Revered Buddhist Monk's First-Edition Amulet Unveiled
A revered Buddhist scholar and meditation master at Wat Sri Loha Rat in Kanchanaburi created highly sought collector amulets in the 1960s, with first-edition coins from 1960 now among the most prized pieces from his 57-year monastic career.
Phra Kru Sophon Prachanarat, known as Luang Pu Narat Nakaseno, was a distinguished Buddhist scholar and meditation master at Wat Sri Loha Rat in Kanchanaburi's Ta Muang district. Originally named Narat Perm Bun, he was born October 4, 1901, to farmer parents Pim and Sambuon. He was ordained at age 29 on July 10, 1930, receiving the monastic name Nakaseno. Beyond his studies under Luang Pu Prot at his home temple, he traveled widely to study Vipassana meditation with Luang Pu Perm at Wat Chaichumpol and Luang Pu Nak at Wat Tamnantuen. He also journeyed to Bangkok to train under the renowned Luang Pu Sod Candasaro at Wat Paknam in advanced meditation and subtle body practices, attending twice. He studied traditional healing arts with lay masters including medicinal remedies for kidney disease.
In 1951, when the abbot position at Wat Sri Loha Rat became vacant, villagers invited him to lead the temple, which he subsequently developed significantly. In 1976, he and his disciples uncovered several tons of ancient lead from Sri Sawat district, believed to be casting remnants from the Sukhothai period used to create Buddha images. The discovery was confirmed by matching Khmer inscriptions on lead pieces found in nearby temple caches. From 1976 to 1977, he used the recovered lead to create amulets for sale, directing proceeds toward constructing the ordination hall at Wat Sri Loha Rat and funding temple renovations across Sri Sawat district.
He served as a preceptor from 1955 onward. In 1964 he was appointed Phra Kru Phandit (second rank), and in 1968 he received royal promotion to Phra Kru Sanyanabat Trikiat (first rank). In 1972 he was promoted to Phra Kru Sanyanabat Thoikiat (second rank). He died peacefully of old age on May 24, 1987, at age 86 with 57 years of monastic life. Among his amulets, the first-edition coins cast in 1960 to commemorate a new meditation hut dedication are highly prized by collectors. These coins were cast in a single copper alloy with a dark patina, with some bearing the abbot's consecration seal, totaling just five hundred pieces.
