1. Chandra Khonnokyoong was a Thai Maechi who founded Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
25 Facts About Chandra Khonnokyoong
1. 2.
Chandra Khonnokyoong managed to attract many well-educated students, despite her rural background and illiteracy.
3.
Chandra Khonnokyoong was born on 20 January 1909 into a middle class farming family in Nakhon Pathom province, of Thailand.
4.
Chandra Khonnokyoong's father was called Ploy, and her mother was called Phan, and she had eight siblings.
5.
Chandra Khonnokyoong cursed Chandra, saying that she would be deaf for five hundred lifetimes.
6.
When her father died unexpectedly in 1921, Chandra Khonnokyoong still wanted to reconcile with him.
7.
Chandra Khonnokyoong believed that reconciliation would help dissolve the effects of Karma and lift the curse.
8.
In 1927, Chandra Khonnokyoong heard that a meditation master in Thonburi was able to use meditation to communicate with beings in the afterlife.
9.
Later on, to acquaint herself with Wat Paknam, Chandra Khonnokyoong decided to work as a servant.
10.
Chandra Khonnokyoong applied to work in a household which was regularly visited by a teacher from Wat Paknam.
11.
In 1938, with the permission of the mistress of the house, Chandra Khonnokyoong was taken by Achan Thongsuk to meet Luang Pu Sodh for the first time.
12.
Chandra Khonnokyoong was going to spend a month at Wat Paknam.
13.
Chandra Khonnokyoong allowed her to join an experienced group of meditation practitioners in Wat Paknam without having to pass any probation or tests.
14.
Maechi Chandra Khonnokyoong is believed by some practitioners to have prevented several bombs from hitting Bangkok during World War II.
15.
Luang Pu Sodh would often assign Maechi Chandra Khonnokyoong to teach different groups in different provinces.
16.
Chandra Khonnokyoong became known for being able to explain difficult teachings.
17.
Chandra Khonnokyoong emphasized self-discipline and practicing virtues such as respect and patience.
18.
Maechi Chandra Khonnokyoong took care of her in her last months, and organized a suitable funeral for her.
19.
The house in which Maechi Chandra Khonnokyoong lived quickly became too small to accommodate all her students, and funds were raised to build a new house, called the "Dhammaprasit House".
20.
Maechi Chandra Khonnokyoong encouraged meditation practitioners who were still students to ordain after graduation.
21.
Luang Por Dhammajayo and Maechi Chandra Khonnokyoong took responsibility for the finances of the establishment, and a lay-supporter, who later ordained as Luang Por Dattajivo, took responsibility for building on the site.
22.
Villagers from the area became familiar with Maech Chandra Khonnokyoong and started to help her.
23.
Chandra Khonnokyoong died peacefully on 10 September 2000 at Kasemrat Hospital, Bangkok, at the age of ninety-one.
24.
Chandra Khonnokyoong's cremation was postponed for over a year in order to give time to everyone to pay their respects to her and make merit on her behalf.
25.
Maechi Chandra Khonnokyoong's remains were burnt in a grand ceremony, using glass to ignite the fire by sun light.