Untitled : หน้า 18/194

sister. She gave away her jewellery and remaining wealth to others in her family. All she had left were the clothes she stood up in, a healthy body, a determined heart and a mission to seek out her father in his afterlife destination. When she bowed at her mother’s feet in farewell, telling her mother her intentions, her mother cried out in pity. She didn’t want her daughter exposed to hardship and preferred that she just marry and settle down with a family like a normal person. She thought that Chandra would be happier if she stayed but Chandra knew that studying the Dhamma could not be postponed any longer. Some argued that one should save spirituality for one’s old age, but Chandra saw that anything one did while young could come more quickly to fruition. Usually children must succumb to the power of their mother’s tears but Chandra’s determination was not so easily swayed — she had already made up her mind long ago to study the knowledge of Dhammakāya with the Great Abbot of Wat Paknam. Even though she loved and respected her mother, she made the distinction in her mind between what was comfortable for her mother and what she had to do in her quest for the Dhamma. She never let go of that gratitude to her mother, but at the same time didn’t allow that to weaken her commitment to her mission to reach her father. Mother eventually gave her two baht bus fare and although Chandra didn’t really need it, accepted it anyway out of consideration for her mother’s feelings. That was how she came to leave her home, not looking back, but single-mindedly intent to