Understanding Key Thai Terms in Buddhism : หน้า 161/200

Klong: a Thai word for canal Luang Por: a Thai word which means Venerable Father, an informal way of addressing a senior monk. Luang Pu: a Thai word which means Venerable Grandfather, an informal way of addressing an elderly senior monk; referring to the Great Master Phramongkolthepmuni, founder of the Dhammakaya Tradition. Luang Pu Wat Paknam: Phramongkolthepmuni, founder of the Dhammakaya Tradition Mara: evil, both as a concept and as a personification. In Buddhist cosmology, Mara is a supra-natural being responsible for hindering people from performing meritorious deeds. Mara can also mean obstacles for doing good deeds. Merit: result of good deeds; a positive energy, or good kamma that is created whenever a good deed is performed. Merit is generated in three major ways: charitable giving, observance of moral precepts, and meditation. Merit Sphere: a transcendental sphere representing merit, that lies within each person; the more merit accumulated, the larger the merit sphere.