The Early Life of Luang Por Dhammajayo : หน้า 25/200

Luang Por's STORY 21 Luang Por Dhammajayo was born Chaiyaboon Suddhipol on April 22, 1944, to the family of Janyong and Juree Suddhipol. He grew up in a small house on the bank of the Chao Praya River in Singburi, Thailand. His father was an engineer working for the Ministry of Industry whose job required him to be relocated regularly. Chaiyaboon often had to be put in boarding schools away from home for his schooling. Young Chaiyaboon was eager when it came to acquiring knowledge. His interest in Buddhism began at a very young age. His favorite past time during his teens was to hang around bookstands that lined the streets surrounding Sanam Luang, a public park of Bangkok, where books of every kind could be found. The subjects that fascinated him were Buddhism, the Teachings of the Buddha, and biographies of important people. The more books he read, the more Dhamma sermons he listened to, the more he wondered: “Why are we born? What is the purpose of one’s life? Where do we go after we die? Do heaven and hell really exist?” These questions lingered in his mind and he could not find the answers.