History of Master Teacher of Meditation
Phra Tep Jetiyajan Luangphor Viriyang Sirintharo . For Luangphor Viriyang Sirintharo, Lord Abbot of Wat Dhammamongkol, the journey towards enlightenment began More than sixty years ago in the northeastern village of Nakhorn Rachasima. At 13 years of age he witnessed a miraculous event that would change his life forever. The day was much like any other, filled with hard work and household chores, beginning at dawn with the collecting of watermelons in the fields
Master Teacher of Meditation, Phra Tep Jetiyajan, Luangphor Viriyang Sirintharo, has attained many accomplishments and has faced numerous challenges in his life and he continues to do so. Therefore, it is impossible to share with you all of his endeavors. The following summary highlights some of the most important events in his life.
Phra Tep Jetiyajan, Luangphor Viriyang Sirintharo was born on January 7, 1920. His father, a train station manager, retired to a life of farming in the northeastern village of Nakhorn, Rachasima, Thailand. It was here, along with his parents and six siblings that young Viriyang grew up. It was also in this village that the young boy had his first profound meditation experience. We go back in time to when Luangphor was approximately 13 years of age…
Luanghor had a good friend named Kim. One day Kim invited Luangphor to accompany her to the village temple for educational instruction. (At that time there was no formal education system in Thailand and the only place to learn to read and write was at the local temple). Luangphor did not want to go; he preferred to play outdoors with his friend Kim. Also, his father had already taught him how to read and write. However, Kim was determined, so the young boy reluctantly accompanied her to the temple. In the temple Viriyang sat next to Kim. The Abbot, the teacher, quickly advised him that a male could not sit next to a girl in the temple. Luangphor was dismayed! He did not want to go in the first place and now he had to sit away from Kim! He reluctantly got up and sat in the back corner. He was resigned to waiting while the four-hour class was conducted from 8:00 p.m. to midnight. He soon became bored. He closed his eyes and silently repeated in his mind- I not come again! I not come again! I not come again
Then something amazing happened! His spirit rose from his body and looking down he could see his arms, his legs; he could see his whole body. He could see high in the sky! He could see around the land! He could see under the water
At midnight he opened his eyes, just as the students were preparing to leave. He stopped the Abbot and asked him to explain what had happened to him. The Abbot was very surprised and stated,
"Viriyang, how is it that you have had such a profound meditation experience? You have had no teacher -some are not able to meditate this deep even after ten years of practice."
This was Luangphor's first encounter with meditation. It happened at a time when his family was not affiliated with any religion and when Luangphor had no meditation instruction. This is why Luangphor emphasizes that meditation is suitable for people of faiths and backgrounds and can be conducted by everyone regardless of faith, race, age or gender.
It was also around this time that Luangphor
