To honour the auspicious occasion of the 80th birthday of Luang Por Liem Ṭhitadhammo (Phra Thepvajiranyan), a faithful group of disciples has arranged to print his biography. Luang Por Liem is a senior Buddhist monk presently ordained for 60 years in the Thai Forest Tradition of the late Ven. Ajahn Chah (or “Luang Pu Chah”) of Wat Nong Pah Pong in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. This book covers the prominent chapters of Luang Por Liem’s life, beginning from his roots as a simple farmer in Northeast Thailand, to his quest for deeper knowledge and understanding of the Buddha’s teachings as a monk, his life in accordance with the monastic discipline, his meditation practice, the search for the guidance of a teacher, and finally his joining Wat Nong Pah Pong as a disciple of Luang Pu Chah. Presently Luang Por Liem serves as the abbot of Wat Nong Pah Pong himself, and teaches Dhamma all over the world. He has become a living example for countless people.
The content of this book is based on Luang Por Liem’s own accounts and the memories of his disciples — monks and laypeople — who have had the opportunity to meet him in all kinds of situations and circumstances in various places and countries.
Since 2018, a group of monks and laypeople have taken on the task of collecting the material, compiling and editing it, and from time to time going to see Luang Por directly for confirmation of some of the unclear details. If there are any inaccuracies remaining, we would like to apologise, and hope that they won’t prevent the reader from getting a good picture of Luang Por’s ways of training as a Buddhist monk, his meditation practice, and his approach in teaching. For the main passages, we have been able to provide an English version of the respective texts. Some of it is more of a summary than a direct translation, and not all chapters have been included in the English material.
May this compilation of episodes from the life of a great Buddhist monk and teacher be of great benefit to all. May we all take his quiet example to heart and practice diligently within the situations of our own lives.
