must have no chance for luck on the lottery."
From that day on he lost all interest in the lottery. All his old lottery friends who used to be wealthier than he, gradually went bankrupt, one-by-one. Some never won the lottery. Others won but the lottery refused to pay and died in the ensuing stabbing matches. The layman continued with the task of earning an honest living and from successful business and from the money he saved by not buying lottery tickets he soon became wealthy and contributed to the temple’s upkeep. At last he realized that Luang Phaw hadn’t tricked him with promises of fortune all those years ago, but had wanted him to realize his true wealth, rather than letting the lottery gobble up his income.
Luang Phaw was famed for the accuracy of his prophecies. Unlike many others, he had the courage to make his prophecies public, whether they were matters concerning himself, his disciples, the temple, the nation or even the world. He knew that his prophecies were reliable — and would make them known so that those around him could prepare themselves. Some criticized him for risking his credibility by making prophecies in public, but he maintained:
"When we have studied the Teachings of the Buddha to such depth, we know that what the Buddha taught is the truth. The Dhammakāya could never mislead anyone."
No matter how prophetic vision or knowledge might arise for Luang Phaw as a result of his meditation, he would relate it to others without exaggeration or interpretation.
The monks’ standard of living gradually improved as the reputation of Luang Phaw and the temple spread. In