Bio Luang Phor Imm, Wat Hua Khao

The Biography of Luang Phor Imm, Wat Hua Khao

 

 

 

During the reign of King Rama 6-7, Luang Phor Imm was one of three Geji

in Suphan Buri City who were considered experts of Vipassana. Luang Phor Imm resided at Wat Hua Khao, and was the master of the northern side of Suphan Buri; his compatriots were Luang Phor Pluem of Wat Phrao, the master of the central region; and Luang Phor Nong of Wat Klong Madan; the master of the southern side.

 

Luang Phor Imm was renowned throughout his life for both his exploits, as well as his supernatural prowess with the mystical arts. Though many years have elapsed since his passing, the ravages of time have done little to dull the luster of his fame, particularly in the hearts and minds of the denizens of Suphan Buri City.

The accuracy of some of the accounts surrounding his life, however, walk a thin line between truth and fiction, as written accounts were rare, and oral accounts passed down through mostly-illiterate sources, have ensured some degree of embellishment and modification. Perhaps the most intimate, and accurate accounts that exist today, were from direct students of his lineage, many of whom have also succumbed to old age. Is it therefore difficult to verify some of the supposed facts surrounding his life?

The Story about Luang Phor Imm

Luang Phor Imm

is also known as Phra Upatcha Imm Siripunyo. His birth name, was simply Imm; a product of an age where surnames were something of a novelty across Thailand. He was born on 1st June 1863, nearing the end of the reign of Rama IV. Written records of his place of birth do not exist, but he believed to have come from Si Prachan District, Suphan Buri province, as might be inferred from his ordainment at Wat Sao Thong temple in Si Prachan District, as well as his efforts to restore the Wat Kai Tia temple, located in the same district. Many monks in the Si Prachan district were also his pupils, and he was known to have had many Sahathammik from the area. His strong affinity for the area, along with his seeming established roots there, is widely seen as evidence that he might have originated from the area.

 

After restoring Wat Kai Tia, he went on a Tudong

, eventually arriving at what became the present site of Wat Hua Khao. At the time the area was nothing but a dense tropical jungle, and yet, he chose it as a site of note, beginning the practice of pilgrimages to the area. Old-timers from the area recount that Luang Phor Imm has been greatly respected and revered by the people of the area, who eventually helped build Wat Hua Khao, inviting him to reside there as the temple’s first abbot.

 

During his Tudong, Luang Phor Imm met a staggering away of other spiritual masters. He exchanged his substantial amount of knowledge with them. Some of his own knowledge, he had gleaned from his intensive meditation practices.
Though the names of many of these masters have been lost to time, it is assumed that two of his principal teachers in his formative training, would have been Luang Phor Kaew, of Wat Phrao temple, Suphan Buri

province, and Luang Pu Sook, of Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao temple, Chainat province.

 

He undertook the role of educator, liaison, spiritual leader, and teacher to the surrounding community, becoming a bastion of Buddhist principles until his passing at age 74, somewhere around the beginning of 1938. He departed our mortal realm, in the most wondrous manner possible, seated upright in a state of deep, contemplative meditation.

 

 

His Amulet

Amulets of yore were meant to be functional, and speculation and commerce surrounding them was generally frowned upon. In the old days, it was a fairly common practice for people to bring their own materials, such as metal or sacred objects for masters like Luang Phor Imm to PlukSek

. The aim was for Luang Phor to imbue the items with sacredness, using his intense spiritual powers, awakening the intrinsic powers of the material, and allowing them to be used by their owners.

 

Luang Phor Imm undertook most of the crafting alone, within the confines of the temple. When more delicate or intricate work was needed, he would engage the assistance of master craftsmen, but still undertook the Pluksek process by himself. This was born of the belief that undertaking the entire process of crafting an amulet by oneself, often in a contemplative, dedicated state, was a form of Buddhist worship. It showed the diligence of the creators and rejecting potentially time-saving technology allowed for a deeper focus on the essence of Dhamma concealed within each and every step.

Whenever Luang Phor Imm began crafting amulets, he would always encourage the community to participate by providing materials such as necklaces, bracelets, silver, etc. to allow more of them to be made, in turn allowing the blessings they imbue to be multiplied manifold. This was his strategy to encourage his community to practice generosity, learn compassion, and accumulate merit. These materials were said to have been smelted into one by the sheer power of Luang Phor Imm himself. This searing power “Kasin Fai

” was said to have stoked the very fires of the stoves he used, bringing all the elements together as one.

 

He created many kinds of talismans, such as Phayant

, Rian, Roop Lor Nang Kwak, Phra Phong, and Wean, etc.

 

 

It is believed that his amulet brings wealth, mercy, and improves business luck. They are also said to render users impervious to harm. Though the master has passed, his amulets have only become exponentially more valuable over the years, particularly among collectors. Careful research should be undertaken, to ensure possession of a genuine article and a little bit of Luang Phor Imm’s truly magical legacy.