This episode is a talk given by Ajahn Gunhah Sukakhamo in commemoration of one of his senior disciples, Niphon Upakaro Bhikkhu, also known as Luang Por Laai. This talk comes from a booklet called “Dhamma for the Living and the Dead” which commemorates senior disciples that have died.

Luang Por is an honorific meaning “Venerable Father”. Luang Por Laai was a senior bhikkhu at Wat Pah Subthawee. He was 62 years old and had 26 rains retreats as a bhikkhu. He had had cancer for a long time and spent the vassa at a different place. One evening in mid-September, Luang Por Laai phoned Luang Por Gunhah because he was still afraid of dying. Luang Por Gunhah instructed him on how to separate body, feeling and mind, so that the mind would remain peaceful even though the body was dying. This teaching became the theme for many weeks during and after the funeral chanting.

---