| Ajahn Chandapalo |
Question: You saw him again in Thailand? Answer: Yes, I went to Thailand for the first time eleven years ago. I was already a bhikkhu for nine years, and by that time he was very sick and being looked after in that little hospital kuti. Ajahn Nyanadhammo was there at the time, on the team that was looking after him. We would go once a week on the Wan Phra (observance day) and pay our respects. We would sit around outside and if he was well enough, they would wheel him out in his wheelchair and we would pay respect and do parittas (chanting.) Question: And did you have the opportunity to go on the routine they do? Answer: No, I didn’t do that because I wasn’t there for very long and I didn’t know Thai. I thought it would just be more difficult for the others. I didn’t really know what to do. Question: How did you feel at that time when he couldn’t walk or speak?
Answer: It was sad and it was strange. It was difficult to connect the Luang Por Chah I met when he was alive and still quite vivacious and energetic, with someone who was just like a vegetable, no kind of response there or anything. So it was a bit sad, but also there was still something uplifting about how his parami (perfection of character) and his presence was still so important for so many people, and it kind of kept the Sangha together. There was a sense of the Sangha really coming together, and there was a lot of devotion towards him. A great being really brings that up in people.
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