nature of this child differs from others for it stays still, very quiet as if there is no life. His mother often thought and worried why is the baby not moving, why is it so unusually quiet, can it be that the baby is already dead?”. However when the baby did move, it also moved around more than other babies, it really thrashed around inside her, and his mother felt very intense pain in her stomach. When the birth drew near, his mother felt the birth pangs for 3 days but there was no sign of birth. While in such a great pain for so long, she thought she was going to die, but then suddenly the baby inside her again became so quiet that again she thought that the baby had already died again. Then the baby started wiggling again...” His grandfather predicted the character of the baby in the womb like this, “If it is a boy, whatever he desires, he will be very firm about it, with great determination and seriousness about everything he does. He will not be ambivalent or half-hearted”. When the baby was finally born, the placenta was thrown over his shoulder. When grandfather saw that, he said “alms-bowl strap” and predicted three things: 1011 Venerable Ajahn Mahà Bua ¥àõasampanno A short Biography Luangta Mahà Bua’s ordination photo Reason for Ordination Among all his children, his father wasn’t interested in any of them except Luangta. Luangta was the only one he really could depend on. His father praised Luangta, saying that whatever Luangta did he could trust and depend on him. That even he himself could not achieve the level of skills of Luangta. When Luangta was old enough to ordain as a monk, his father raised the subject of becoming a monk while having dinner. “I have many sons, but none even thinks about ordination for the well being of their Father. I really want to see one of you in the yellow robes before I pass away, because then I can pass away peacefully and without any worries. But when his father asked Luangta to ordain, he stayed quiet and did not reply, as if he did not have any ears, or a mouth with which to speak. His father said that if he passed away, there would be no one able to lift him out of hell. That if he could not depend on Luangta, there was no hope, for of all his sons, he could only depend on Luangta. “After his father said this, he instantly broke out in tears. When his mother saw her husband crying she also started to cry. When Luangta saw this, he felt terrible and could not stand it. He instantly left the dinner table and fled into his room. This was the reason for him to become ordained. Entering the Monkhood Luangta ordained as a monk at the Monastery of Yothanimit in the village of Nong Khon Kwang, sub district Nongbua, city dis- trict of Udon Thani, in the Province of Udon Thani. He ordained on tuesday the 12 th of may 1934, which falls on the 9 th night of the waxing Moon, in the 7 th month of the ‘year of the dog’. His preceptor was th