Biography of Luang Pu Toh, Wat Pradoo Chimplee

Standing and significance

Phra Ratchasangwarapimon (Toh Inthasuwanno) was an elder monk revered widely across Thai society. His beautiful monastic conduct won him the faith and respect of Buddhists of every social class. His foremost sacred object is the Phra Pidta amulet, whose reported experiences have been recounted from the far north to the far south of the country, until it became one of the principal and most popular amulets in Thailand. He held the position of abbot for 68 years.

Birth and early life

• Born on 27 March 1887 (B.E. 2430), during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)
• Son of Mr. Ploy and Mrs. Thap Rattanakhon. He had two siblings, both of whom had died long before him
• As a child he studied at Wat Ko Kaeo, near his birthplace
• After his mother died, the monk Phra Kaeo, seeing the boy's diligence, brought him to be placed under Phra Athikan Suk, then abbot of Wat Pradoo Chimplee. (Mr. Chueai did not follow, and remained at Wat Ko Kaeo.)
• He studied at Wat Pradoo Chimplee for four years

Novice and full ordination

• Ordained as a novice at the age of 17, in B.E. 2447 (1904)
• Studied the Dhamma and Vinaya at Wat Pradoo Chimplee under Phra Athikan Kham and Phra Ajahn Phrom
• Fully ordained at the age of 20 on 16 July B.E. 2450 (1907), within the consecrated ordination boundary (phatthasima) of Wat Pradoo Chimplee
  • Preceptor (upajjhaya) — Phra Khru Samanathammasamathan (Saeng), Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen
  • Act-announcing teacher (kammavacacariya) — Phra Khru Akkharanusit (Phong), Wat Nuan Noradit
  • Attending teacher (anusavanacariya) — Phra Khru Thammawirat (Choei), Wat Kamphaeng
  • He received the monastic name Inthasuwanno
• After ordination he undertook both scriptural study (ganthadhura) and insight meditation practice (vipassanadhura), and passed the third-level Dhamma examination (Nak Tham Tri)

Appointment as abbot

When Phra Athikan Kham died, the Sangha appointed him abbot of Wat Pradoo Chimplee on 10 July B.E. 2456 (1913).

Tudong journeys and teachers

• He undertook tudong (wandering ascetic practice) through every region of Thailand — the North, the Northeast and the South — studying scripture and Buddhist esoteric learning (phutthakhom)
• Teachers — Luang Pho Rung of Wat Tha Krabue and Luang Pho Nong of Wat Khlong Madan; he studied insight meditation with Luang Pho Chum of Wat Ratchasittharam
• Well-known contemporaries among his fellow monks — Luang Pho Pan of Wat Bang Nom Kho, Luang Pho Sot of Wat Paknam, Luang Pho Chaeng of Wat Bang Phang, and Luang Pho Klai of Wat Hong Rattanaram
• He travelled on tudong to the North and the South before returning to Wat Pradoo Chimplee

Illness and passing

• He grew ill with the infirmities of old age. Because people constantly invited him to give blessings or to ask for his help, he had almost no time to rest and his health was not strong, though he was still able to take food
• His final illness came in February B.E. 2524 (1981). For the seven days before he died, he could not rise from his bed at all
• On 5 March B.E. 2524 (1981), disciples who were nurses came to offer him bird's nest and noticed that his arm was swollen. He passed away peacefully at 9:55 a.m.
• He was 93 years of age, with 73 rains retreats (vassa)

Royal funeral

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great graciously commanded that the body be placed at the Centenary Pavilion of Wat Benchamabophit. He granted special funerary honours equal to those of a Phra Racha Khana of Thamma rank, bestowed a funerary urn (kot tho) together with the five-tiered ceremonial umbrella and the complete set of honorific regalia, and extended royal patronage to the funeral throughout. He presided over the royal merit-making ceremonies on the 7th, 50th and 100th days, and on other appropriate occasions. The royal cremation was held at the royal crematorium in front of the Itsariyaphon Pavilion, Wat Thepsirinthrawat.

Luang Pu Toh, or Phra Ratchasangwarapimon, of Wat Pradoo Chimplee in Bangkok was a master who consecrated the "Phra Pidta" amulet. Among some devotees, accounts of its sacredness have been passed along, giving rise to a belief that is spoken of both in Thailand and abroad.

Luang Pu Toh's Phra Pidta exists in many batches, from those made while he was still alive to those made after he had passed away.

Some devotees who venerate the Phra Pidta describe its qualities as follows:

• Enhancing fortune, winnings and finances — those in business or trade are believed to prosper
• Charisma and popularity (metta mahaniyom)
• Certain batches are believed to protect travellers and keep them safe

These accounts are passed on by word of mouth. Today there are devotees in Thailand as well as abroad — in China, Hong Kong and Malaysia, for instance.