Dazzling star of a golden age- Phrasribodhivithet. Chaukhun Supot Kittiwonno (พระศรีโพธิวิเทศ (เจ้าคุณ สุพจน์ กิตติวณฺโณ).

By:- Buddhi Chaudhary

Sangha dynasty started in Thailand with the advent of the most two venerable Sona and Uttara during the 3^rd century B.C. Since then it was the Buddhist priest who came to be the defenders and teachers of the nation. Such a personage can be seen in the physical system of Ven. Phrasribothivithet (Chaukhun Supot Kittiwonno) พระศรีโพธิวิเทศ (เจ้าคุณ สุพจน์ กิตติวณฺโณ). It is said:

“Dullabho Puriso Jaggo – Na So Sabbhatta Sayati

Yatha So Jayati Dhiro – Tam Kulam Subamedhati”

They are not born everywhere. If born in a family, such family may illumine. 

A baby boy to be well qualified for the above saying was born at Surin Province (Eastern parts of Thailand) to a couple who were so famous for their devotion to the triple gem. They would go to the temple and offer four requisites to the monks. Every morning and evening would participate for the chanting too. They taught to their child an ethics (จริยธรรม) and good conduct (จริยธรรม), right behavior, manners (มารยาท), traditions, etiquette and customs to be qualified person among the society.

 Later on, the child, when was about sixteen years old gone to the village temple and ordained as a Buddhist novice (สามเณร). Within few months, the little novice won the heart of an abbot of the monastery and other monks. So the abbot sent him to Bangkok to have higher and further educations. At a later stage, the novice of destiny became a brilliant star in the Buddhist order. His service to the priest-hood in general, to oriental studies and to the society was immense. Entering to the Wat Mahatat and completing studies, he stepped into teaching in the same institution. Later on, with the support of Phratepbodhivides Wirayut Veerayutto พระเทพโพธิวิเทศ (วีรยุทธ์ วีรยุทฺโธ) a Buddhist missionary leader of India and Nepal, he went to Nepal at Wat Thai Lumbini as a missionary monk. 

The pure doctrine introduced long ago was well protected and distributed by the kings and ministers of old but this could not be done without proper guidance of the Buddhist Sanghas (Monks). The external invasions occurred once in a way hindered this progress. 

When Phrasribodhivithet Chaukhun Supot Kittiwanno พระศรีโพธิวิเทศ (เจ้าคุณ สุพจน์ กิตติวณฺโณ) ascended to the Wat Thai Lumbini as an abbot, it was said that there were not available the necessary of qualified priests and situations to be practiced Buddhism. Also there was lack of education, jobs and necessities to the local people. This darkness of knowledge, jobs and necessities were set right by the Chaukhun Supot.

 The Most venerable Chaukhun Supot Kittiwanno (พระศรีโพธิวิเทศ (เจ้าคุณ สุพจน์ กิตติวณฺโณ), with the advices of Phrathepbodhivithet Wirayut Veerayutto, became the main gem stone of the golden chain of monks who blossomed in the age. He developed the Wat Thai Lumbini Royal Monastery. Not only had that but also built many other monasteries like Nigrotharam and Wat Phrarajavan etc. he supported to build and propagate Lumbini garden where there prince Siddhartha was born. He started many charity works like giving necessary things to the poor people, scholarship to the Buddhist monks to learn in Thailand and as well as other community works.

His love, kindness, compassion or commiserations and hard works for the whole Nepalese could be seen through his works during the earthquake devastation in 2015. With the support of Thai Sangha community, all the three months he works and supplied rice, vegetables, clothes and tents to the victims. “Nepal is my second country,” he answered whenever the media asked the reasons for his hard works.

The most fascinating qualities of Chaukhun are humbleness, calmness and wittiness. When he starts to do something, he stops not till finish the started business. As well as ordering to do the business to his pupils, he himself works for it. He regard all the business equally whether it is small or big one because it must be done. Even though, while working, he never smiles and looks serious but from deep inside, he enjoys his works and compassionate to all the people.     

One can’t count the amount of sea waves that wash the beaches, but not the kindness, purity of character, scholarship and knowledge of the Phrasribodhivithet Chaukhun Supot Kittiwanno  พระศรีโพธิวิเทศ (เจ้าคุณ สุพจน์ กิตติวณฺโณ). I humbly try to bring up that virtue in him the way I can. 

The Most Venerable is going on the procession

June, 25^th 2016, it was organized a felicitation ceremony to honored by the lay devotees of his hometown Surin province, an eastern parts of Thailand. Thousands of both Buddhist monks and lay devotees participated for the ceremony. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFQx1zbx_RA&feature=youtu.be