Luangta Maha Bua Passes Away

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Luangta Maha Bua passes away

Highly revered monk Luangta Maha Bua Yanasampanno passed away early Sunday. He was 98 years old.

His followers at Wat Pa Ban Tad in Udon Thani said the abbot of the temple died at 3:53 am.

Luangta Maha Bua was born Bua Lohitdee on August 12, 1913 in Ban Tad, Udon Thani's Mak Khaeng district to a well-to-do farming family and had 15 siblings. At the age of 20, he was ordained as a monk on May 12, 1934, at Wat Yothanimit, according to the Thai tradition for his parents' merit.

Luangta Maha Bua, who was a student of much-respected Luangpu Man Phurithatto, is renowned for leading many fund-raising events for charitable causes and helping to restore the country's national reserves after they were depleted in the "Tom Yam Gung" financial crisis in 1997-98.

-- The Nation 2011-01-30

[phoneguy702]

Thailand and the Buddhist world has lost a very well respected Monk. We should all take some time and think of what we have done or can do to help people as Luang Pha Maha Bua did in his life. And to reject the pursuit of wealth and money for it's own sake. My thoughts and prayers are with him today.

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HRH Princess Chulabhorn to preside over royally-sponsored bathing rite for Luangta Maha Bua at 6pm Sunday

-- TNA 2011-01-30

[webfact]

Revered monk Luangta Maha Bua dies, aged 97

By The Nation

Highlyrevered monk Luangta Maha Bua passed away last night from natural causes. He was 97 years old.

Luangta Bua is perhaps best known for collecting more than 12 tonnes of gold bars and more than US$10 million in cash via donations to a public camฌpaign to salvage Thailand's economy after the Asian economic meltdown 10 years ago. The gold and money was given as reserves to the Bank of Thailand.

A threeday funeral service under Royal patronage began yesterday at Wat Pa Ban Tad in Udon Thani, where he was the abbot.

A huge number of mourners attendฌed the bathing rite, causing heavy trafฌfic congestion in nearby areas. The evening prayer ceremony will be held later. Details of his cremation have yet to be determined.

Her Royal Highness Princess Chulaborn Walailaksana, a regular patron of the monk, presided over the bathing rite yesterday. The Princess also chairs a laypersons' working comฌmittee responsible for the funeral servฌice, while Phra Udom Yanna Molee preฌsides over a similar committee repreฌsenting monastic affairs for the funeral.

Their Majesties the King and Queen have granted full Royal decorations for the funeral, with an urn put behind the coffin containing the body of Luang Ta Mahabua, who held the ecclesiastical title of "Phra Thamma Wisutthi Mongkhol".

After the end of the threeday royalsponsored funeral, a large number of politicians and Cabinet members are expected to host the later service.

Luangta Bua wrote three wills, each of which contains the same message, ordering that all gold ornaments and bars and other donated assets in his custody be handed to the Bank of Thailand as gold and cash reserves.

The monk vowed to collect 10 tonnes of gold for the national reserves after the Asian economic meltdown 12 years ago, when Thailand's national reserves were depleted on a failed bid to defend the collapsing baht. Some 12 tonnes and 79.8 kg of gold, plus $10.2 million was eventually given to the cenฌtral bank over 15 occasions.

The amount of gold and money in his custody waiting to be handed over to the BOT at the time of his death is unknown.

The monks' wills are held at the Siam Commercial Bank's Udon Thani branch, the Kasikorn Bank's Udon Thani branch, and by two other monks residฌing at Wat Pa Ban Tad.

Luangta Bua, was born on August 12, 1913 as Bua Lohitdee. He had 15 sibฌlings. He entered the monkhood at 21, after showing interest and faith in Buddhism throughout his childhood.

Doctors at Udon Thani General Hospital said his condition began deteฌriorating at 2.49am yesterday and his heartbeat dropped at 3.40am.

He passed away at 3.53am, when his heart and respiration stopped. He had suffered from an intestinal and lung infection for more than six months before agreeing to seek treatment at a hospital.

-- The Nation 2011-01-31

[khaowong1]

I am so sad to hear about his death.. However, you have to understand, he was 97 years old. He will be missed by many.. I'm currently residing at a temple in the U.S., and everyone is talking about his death. I just wished I could have gone to visit him when I had a chance. Good lesson here, I think.. We never know when are time is to pass on. Be prepared. There is a German monk who has lived at his temple for about 13 years, and he tells me story's about Luang Tah. Great story's. Another legend has passed us by. So sad not to have met him. I read his lessons and story's he gave, very insightful.