Spiritual Head

Phra Ratchasitthachan

(Luang Pu Thongbai)

Biography

Phra Ratchasitthachan was the fifth child of eight children, six of whom were boys and two of whom were girls.

Mr. Boon Naenudon, whose domicile is Ban Non Sung, Tambon Pa Fa, Amphoe Jang Han, Roi Et Province, and Mrs. Sri Chinamon, whose domicile is Ban Namon, Amphoe Kamalasai, Kalasin Province, were born on October 6, 1936. Their original name was Thongbai Naenudon. When young, they had a mind inclined towards Dhamma. They insisted on going to the temple since they were 4 years old, but their parents thought that they were too young, so they waited until they were 7 years old, when it was time to go to school. They then went to the temple and studied until they finished compulsory education, which was Primary 4.

Ordained as a monk   in the year 1956, he was ordained as a monk at Wat Namon, Ban Namon, Kamalasai District, Kalasin Province, which was his mother's hometown. During his life as a monk, he studied Buddhist scriptures until he passed the Naktham Tri, Tho, and Ek exams from the Wat Sakhan Namon school, Namon Subdistrict, Kamalasai District, Kalasin Province.

His experiences and the opportunity to meet many different people made him realize that he must use the knowledge he had learned to develop himself and help others. He was a diligent and hardworking person, and was therefore appointed as Phra Khru Praphassorn Sutthikun in 1972, Phra Pawanawisutthachan in 2003, and Phra Ratchasitthachan in 2010. His positions and duties are as follows:

In 1972, he became the abbot of Sukwanaram Temple, Kham Bong Subdistrict, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province.

In 1972, he became the abbot of Kham Bong Subdistrict, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province.

1975, became deputy abbot of Ban Phue District

1976, became the preceptor

1981, became the deputy abbot of Ban Phue District, No. 1

In his educational practice, he sought and studied from many noble monks as follows:

1965, lived with Luang Pu Waen Sujino and Luang Pu Thet Thetsarangsi.

1966, lived with Luang Pu Khao Analayo, Luang Pu Phet

1967, lived with Luang Pu Cha Subhattho

1968, stayed with Luang Pu Fan Ajaro (second round)

1969, lived with Luang Pu Sod

1970, lived with Luang Pu Dulay Atulo, Luang Pu La

1971, stayed with Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (second round)

1972, lived with Luang Pho Panya of Wat Chonlaprathan Rangsarit, Luang Pu Aj of Chonburi Province, Luang Pu Aj of Wat Mahathat, and Wat Phleng Vipassana.

1973-1974 He practiced meditation at Bodhisattva Cave in Saraburi Province. After that, he went on a pilgrimage throughout Thailand and also to neighboring countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Burma and Malaysia.

1976-1987 He entered the meditation room and practiced Vipassana meditation with great intensity in three postures: standing, walking, and sitting at Wat Thai Songtham, Ban Kham Bong, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province. His Vipassana practice in this meditation room would alternate with his ascetic activities as follows:

Stay in the meditation room for 7 months, go on a pilgrimage for 5 months.

Stay in the meditation room for 9 months, go on a pilgrimage for 3 months.

Stayed in the meditation room for 11 months, went on a pilgrimage for 1 month.

1986, practiced meditation in Phu Luang District, Loei Province.

1987, practiced meditation at Pha Pa Rai Cave (Phaya Nak Cave), Nam Nao District, Phetchabun Province.

When he was 12 years old, he went out to spread the Dharma for 10 years (1990-2000) and stayed at Wat Na Luang (Apinya Thesittham).

In 1976, he made a vow to observe three postures: standing, walking, sitting, and abstaining from lying down for 30 years. He continued to practice until 2001, when he had to lie down because of illness. He had to undergo surgery for spinal disc herniation at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University. The cause of his illness is assumed to be due to overwork.

In 1990, he resigned from his position as deputy abbot of Ban Phue District and began working to spread Buddhism by leading monks and novices who were his disciples within the temple to spread the Dharma five months a year for a period of 10 years, starting in 1990 until the present (2009).

In 2000, he made a vow not to accept any invitations to perform any ceremonies for 13 years until 2012. This was to enable him to train and teach monks and novices in the temple and all groups of people who would come to practice Vipassana meditation and listen to sermons at Wat Na Luang, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province, to achieve complete results.

Education:   Phra Rajsitthachan first received his compulsory education in the fourth grade of primary education in 1941. Afterward, he was ordained as a novice monk and studied palm-leaf manuscripts, the Sanyato (Mula Krachai) script, comprising seven volumes: Sang, Wi, Tha, Pu, Ka, Ya, Pa, which enabled him to master literature. Nevertheless, he never stopped, striving to learn traditional medicine. He was capable of self-study and research, consistently diligent and persistent. He has now revitalized his knowledge of medicinal plants by having his disciples and followers create a herb garden.

In addition to spreading the Dharma orally, Phra Rajsitthachan's literary works  include compiling several volumes of his teachings into written form, such as Dhammathara, Volumes 1-2, and Khandha 5: The Pile of Suffering, Releasing the 5 Khandhas, Releasing the Pile of Suffering in the Same Set, Escape from Dharma, Mata Pitudhamma, Dhammo Vibhako, etc. Furthermore, his disciples have collected and compiled various books and teaching documents, which are like his Dharma heritage, into book form, as can be seen increasingly today. Modern media has also been used to help preserve evidence and accumulate knowledge, and compile them into VCD, DVD, and MP3 formats.

At present,    Phra Rajsitthachan is still committed to spreading the Dharma to Buddhists regularly, especially the Dharma teaching project on the second Saturday of every month. He has also organized training courses on the main formulas of the University of Life for Nirvana, Udom Wiset Mongkol, for monks, novices, nuns, male and female lay devotees who are interested. Currently, training courses on the main formulas are organized for 12, 15, and 20 days.