Luang Phor Song

Luang Phor Song was born on 30th April BE 2433 in Chumphon. There is no information about his family name but it is known that his father was known as Mr Daeng while his mother was Mrs Nui. They were a poor peasant family. As a young boy he admired art, dance and shadow-plays. It was until at the age of 18, Luang Phor Song ordained as a novice for 2 years. Luang Phor Song would spend these 2 years learning about Buddhist disciplines. After his 2 years as a novice, he was required to disrobe as he would return back home to help his family at the farm. Shortly afterwards, he once again ordained as a monk in the temple again and spent his time there for one rainy season. As he was practicing meditation, he started to realise that the jungle is a far better place to carry on the Dharma practice than the temple. Luang Phor Song then left the temple and stayed in the jungle avoiding all the harm from wild animals, malaria and other dangers. Soon, Luang Phor Song was travelling around the province without a real destination, practicing meditation in search for the eternal truth. In the end he spent 7 years wandering in the jungle. His hair and beard had grown long and his robe got worn out. His Tudong journey brings him to Phuket, Burmese border by Pratchup Kiri Khan, Kanchanaburi and Suphanburi. After that he decided to go back home and settled next to the current Wat Sala Loi location. He decided to continue his search for satisfaction there.

In BE 2462, Luang Phor Song was invited by local villagers to stay in a Kuti (a small monk-dwelling house) that the villagers built in the jungle. He agreed and decided to enlarge and rebuild the Kuti into a temple which was named Wat Chao Fa Sala Loi (Wat Sala Loi). Nobody but a few novices was let into the temple as well as no money was allowed to be kept there.

Luang Phor Song had spent all his life teaching in the temple, searching for the truth and speaking the truth. His words always came true and they were believed to be holy. He kept refusing any titles even to be called the abbot of Wat Chao Fa Sala Loi (Wat Sala Loi).

Luang Phor Song passed away quietly at Wat Chao Fa Sala Loi (Wat Sala Loi) on 2nd August BE 2526 at the age of 94. The glass coffin with his body has been accommodated at Wat Chao Fa Sala Loi (Wat Sala Loi). It is believed that Luang Phor Song has attained arahant as his body has never decomposed, it just dried up to have stayed in the same condition ever since. Surprisingly, his nails and hair are still growing on his body and have to be cut from time to time.