The Planet Gods really helped him. Very bad news spread

from the police station – Noo and his guys were wanted men. 

Police expected they would have to catch  him dead. The only way out when police wanted to wipe out criminal activities was to escape. Having heard the rumors, Mother Sawang brought Noo to meet with the police and  promised to let  him be ordained with Luangta at Wat Rahan in Bangbuathong. 

            The Kanpai family had close relations with Luangta. The senior monk suggested that entering the monkhood was the best way to improve Noo’s manners.  He mentioned Noo was not a bad boy, ultimately he would be a kind master in the future.  For that reason, he became a novice the following day.  

            The novice had gained enough magical expertise.  His friends asked for magic things to protect themselves just like the power which had helped Noo survive his last fight. The very young monk told them he had nothing.  Eventually he consented to their requests because they insisted witnesses at the market had seen his invulnerability in action.  His three friends needed him to tattoo their bodies.  Thus he sharpened sticks of coconut tree, wetted Chinese ink and did the tattooing.  After they left the temple, they drank alcohol at a restaurant and had a quarrel with a gangster at the next table.  The tattooed men were stabbed but knives could not pierce into their skin.  Neighbors heard about the violence then went to visit the novice to get magic things.    A lot of people

have sought tattoos since then. 

            The polices had been eradicating crimes along with Noo’s gangster and his enemies.  Leading ones were caught dead.  He was very concerned for his friends who were arrested.  By the  way his mother and Luangta’s words reminded him to stay away from them.  He decided not to relate to bad deeds and so 

continued studying magic and practicing meditation seriously.  After going about for food in the mornings he would start the routine again.  When Noo reached the age for entering the priesthood, Luangta Dee kindly performed the ordination ceremony.  Novice Noo became a mature monk named “Thammavaro.”  Afterwards he heard of the fame of a Khmer monk in Rayong Province who had mastered magic. He therefore asked permission to “Tudong” or make merit by trekking there to study with the monk. 

            He found trekking to be troublesome.  He stayed alone beside rivers in the shade of trees or in house yards.  He was ashamed to have to hitchhike to get where he was going.  He observed religious precepts and meditation along the way. The purpose was to develop peace of mind and to strengthen his powers through his sufferings on the trek.

He took about 30 rice-balls or “Kaotu” in his bag for a month.  He had one meal a day to survive.  He did not rely on eating and wellbeing and ignored the environment.  Such manners hurt his body  but enhanced the strong peaceful practices.   

            He did “Tudong” journeys for years, visiting temples where masters lived and studying the mysterious sciences with them.  Such powerful subjects were not suitable for the people with undeveloped minds.  The learner needed much effort to learn the practice successfully.  Fortunately Phra Noo had developed his mind appropriately since he was young.    The great monks, like Luangpoo Iam at Wat Saphansoong, owned the best magic spells of Pudtameun, Yantra Sorodmonkol  and Yantra Tuakudsamathikaotaw. 

            He suffered himself in Rayong as food was scarce. There were temples in Rayong but they did not allow him to stay overnights.  Some laymen forced him to leave their temples.  These terrible experiences discouraged him but  he kept trekking to achieve his goals.  

            Phra Noo pitched “Klod,” a tent for monk,  in the middle of forests, fields and under shady trees.  Sometimes villagers asked him to tell lucky numbers to bet on in illegal lotteries.  He positively refused telling them he was a new monk on a “Tudong” trek.  This reason made them walk away so he could realize his intention.  

            Many monks came to Wat Rahanrai to practice “Parivassakham” individually. They were correcting improper manners they had done during the Bhuddist Lent. Phra Noo  would like to gain knowledge from Luangpoo Tim.  Another great 

master at Wat Pluagdang is Luanta Khamen.  His colleagues named him Luangta Khamen as he was of dark complexion like Khmer people.  A monk showed Phra Noo a piece of yantra cloth by Luangpoo Tim and wrote it down on paper. 

