Rare 1972 Medal of Revered Maha Sarakham Monk Discovered

Luang Pu Mi Kantasilo of Wat Pa Santitham (Dong Som Poi) in Yang Si Suraj District, Maha Sarakham, was a celebrated forest meditation master whose reputation spread throughout the Northeast. Born in 1898 as Mi Lunsila in Po Phan village, he ordained at age 12 at Wat Dong Bang under Phra Kru Chandi and studied foundational Buddhist texts alongside esoteric sciences. At age 20 he received full monastic ordination at Wat Thong Nop Kun, then spent years practicing in forests and traveling to Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar while studying advanced esoteric practices under several renowned teachers.

He was known for his exemplary conduct, few words, love of solitude, and great compassion. Though reputed to possess remarkable spiritual abilities such as the power to collapse distance, he never displayed supernatural powers publicly. His reputation attracted many respected contemporary monks to study meditation at his temple, including Luang Pu Khun Parisuttho of Wat Ban Rai. In 1952 he returned and founded Wat Pa Santitham, which flourished under his guidance. He emphasized monastic education, supported monks and students, donated personal funds for public works, and used contributions from devotees to develop the temple with an ordination hall, monks' quarters, and teaching pavilion.

He passed away on May 3, 1999, at age 100. His remains now rest in a glass reliquary within a shrine at the temple. Remarkably, despite decades having passed, his body has not decayed and his nails and hair continue to grow each year. During annual commemorations, disciples gather to pay respects and bathe his image, changing his robes.

In 1972, Wat Pa Santitham issued the first edition of Luang Pu Mi medals to supporters contributing to the construction of the teaching pavilion. The medals, made of darkened copper, numbered 3,000 in total. The obverse features a full-length seated image of Luang Pu Mi, with his name inscribed along the left edge curving down along the rim.