Venerable Luang Phor Koon’s name is known to all Thais and amulet collectors from around the world. He was the only master whose popularity has spread across the whole of Thailand – a total of 77 provinces. He was highly respected by the Thais including the Royal family who visited him to pay their respects numerous times.
Luang Phor Koon was born on Friday, 5th October BE2466. He was raised in a well off family. His grandfather was an influential person and was very well-known in the province of Nakorn Ratchasima. He also known to possess Wicha (magic power) due to this unfortunately many people were afraid of him.
When Luang Phor Koon was 7 years old, his grandfather brought him to study Thai and Pali under Ajarn Cheum, Ajarn Saai and Pra Ajarn Lee in a temple near his house. Luang Phor Koon was ordained as a monk at the age of 21 years old at Wat Hua Thanon, Hat Yai province on the 5th May BE 2487. Phra Kru Wijahn Dtigit was his preceptor and Phra Kru Atigahn Torng Suk was his dharma teacher. He was given a monk's name as Parisuttoh.
Luang Phor Koon stayed in Wat Hua Thanon to study Dharma and on top of that Luang Phor Koon was also under Luang Phor Daeng, Wat Nong Poh to learn about Dharma, Sammadhi and Wicha (magic). Luang Phor Koon was very diligent and studied hard.
Seeing that Luang Phor Koon was so keen in learning, Luang Phor Daeng brought him to meet Luang Phor Kong who was the abbot of Wat Hat Yai. Luang Phor Koon became a disciple of Luang Phor Kong who was a forest monk whom he accompanies on long journeys into the jungles and forests.
Besides Dharma and Sammadhi, Luang Phor Kong also taught Luang Phor Koon Wicha (magic) and the technique of inserting takrut into a person's arm. After completed his studies, Luang Phor Koon went Tudong alone. He went as far as Laos and Cambodia, remaining in the jungles for many years.
Luang Phor Koon returned to Thailand after 10 years and resided in Wat Banrai which was one of the temples in Nakorn Ratchasima. When Luang Phor Koon came to Wat Banrai, the temple was in a dilapidated state. There was only one old Salah (shelter), Bot (hall) and Guti (place where a Buddha Statue is generally placed).
Luang Phor Koon was determined to re-build this temple. He approached the abbot of the temple to ask for help. The abbot told him that the temple did not have sufficient funds (only 10,000 Baht) and asked Luang Phor Koon how much money he required to re-build the temple. Luang Phor Koon replied that he needed 3 to 4 million Baht.
When the abbot heard that, he told Luang Phor Koon that he was unable to help though it was his duties. Luang Phor Koon asked the villagers and his lay disciples to source for fund. Many people came forward to help. The total fund collected was almost 2 million baht and Wat Banrai was re-built.
Luang Phor Koon was gradually gaining popularity in Nakorn Ratchasima. Whenever people heard Luang Phor Koon wanted to build a temple or a school, many people would come forward to lend their helping hands. Luang Phor Koon built numbers of schools, temples and hospitals in Nakorn Ratchasima. The devotees who go to Wat Banrai, be it rich or poor, Luang Phor Koon will meet them personally and bless them.
Most pilgrims come to him for one reason: to get richer. "They believe he has magic powers”. Luang Phor Koon is a strange phenomenon: a Buddhist ascetic who donates sums of money to the poor but is seen nationwide as the guru who can best bolster your bank balance. Many devotees ask Luang Phor Koon to tap their outstretched wallets. Luang Phor Koon’s fame reached new height in BE2536, when a woman was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed hotel clutching an amulet with his image on it.
Sacred amulets consecrated by Luang Phor Koon are highly revered and believed to bring loving-kindness & popularity (metta mahaniyom), good business, wealth, prosperity and protection. The value of his amulets, especially the earlier batches, has been soaring ever since he passed away. It is believed in years to come that many of his sacred amulets will join the ranks of the “evergreen class” of amulets consecrated by the other great guru monks e.g. Luang Pu Toh, Luang Phor Parn and etc), and some of them will even be beyond the budget of average collectors.