Abbot Of Famed Forest Temple Dies In Fire

[Zidane]

This is only just breaking news on Thai media but the head monk at Wat Ban Tad in Udon Thani is believed to have been killed in a fire at the temple this lunchtime.
No other details are available as yet. Police are investigating.
RIP

[mickojak]

Yes, wife confirmed

[parrot]

https://www.thairath.co.th/news/local/northeast/1850936

[goodison]

Sad News indeed, my wife, who spends much of her time at Wat Ban Thad and in fact only moved from there to the Temple at Sawang Daeng Din only last week. She will be visiting Wat Ban Thad today to pay her respects. She spends time at both Temples helping in the kitchens preparing meals for the monks and congrgations. She was devastated when she phoned me yesterday with the news of the Head Monk's accident and passing. R.I.P. May your Legacy live on.

[Udon Map]

Phra Ajarn Sudjai Thanthamano had succeeded Luangta Maha Bua at Wat Pa Ban Tad in Udon Thani

Police examine the scene of the blaze that claimed the life of Phra Ajarn Sudjai Thanthamano, who had served as the abbot of Wat Pa Ban Tad since the passing of the revered Luangta Maha Bua in 2012. (Photo: Yuttapong Kamnodnae)

UDON THANI: The abbot of the famous forest temple long associated with the late Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno died on Friday after a fire gutted his living quarters.

Phra Ajarn Sudjai Thanthamano, 75, had served as the abbot of Wat Kesornsilakul, widely known as Wat Pa Ban Tad, since the passing of Luangta Maha Bua in 2011.

Police were alerted to the blaze at the temple in tambon Ban Tad of Muang district at 1.37pm on Friday. Firefighters who arrived on the scene found flames engulfing the living quarters of the abbot. Monks, novices and laymen were trying to put out the flames and rescue the abbot, who was trapped inside.

Police cordoned off the area pending the collection of forensic evidence, as followers began arriving at the temple after hearing of the abbot’s passing.

(Photo: Yuttapong Kumnodnae)

The cause of the fire was being investigated. Police took statements from several monks and other witnesses at the scene

Phra Pongsak Bunthitor, a monk, told officers that he was alerted by assistant abbot Phra Ajarn Bamrung Kanakor that a fire had broken out. He immediately asked other monks and novices to help douse the flames and alert a fire control unit. The monks managed to pry away the iron bars on one window but could not get in because the flames were spreading too quickly.

Phra Nara Katakharo, a junior monk, said thick smoke was billowing from the living quarters when he and other monks arrived. He said he saw the abbot sitting in the meditation posture inside the room, but the monks could not get inside to help him.

The provincial unit of the National Office of Buddhism has been assigned to arrange the religious ceremony for the late abbot, said Wanchai Chanporn, the deputy governor of Udon Thani.

Phra Ajarn Sudjai, a graduate of the Faculty of Economics at Thammasat University, was ordained on March 25, 1973. The 75-year-old abbot had played a key role in supporting Buddhism and the country.

Phra Ajarn Sudjai continued the charitable works of the late Luangta Maha Bua. He recently donated 2 million baht to individual Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital for the treatment of Covid-19 patients and gave cloth to provincial authorities to make face masks for local residents, monks and novices. The abbot also donated 100 personal protective equipment (PPE) suits to Udon Thani Hospital.

Police question monks and witnesses about the fire that claimed the life of Phra Ajarn Sudjai Thanthamano
(Photo: Yuttapong Kumnodnae)


Courtesy of The Bangkok Post
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... e#cxrecs_s

[semperfiguy]

"He said he saw the abbot sitting in the meditation posture inside the room, but the monks could not get inside to help him".

Sounds to me like it could have been suicide by fire. Reminds me of the Vietnamese monk years ago that doused himself with gasoline and offed himself for the cause.

[GT93]

I think it was monks. If my memory (from reading) is correct, a religious American did the same outside the Pentagon.

[saint]

Well they held his funeral at Ban Tad yesturday . Roads were busy , so i guess it was well attended ,all mourners practicing social distancing no doubt .
A VIP was flown in and out by helecopter , but the usual protection , ambulance ect had to go by road , just in case !!!

[tamada]

Murmurings from the moobahn suggest that the quest for access to or control of vast sums of money could be somewhere in the mix.

[saint]

Murmurings from the moobahn suggest that the quest for access to or control of vast sums of money could be somewhere in the mix.

That is indeed the word on the street here too .
There is something very fishy going on for sure , but will the truth ever out . I doubt it .