Khruba Inthajak Raksa


Phra Sudhammayan Ther or Kruba Inthajak Raksa was a bhikkhu of the Vipassanā tradition and the former abbot of Wat Nam Bo Luang in Chiang Mai Province.

Biography

Early life

Phra Sudhammayan Ther, also known as Kruba Inthajak, was born Intha Pimsan on Monday, November 2, 1906, corresponding to the 12th waning moon of the 11th lunar month in the Year of the Pig. He was born in Pa Paeng Village, Mae Raeng Subdistrict, Pa Sang District, Lamphun Province. His parents, Mr. Peng and Mrs. Sa Pimsan, were devout Buddhists who regularly made merit, kept precepts, chanted, meditated, and practiced walking meditation. They instilled these practices in all 13 of their children. Kruba Inthajak was the sixth child, with Khruba Brahmachak being the seventh and Phra Kru Sunthon Kamphiran being the eighth.

Novice ordination

Kruba Inthajak asked his parents for permission to ordain as a novice. His father took him to become a disciple of Phra Adhikar Kaew Khattiyo, the abbot of Wat Pa Hiang in Pa Sang District, Lamphun Province. He was ordained as a novice in March 1902. After his ordination, he studied both the theoretical and practical aspects of the Dhamma with his preceptor, eventually passing the Nak Tham Tri examination. He also completed three years of primary education.
When he turned 20, he was ordained as a monk on May 13, 1916, at Wat Pa Hiang. His preceptor was Phra Hom Phothako, and Phra Som Surintho served as the recitation teacher. He was given the dharma name Indajakko. After his ordination, he continued to teach Dhamma at the temple until he felt the need to focus on his own practice for liberation. He then asked his preceptor for permission to go on dhutanga travels, accompanied by his younger brother, Khruba Brahmachak.

Dhutanga journeys

Kruba Inthajak traveled extensively throughout Chiang Mai Province and Mae Hong Son Province, even entering Myanmar before returning to Thailand via Chiang Rai Province. During his travels, he endured hardships such as harsh weather, difficult terrain, and food shortages, but he persevered. He spent 16 years on these ascetic journeys before settling at Wat Nam Bo Luang at the invitation of Khun Anuphon Nakorn.

Religious activities

He officially took residence at Wat Nam Bo Luang on March 2, 1934. From then on, he developed the temple in many ways, including constructing buildings, roads, and water sources for the convenience of visitors.
When Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit began teaching Vipassana meditation based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Kruba Inthajak went to study under Phra Dhammadhiraj Mahamuni (Chodok Ñāṇasiddhi). Upon returning to Wat Nam Bo Luang, he taught this Vipassana method to the public, establishing the temple as a center for Vipassana meditation.

Ecclesiastical ranks

  • 1950: Appointed as a Phra Kru.
  • 1955: Promoted to Phra Kru second class with the title Phra Kru Wanaphirom.
  • 1969: Promoted to Phra Kru first class with the title Phra Kru Bhavanaphirat.
  • 1973: Promoted to a special class Phra Kru retaining his previous title.
  • December 5, 1977: Bestowed the ecclesiastical title of Phra Sudhammayan Ther in the Vipassanā tradition.

Illness and death

On December 10, 1970, Kruba Inthajak was suddenly admitted to McCormick Hospital due to severe spinal inflammation. By January 23 of the following year, his condition worsened, and doctors predicted he would die around 2 am. However, by the morning of January 24, his condition unexpectedly improved, and he recovered fully by February, returning to the temple to resume his duties.
After receiving the ecclesiastical title of Phra Sudhammayan Ther, his health declined again. He died at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital on January 17, 1978, at 10:20 PM. He was years old and had been a monk for 62 years. His royal cremation was held on March 22, 1981, presided over by Somdet Phutthachan (Saeng Janthasiro) as the chief monastic and Air Chief Marshal Harin Hongsakul as the chief layperson who lit the royal funeral pyre.

Notable disciples

  • Khruba Brahmachak
  • Phra Phrom Mongkhon (Thong Sirimongkolo)
  • Phra Ajarn Plian Pannapadipo