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“This illness is the fruition of my past evil deeds— it is unavoidable. The medicine they give me doesn’t cure the illness within. It’s as if there is a huge, impermeable stone blocking the path of the medicine, stopping the medicine from being absorbed where it’s really needed.” In 1956, Luang Phaw had been diagnosed as suffering from hypertension and as his monastic responsibilities grew more onerous, his chances for a full recovery dimmed. Luang Phaw planned to invite 2,500 monks to celebrate two and a half millennia of Buddhism in 1957, but had to cancel the ceremony because of his waning health. He was well aware of his situation but could not help himself. In spite of his physical suffering, he kept his mind strong, never complaining about pain or discomfort. The doctors could only find out whether he was in pain or not by asking him directly. He would always brush away those who tried to help him stand up or sit down. He considered himself, for all purposes, a healthy person, unless he ran the risk of passing-out in public. Though suffering, he would refuse to break off from his rains-retreat vows and take treatment outside the temple until the retreat was ended. Besides hypertension, he suffered a hernia, necessitating surgery at Siriraj Hospital and the Monastic Hospital. When he finally agreed to enter hospital, he remained as strict as though he were in his own temple. One of the nurses came to attend to Luang Phaw on the first night. All the male nurses had gone home. As the nurse drew 1. Including the establishment of Thailand’s most famous Buddhist parkland called Buddhamonthon, Nakorn Pathom from Newell ibid. p.99