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for Allied bombing. Luang Phaw had unshakeable faith that the omnipotence of the Dhammakāya would protect Wat Paknam and its congregation from the bombs. Luang Phaw’s confidence was not unfounded and in reality, neither Wat Paknam nor the adjacent locks were ever to sustain bomb damage. Temple attendance increased because Wat Paknam gained a reputation for safety in time of air raids. The public believed that Luang Phaw had some sort of magic power and before long, whenever air-raid sirens were sounded, the people of Bhasicharoen would hasten to the temple precincts rather than shelter in air-raid bunkers. Luang Phaw heard the distant explosions of bombs falling on Bangkok and remained unmoved. “Go and intercept those bombs in case they harm somebody. Have them fall in the ocean instead or in uninhabited areas,” he ordered Kuhn Yay. Indeed, in 1941, many of the Bangkok newspapers gave front-page coverage to the manifestation of miracles at Wat Paknam. One particular incident which riveted the press was an air-raid on Bangkok — the target of which was the destruction of the Praputha-yodfa•chulalok Bridge. Wat Paknam was within striking distance of this target. At that time the inhabitants of the neighborhood gazed up at the skies and were surprised to see large numbers of nuns from Wat Paknam floating in the air, intercepting the bombs dropped by the bombers and patting them with their bare hands to fall harmlessly in the water or uninhabited areas of forest. So many people saw the heroic efforts of the nuns with their naked eyes that the renown of the miracles of Luang Phaw Wat Paknam spread far and wide. Everybody saw the efforts by Luang Phaw to reduce bloodshed and encourage harmony amongst his fellow men. 116