Phramongkolthepmuni: The Discoverer of Dhammakaya Meditation : หน้า 43/200

PHRAMONGKOLTHEPMUNI Discoverer of the Dhammakaya Meditation Method Famously known as Luang Por Wat Paknam, one of the most Venerated Buddhist monks in the history of Thailand, Phramongkolthepmuni was born as Sodh Mikaewn-oi on October 10, 1884 to the family of Ngeun and Sutjai Mikaewnoi, a rice merchant in Songpinong District, Suphanburi, a province 60 miles west of Bangkok, Thailand. Sodh was the second born of five brothers and sisters with an older sister Dha, and three younger brothers, Sai, Phook and Samruam in order of birth. Sodh was an intelligent child with a strong will power. In whatever he set out to do he would always persevere until it was done and done well. Sodh showed the signs of compassion even when he was very young. While helping his parents plough the rice fields each morning, as it neared midday, he would gaze up to check the position of the sun to note what time it was. His sister thought he was lazy, waiting for the time to take a break, but in fact he was watching for the appropriate time to relieve his ox. If he saw that the oxen had been overworked and had become tired, he would lead them off for a bath then let them loose to graze.