EAP326/16/2/3

Pha Bunthan Thitapunya Maha Thela/Rathikun (1920-1967), Abbot of Vat Maha That Raxaborvolaviharn.Biography: Pha Bunthan ThitapouPha Bunthan Thitapunya Maha Thela/Rathikun nyo was born on Friday on 13th day of waning moon of 9th month of Lao calendar B.E.2463, corresponds to August 18, 1920, at Ban Vat That in Luang Prabang as the son of Thit Phila and Mrs. Chanthee who has three children as Pha Bunthan Thitapunya Maha Thela/Rathikun, General Ouan Rathikun and Ms. Chanpheng Rathikun of Ban Vat That. He got married to Ms. Pheng of Ban Lamaet (Ban Phon Heuang) and has a daughter. In 1946, there was a cholera spread and killed many people, some families all members of a family died and their houses and lands were transferred to the temples because there was not anybody live in. Pha Bunthan Thitapunya Maha Thela/Rathikun was one who was killed by this cholera, he relatives wrapped him by cloth and put him into the coffin for funeral, but fortunately he was alive and he told his relatives that “I dreamed that there were militaries caught me and many people from the south to the north of the city to their camp they called each person to interview and ask his/her name, surname, parents’ names, but the interview of Mr.Bunthan, his name and surname was not the one they wanted, they told that it was another Bunthan, and they released him to come back home, but when he arrived at home, he did not see anybody, he only saw a bonfire at the same time he was cold and he saw his overcoat hanging on the wall and he wore the overcoat ”. His relatives saw the coffin moved and they opened the cover of the coffin and saw Bunthan was still alive and took him out from the coffin. When he was recovered from the cholera, he thought that he was died and reborn, he was pitied of himself and thought that sin and merit are actually had; this life and future are actually had. In 1947, he was ordained as a monk at Vat Maha That to study Dhamma until he was strict in Dhamma until he was appointed to be an abbot of Vat Maha That until his death in 1967. He was the one, who built Sim (main hall of monastery) of Vat Maha That, but it was not completed because of his death, Pha Phoui Thirachitto who was the later abbot continued the construction until it was completed.

Original material consist of: colour halftone print