Thongsuk Samdaengpan
Encyclopedia
Thongsuk Samdaengpan was an eminent Buddhist nun and one of a rare few female masters of meditation. She is notable together with Chandra Khonnokyoong
for linking the lineage of the Dhammakaya Movement
from Phramonkolthepmuni down to the third generation and for having been co-originator with Chandra Khonnokyoong, of the ceremony for ‘offering sustenance to the Lord Buddha’ (Puja Kao Phra) which has subsequently become an identifying feature of the Dhammakaya Movement.
Thongsuk Samdaengpan was born on 1 August 1900 at Baan Saphan Lueang, Bangrak District, Bangkok
. She was the third born to her father Rom and mother Wan. She was separated from her parents at an early age, being adopted by her uncle and aunt instead. She had no formal education and was illiterate.
She married Dr. Chin Samdaengpan, a surgeon at Chulalongkorn Hospital. They had two children together before the untimely death of her husband - from which time onwards, Thongsuk Samdaengpan had to support herself and her children working as a salesperson.
In 1930, Thongsuk Samdaengpan started to study meditation at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen
under the instruction of Phramonkolthepmuni using the Dhammakaya Meditation
technique, being able to attain the Dhammakaya by 1935. She was accepted as a researcher in Phramonkolthepmuni’s Meditation Workshop while being allowed to teach meditation outside the temple in Bangkok households, such as that of Liap Sikanchananand.
In 1936 she accepted Chandra Khonnokyoong
as her student . In 1938, she went on a one-month meditation retreat at Wat Paknam, at the end of which she renounced the worldly life together with Chandra Khonnokyoong and both ordained as nuns (mae ji
) at Wat Paknam.
Thongsuk Samdaengpan became an exceptionally gifted Dhamma teacher, answering questions in a way that was easy to understand and helping meditators overcome hindrances. She travelled around Thailand to spread the Dhamma and teach Dhammakaya Meditation according to the policy of Phramongkolthepmuni – sometimes accompanied by Mae Ji Thean Theerawat, sometimes by Chandra Khonnokyoong. She had occasion to teach in eighteen provinces which included Nakhon Pathom
, Ratchaburi
, Sing Buri
, Chachoengsao
, Chonburi
, Prachinburi
, Chiang Mai
, Nakhon Sawan
and Phitsanulok
and was therefore notable as one of the leading teachers of Buddhism in Thailand at that time.
She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1960 and died of this on 3 February 1963 at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen aged 63 ,having been a nun for 25 years.
Chandra Khonnokyoong
Chandra Khonnokyoong was a Thai Theravada Buddhist nun who founded the Wat Phra Dhammakaya organization. Her full title was Khun Yay Mahā Ratana Upāsikā Chandra Khonnokyoong...
for linking the lineage of the Dhammakaya Movement
Dhammakaya Movement
-Origins:It was founded by the Thai meditation master Phramongkolthepmuni - a celebrated meditation master and the late abbot of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, Thonburi...
from Phramonkolthepmuni down to the third generation and for having been co-originator with Chandra Khonnokyoong, of the ceremony for ‘offering sustenance to the Lord Buddha’ (Puja Kao Phra) which has subsequently become an identifying feature of the Dhammakaya Movement.
Thongsuk Samdaengpan was born on 1 August 1900 at Baan Saphan Lueang, Bangrak District, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. She was the third born to her father Rom and mother Wan. She was separated from her parents at an early age, being adopted by her uncle and aunt instead. She had no formal education and was illiterate.
She married Dr. Chin Samdaengpan, a surgeon at Chulalongkorn Hospital. They had two children together before the untimely death of her husband - from which time onwards, Thongsuk Samdaengpan had to support herself and her children working as a salesperson.
In 1930, Thongsuk Samdaengpan started to study meditation at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen
Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen
Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen in Phasi Charoen district, Bangkok is a very large wat with a sizeable population of monks and nuns. Many foreigners have stayed at this temple over the years....
under the instruction of Phramonkolthepmuni using the Dhammakaya Meditation
Dhammakaya meditation
Dhammakaya meditation is an approach to Buddhist meditation revived in the early 1900s and practiced by several million people all over the world...
technique, being able to attain the Dhammakaya by 1935. She was accepted as a researcher in Phramonkolthepmuni’s Meditation Workshop while being allowed to teach meditation outside the temple in Bangkok households, such as that of Liap Sikanchananand.
In 1936 she accepted Chandra Khonnokyoong
Chandra Khonnokyoong
Chandra Khonnokyoong was a Thai Theravada Buddhist nun who founded the Wat Phra Dhammakaya organization. Her full title was Khun Yay Mahā Ratana Upāsikā Chandra Khonnokyoong...
as her student . In 1938, she went on a one-month meditation retreat at Wat Paknam, at the end of which she renounced the worldly life together with Chandra Khonnokyoong and both ordained as nuns (mae ji
Mae ji
Mae ji are Buddhist laywomen in Thailand occupying a position somewhere between that of an ordinary lay follower and an ordained monk. It is illegal for women to take ordination in Thailand. And they are expected to work essentially as maids to ordained monks, rather than receiving training and...
) at Wat Paknam.
Thongsuk Samdaengpan became an exceptionally gifted Dhamma teacher, answering questions in a way that was easy to understand and helping meditators overcome hindrances. She travelled around Thailand to spread the Dhamma and teach Dhammakaya Meditation according to the policy of Phramongkolthepmuni – sometimes accompanied by Mae Ji Thean Theerawat, sometimes by Chandra Khonnokyoong. She had occasion to teach in eighteen provinces which included Nakhon Pathom
Nakhon Pathom
Nakhon Pathom is a city in central Thailand, capital of the Nakhon Pathom Province. One of the most important landmarks is the giant Phra Pathom Chedi...
, Ratchaburi
Ratchaburi
Ratchaburi ) is a town in western Thailand, capital of the Ratchaburi Province. It covers the whole tambon Nai Mueang of Mueang Ratchaburi district. As of 2006 it has a population of 38,208.-External links:*...
, Sing Buri
Sing Buri
Sing Buri is a town in Thailand, capital of the Sing Buri province. The town covers the whole tambon Bang Phutsa and parts of Bang Man, Muang Mu, Ton Pho and Bang Krabue, all within Mueang Sing Buri district. As of 2006 it has a population of 19,470.-External links:* *...
, Chachoengsao
Chachoengsao
Chachoengsao ) is a town in central Thailand, capital of the Chachoengsao Province. It is located on the bank of the Bang Pakong River. It occupies the tambon Na Mueang and parts of Ban Mai, Bang Tin Pet, Wang Takhian and Sothon of Mueang Chachoengsao district...
, Chonburi
Chonburi Province
Chonburi is a province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi and Rayong. To the west is the Gulf of Thailand. The eastern seaboard is heavily industrialized and underpinned by shipping, transportation, tourism, and manufacturing industries, and second to only Bangkok...
, Prachinburi
Prachinburi
Prachinburi is a town in Thailand, capital of the Prachinburi Province....
, Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
, Nakhon Sawan
Nakhon Sawan
Nakhon Sawan is a city in Thailand, the name literally means "Heavenly City". The city is the capital of Nakhon Sawan Province, and covers the complete subdistrict Pak Nam Pho and parts of Khwae Yai, Nakhon Sawan Tok, Nakhon Sawan Ok and Wat Sai, all of Mueang Nakhon Sawan district...
and Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago...
and was therefore notable as one of the leading teachers of Buddhism in Thailand at that time.
She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1960 and died of this on 3 February 1963 at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen aged 63 ,having been a nun for 25 years.