Governor calls for peace as Luang Phor Koon’s ashes are scattered on Mekong

[snoop1130]

Governor calls for peace as Luang Phor Koon’s ashes are scattered on Mekong

By The Nation

 

 

Khon Kaen governor Somsak Jangtrakul has in advance urged people not to fight over collecting water in Nong Khai’s Mekong River section, where the late much-revered monk Luang Phor Koon Parisuttho’ ashes are to be scattered following his cremation rite.

 

Somsak – who was among those to receive the honour of lighting the cremation fire at 10.15pm on Tuesday night – said the royally-sponsored cremation would be completed by 5am on Wednesday, after which the late monk’s ashes would be poured into a stainless steel box specially installed underneath the cremation chamber. 

 

The steel box – padlocked and requiring four keys held by four entrusted persons to open – would be taken to Nong Khai where an 18-boat procession would perform a rite, scattering the late monk’s ashes onto the Mekong River at the “Phra That Klang Nam” religious site on Wednesday afternoon.

 

Somsak will attend that activity.

 

“I hope there will be no people fighting over collecting the water sprinkled with ashes and flowers after this ashes-scattering rite, because that could be dangerous. People should pay their respects and honour Luang Phor Koon to allow his ash be in the Mekong River, as he had asked in his will,” Somsak said.

 

Meanwhile, a huge crowd turned up to lay funeral flowers for Luang Phor Koon at Khon Kaen University (KKU)’s Golden Jubilee Convention Hall on Tuesday morning through noon.

 

The related merit-making ceremonies had been held in the morning for all the remains of 647 Khru Yai (people who donated their bodies for research) which included the late monk’s body. The 647 Khru Yai had being honored with Abhidhamma prayers at the Convention Hall since last Monday, and then the royally-sponsored cremations were arranged for 144 of the Khru Yai, including Luang Phor Koon. 

 

Luang Phor Koon, abbot of Wat Bai Rai in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Dan Khun Thot district, was one of the country’s most revered monks. 

 

He died at age 92 on May 16, 2015 and, in accordance with his written will, his body was donated for medical research to KKU. He also requested that his body be cremated and the ashes scattered on the Mekong River at Nong Khai to avoid his mortal remains becoming a “burden to others”, to ensure no one took advantage of them, and to prevent conflict among his disciples.

 

In the near future, the Luang Phor Koon memorial site, a Bua Liam chedi, will be built atop the spot of his temporary crematorium, located at Buddhamonton Isan on the grounds of Wat Nong Waeng.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30363149

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-29

[webfact]

Thousands bid tearful farewell to monk Luang Phor Koon

By THE NATION

 

 

THOUSANDS OF people paid their final respects to one of the country’s most revered monks, Luang Phor Koon Parisuttho, in front of his elaborate crematorium in Khon Kaen province last night.

 

 

Also known as Phra Thep Witthayakhom, he passed away at age 92 on May 16, 2015 and, in accordance with his written will, his body was donated to Khon Kaen University (KKU) for medical studies. His body left the KKU compound only yesterday for the temporary and beautiful crematorium, which was especially built for his royally sponsored cremation ceremony. 

 

Buddhists gathered along the route used for the procession of Luang Phor Koon’s body to bid their final farewell. Luang Phor Koon, who spent 70 years in monkhood, is probably best known for his signature sitting style and for always speaking the language of commoners. 

 

People rush to gather souvenir coins thrown from a truck as part of the funeral procession of much-revered monk Luang Phor Koon Parisuttho in Khon Kaen yesterday.

 

The public usually saw Luang Pho Koon squatting, his bottom never really touching the seat. When he delivered sermons, his words were unrefined yet easy to understand. When he preached about Buddhism, he went straight to its core: “Don’t commit any sin, do good deeds”.

 

Monks from different temples gather yesterday at Wat Bai Rai in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Dan Khun Thot district – where Luang Phor Koon Parisuttho used to serve as abbot.

 

He handed out amulets to people of all classes regardless of their status. In his lifetime, he also made sure money from sales of amulets by his Ban Rai Temple – where he had served as the abbot for decades – went to good causes such as to hospitals, schools, the KKU and more. 

 

The Mahachulalongkornrajavidyala University, which had received financial donations from Luang Phor Koon for the construction of its Nakhon Sawan campus, organised a chanting ceremony there in tribute to the late monk yesterday.

 

 

Luang Phor Koon was one of the monks HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej visited. 

 

When Luang Phor Koon was still healthy, he usually whacked people asking for his blessings on the head with his cane. 

 

Estimates of funds raised by Luang Phor Koon for charitable causes vary, but apparently the amount was to the tune of billions of baht. 

 

As his health deteriorated, the monk drew up a will that truly reflected the mind of the person who clings on to nothing. He requested that his body be cremated and the ashes scattered on the Mekong River to avoid his mortal remains becoming a “burden to others”, to ensure no one took advantage of them, and to prevent conflict among his disciples.

 

His ashes will be collected and taken to riverside Nong Khai province for scattering into the Mekong River today.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha flew to Khon Kaen yesterday to attend the monk’s cremation ceremony. A representative of HRH Princess Somsavali also laid a funeral flowers at the crematorium yesterday evening. 

 

 

The ritual related to Hassadeeling Bird was also carried out in line with northeastern beliefs, before a grand dance to send the monk’s soul to heaven. 

 

At 10.15pm, the actual cremation was held. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30363178

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-30

[connda]

How immensely sad.  How totally not Buddhist.  Fights breaking out over the desire to obtain some water with a monk's ashes.  However, the late monk did embrace the type of 'magic' that endeared himself to the laity but is the antithesis of Buddhism found in the forest traditions that so few Thais actually practice.  So, if fights break out as people vie to obtain 'magical' monk ashes - well, there's a lesson in karma for those with the wisdom to see. 

[RichardColeman]

Surpised they are all not juming in the river to bathe in him or drink him.