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layer of banana leaves and sugar cane before towing the boat downstream to Wat Paknam, right under the oblivious noses of the authorities, to moor in front of the temple. Rice was unloaded by the sackful and carried to the storeroom, filling it up to the amazement of all who bore witness! Luang Phaw had long been renowned for the special compassion he displayed towards foreigners. If any foreigner were to attain Dhammakāya in meditation, he could not cease to express his happiness for days upon end. Luang Phaw extended this same compassion to the warring nations of the War. In spite of the hostilities and the obvious temptation for nationalist feeling, Luang Phaw and his mediators, regarded a world at war with impartiality. Neither nationality nor the occupation of Thailand caused them to view one side or the other as their enemies. They saw all humans as equal and prayed for harmony and an end to the hostilities without bloodshed. Indeed, his standard blessing given to all who attended the temple was that all prosper, that the rice ripen in the fields, that the rain fall according to season and that men everywhere give up fighting amongst themselves. During World War II, Bangkok was occupied by soldiers of the Axis — more than a million in all. The Allies bombed Bangkok ceaselessly. In spite of the bombing, Luang Phaw did not evacuate the temple. On the contrary, he intensified his activities owing to the increased number of temple-goers. Wat Paknam was located only a ‘stone’s throw’ away from the lock between the mouth of the Bhasicharoen Canal and the Canal of Greater Bangkok. This was a place of strategic significance and a target