Breaking Buddhist News – First Edition Amulet B.E. 2484 Luang Por Bai of Wat Chong Lom
Revered Buddhist master Luang Por Bai of Wat Chong Lom in Samut Songkhram Province spent 60 years in monastic life, rebuilding his temple after riverbank erosion and creating highly sought amulets believed to possess exceptional spiritual p
Luang Por Bai Thammacho, a revered Buddhist master from the Mae Klong River region at Wat Chong Lom in Samut Songkhram Province, was both a junior student and dharma companion of the renowned monks Luang Por Kaew of Wat Phuang Malai and Luang Por Kong of Wat Bang Ka Pom. He was born on a Thursday in the eighth lunar month of B.E. 2404 (1861) in Phetchaburi Province as an orphan, raised by Phra Ajarn Ket of Wat Thong Nopkun, the elder brother of Luang Por Kaew. At age 10, he studied Thai and Pali language before ordaining as a monk at age 20 at Wat Thong Nopkun, where Luang Por Daeng served as his preceptor.
He became deeply devoted to his studies in Buddhist philosophy and vipassana meditation under his teachers. In B.E. 2437, he undertook a four-month pilgrimage to visit the Buddha's Footprint in Saraburi Province and the Reclining Buddha statue in Kanchanaburi. He eventually became abbot of Wat Chong Lom, replacing Luang Por Kaew who transferred to Wat Phuang Malai in B.E. 2445.
In B.E. 2470, due to severe riverbank erosion threatening the temple, Luang Por Bai relocated and rebuilt the temple on higher ground. He expanded the temple with new structures, including ordination halls and a Buddha cave image. His construction projects were funded entirely through merit-making donations from villagers who contributed materials and labor. In B.E. 2484, during World War II, thieves vandalized the temple's decorative elements, damaging the Buddha cave image that remains partially intact today.
Luang Por Bai was renowned for his strong spiritual attainments and was frequently invited to preside over Buddhist blessing ceremonies. He presided over the casting of a royal statue at Wat Rajabophit in B.E. 2481 and many other major Buddhist ceremonies. He passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 4, B.E. 2485, at the age of 81, having spent 60 years in monastic life. The amulets and sacred objects he created during his lifetime are highly revered and sought after by devotees for their exceptional spiritual power.
