Luangpor Thong Abhakaro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | (1939-05-14)May 14, 1939 (age 85) Muang District, Nong Bua Lumpoo province, Thailand |
| Other names | Luangpor (venerable father) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhist |
| School | Theravada |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Luangpor Teean Jittasubho |
| Based in | Wat Sanamnai, (Thailand) |
Commonly referred to asLuangpor Thong,Luangpor Thong Abhakaro is aBuddhist monk[1] and teacher ofMahasati Meditation, ameditation method developed by his teacher, Luangpor Teean Jittasubho. The titleLuangpor is used in Thailand to express respect for senior Buddhist monks and it means 'venerable father'.
Luangpor Thong Abhakaro was born on 14 May 1939 atMueang Nongbua Lamphu District,Nong Bua Lamphu Province, northeastThailand. Luangpor Thong's parents were both farmers. His father died when the boy was seven years old. He was raised mostly by his mother.
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 ofMahasati meditation.[3] Luangpor Thong asked his teacher for an intensive meditationretreat under his guidance. Luangpor Thong asked permission to remain secluded in a small cottage practicing by himself, without any obligation to go chanting or asking for alms. Luangpor Teean agreed. Since then, this arrangement became a regular practice during Luangpor Teean's meditation retreats. The young disciple practiced thismethod continuously for thirty days and reached the state of Rupa-Nama (body-mind basic stage).[4] Luangpor Thong continued practicing without interruption for another nine days, and achieved the state of "birth-extinction"—an understanding of life and death.
In 1985, Luangpor Teean appointed Luangpor Thong abbot of Wat Sanamnai,[5][failed verification] the most important Mahasati meditation center in Thailand. In 1989, Luangpor Teean died. That year, the "Luangpor Teean Jittasubho (Pann Intapew) Foundation" was founded, with Luangpor Thong as its president.[6]
In 1995, Luangpor Thong established the "Mahasati Association of America", a non-profit organization with the mission of teaching Mahasati meditation in the United States.[citation needed]
A form ofvipassana orinsight meditation, Mahasati meditation uses movement of the body to generateself-awareness andself-realization. Mahasati meditation is practiced throughout Asia and in the United States and is appropriate for anyone regardless ofreligion ornationality.[citation needed]