Eventually he met Luangpoo Tim next morning. He looked unhealthy. Phra Noo showed Luangpoo the written spell from the cloth and eagerly asked the old monk to correct it.    Luangpoo read it and gave a nod, then asked him, “How did you learn reading and writing Khmer characters.”  He replied, “ I had studied my father’s ancient books and took notes of powerful subjects from gurus.  I really like magic.”           

            The very kind master spent time talking and teaching Phra Noo and wrote him 6 magical verses.  He understood the holy words and recited them happily.   A month later, on October 16,1975 he heard the sad news of Luangpoo Tim’s death. 

            At Wat Pluangdang in Rayong where the “Parivassakham” ceremony took place. He met Luangta Khamen – his real name “Poot.”  The old priest yelled at him.  The shouting frightened Phra Noo.  He wondered why the keen monk on “Vipassana,” a level of meditation, had a fierce look.  At once Luangta replied that shouting was his manner.  Thus Phra Noo did not show his interests and went back to make himself all set to meet Luangta Poot later.           

            Phra Noo  had  talked and looked after Luangta Poot for a month and asked to learn  spells for self protection.  Luangta Poot mentioned, “You have many spells already, why do you want more from me?”  The monk handed a tin box of tobacco to Noo and let him smoke.  He opened the tin and was frightened by the many centipedes and scorpions inside. He thought Luangta Poot tested his mind.  Finally Luangta Poot decided to teach him all incant lessons and meditation.  He thought it was easy by sitting still but found out it was difficult. 

            “To practice Samadhi, we must leave everything behind,”  Luangta Poot taught him  to reach mindfulness by setting ourselves clear goals.  We remember that our forms and appearances do not belong to us. The mind should control breaths slowly and finely by praying two words – to inhale deeply into stomach “Bhud,” and to exhale to the end of nose “Dho.”  Next is to keep the mind focusing carefully with a tranquil environment and not to prevent thoughts.  Unwholesome thoughts and prejudice flow in to your mind at this stage.  If the meditator has not considered the factors, as well as two sets of obstacles, the practice will not move forward.  The first set of five obstacles are – love and fondness, revenge, sleepiness, fanciful ideas and hesitation.  The second set, in Pali words, are “Kesa, Lama, Nakha, Thanta and Tajo.”  These words mean hairs on head, hairs on body, nails,

 teeth and skin.  Employing endurance and intention can help us overcome the obstacles. 

           Having been practicing with Luangta Poot for one year and a few months, Phra Noo succeeded in achieving the required level of concentration and mindfulness.  He learnt what he should ignore or consider thoroughly. 

Praying sermons every morning and evening would support mind development. The task would gain high merit at the same time.  The ones who studied with books must exercise caution. They could not know the heart of meditation like as master.  To enjoy practicing was very beneficial to hold their emotion and find certain impacts to reach thoughtfulness.  The impacts are no hearing means the mind can not hear anything,  no eyes and no body respectively.  However the practices could not bring one to “Khammathan.”  

            When practicing meditation, Phra Thammavaro was also studying magic.  He learnt many spells including the spell for divine prescriptions.  He read and wrote both Pali and Khmer languages fluently. He tested the sacred and magic as well. 

            After the complete practice, he left the temple.  He wandered off  places to practice individually by himself.   Everywhere he stayed, monks and neighbors wanted him make tattoos for them. (This is the beginning of his tattooing.) 

            One day Sue Yen  who lived in Nonthaburi, met with Phra Noo.  The monk was doing “Khammathan” in his monastery.  Sua Yen told Phra Noo that he needed a tattoo for self-protection.  Actually the master knew about his unique personality and his collection of sacred things and magic. Accordingly the master dealt with Sue Yen to exchange experiences and knowledge. 

Phra Thammavaro made pilgrimages for years.  Later he went back to stay at Wat Taladneau, Kayaeng Village, Pathumthani City. This temple did not prosper at that time.  Its 

neighborhood was crowded with gangsters and robbers. Workers in factories nearby were always fighting violently. Some workers came to have tattoos with Phra Noo so he took the chance to teach them about morality.  Becoming disciples of the same master, they should love like brothers among themselves. Quarrels among followers were strictly prohibited.  Later there has not been any violence between these two factories anymore.