Luangpor Thong

Luangpor Thong Abhakaro

Commonly referred to as Luangpor Thong, Luangpor Thong Abhakaro is a Buddhist monk ⁽¹⁾ and teacher of Mahasati Meditation —a meditation method developed by his teacher, Luangpor Teean Juttasubho. The title Luangpor is used in Thailand to express respect for senior Buddhist monks and it means “venerable father.”

Biography

Luangpor Thong Abhakaro was born May 14, 1939 at Muang District, Nong Bua Lumpoo province, Northeast of Thailand. Luangpor Thong’ s parents were both farmers.

In 1961, at the age of 22, he was fully ordained as a monk, and received his Buddhist name, Abhakaro. Then Luangpor Thong studied the traditional Dhamma courses for six years.

In 1967, he met Luangpor Teean Jittasubho ⁽²⁾, the founder of Mahasati Meditation ⁽³⁾. The young disciple practiced this method continuously for thirty days and reached the state of Roop-Nahm (body-mind basic stage) ⁽⁴⁾. Luangpor Thong continued practicing without interruption for another nine days, then he achieved the state of “Birth-Extinction”—a doubtless understanding of life and death.

In 1985, Luangpor Teean appointed Luangpor Thong as the abbot of Wat Sanamnai, ⁽⁵⁾ the most important Mahasati Meditation Center in Thailand. In 1989, Luangpor Teean passed away. This very year, the “Luangpor Teean Jittasubho (Pann Intapew) Foundation” was founded, and Luangpor Thong was in charge of its presidency. ⁽⁶⁾

In 1995, Luangpor Thong established the “Mahasati Association of America,” a non-profit organization with the mission of teaching the Mahasati Meditation in the United States.

Nowadays, Luangpor Thong continues spreading his Teacher’s method throughout the United States, ⁽⁷⁾ China, and Taiwan. ⁽⁸⁾

Teachings

Mahasati Meditation

A form of vipassana or insight meditation, Mahasati meditation uses movement of the body to generate self-awareness and is a powerful method for self-realization. Mahasati meditation is practiced throughout Asia and in the United States and is appropriate for anyone regardless of religion or nationality. It is suitable for beginners or those with previous meditation experience.

Bibliography and further reading

Luangpor Thong Abhakaro, Beyond Text, Beyond Scriptures
Anchalee Thaiyanond, Against the Stream: The Teaching of Luangpor Teean. Bangkok: Thammasat University Press., 1986
Luangpor Teean, To One that Feels. Bangkok: Supa Printing Co, Ltd., 3rd Ed 2005
_____________, Normality, Bangkok: Luangpor Teean Foundation, 2004
_____________, Nibbana, Bangkok: Medchai Printing House, 2006 (Thai Version)
_____________, A Manual of Self-Awareness, Bangkok: Luangpor Teean Foundation, 1994
_____________, Teacher, teaching, Bangkok: Luangpor Teean Foundation, 1997