Luang Phor Suang (Lp Suang) Wat Phrai Phatthana

Luang Phor Suang (Lp Suang) Wat Phrai Phatthana

在泰國有一位奇僧，被信眾譽為泰國的活濟公，他就是龍爽婆。這位奇僧活在這世上已經很久、很久了，久到大家都開始懷疑。說出來，世上絕對無人能信，聖僧已經在世有至少三百年以上，或者都有五百年之長！所以有了傳言龍婆爽活了500歲。 

 龍婆爽的年齡一直是一個謎。根據一位年老的信徒所說：「我今年已經70多歲了。我在年輕的時候就聽父親說過，祖父經常看見那位仙風道骨的瘦和尚。我的祖父在90多歲才過世，父親也活了80多歲。而我今年已經70多歲了，我們三代加起來差不多200多年，那你們想想，這奇僧的年齡有多少？」 

 另一位信徒今年90多歲了，他說他從小就常常看見這位老僧出現在臨近的多個村莊，跟現在所見到的模樣沒有多大改變。聽當時的老人們說，老僧原為柬埔寨人氏，講得一口流利的高棉語，但是沒有多少人聽得懂，再加上老僧為人沉默，沒有人知道他的來歷和年齡。 

雖然他身上穿著僧侶的裝束，卻從不住寺廟，一般喜好在稻田裏供休息的小木寮里住宿。有時會住上數天或數月不等。根據村民說，老僧的行蹤飄忽不定，有時一兩個月出現一次，有時卻兩三年不見身影。這位奇僧的來歷很神秘，裝束更是惹人質疑：他有時候看起來像個僧人，有時候像術士，留得一頭長髮，讓人無法確定他是僧是俗。龍婆爽在泰國北部有許多信眾，信眾們都把龍婆爽比喻為」活佛神「，他是大家心目中救苦救難的活菩薩。他時常救濟人民，凡是有人遇到大困難，必設法到龍婆爽的村莊找他。據說只要見到龍婆爽，雙手合十向他跪拜，不論祈求什麼，都可以如願。

起初有信眾問起龍婆爽的姓氏和年齡，龍婆爽答道：」貧僧早已忘記自己的姓名了，連自己歲數多大也記不起來了。貧僧好像活了很久，是時候要回老家了！「 信徒再問：」龍婆爽現在住在哪一家廟？「龍婆爽答道：」我沒有寺廟，就以天為被，以地為席，整個宇宙就是我的家。「如果在新店開張能請得龍婆爽來念經加持，那可是天大的福分。泰國人對僧人的加持儀式非常重視。

龍婆爽師父本身行蹤也算是飄忽不定，有的時候幾個月出現一次，有的時候兩三年也不見蹤影，然後突然出現，每次來去都是無影無蹤的。不過即使這樣龍婆爽師父在泰國東北部地區依然有很多的信徒，人們在知道了龍婆爽的神秘之後對他的興趣變得很大，因此很多人都想去拜訪，有些人甚至把龍婆爽稱為「活神仙」。其實龍婆爽倒是多少有點濟公的意思，他沒事喜歡住在稻田裏面，常以稻草生火取暖，奇怪的是如果有信徒看到師父烤火，此時給師傅供奉一些衣物錢財的話，那麼龍婆爽會直接將善信的供奉扔進火堆裏面。知道了師傅的這個習慣以後，自此也沒有人會供奉給師傅衣物了，大家都知道供了也是會變成一堆灰的。不過有些人分析這可能是因為師傅修行的主要是火屬性的法門，將物品放入火中可能會在別的地方得到化現，當然這也只是推測了。

In Thailand, there is a mystical monk revered by his followers as the "Living Jigong" of Thailand, and he is known as Luang Phor Sorn. This extraordinary monk has lived for an exceptionally long time, so much so that people have started to doubt and speculate. It is said that Luang Phor Sorn has lived for at least 300 years, or possibly even up to 500 years! Thus, there is a rumor that Luang Phor Sorn is 500 years old.

Luang Phor Sorn’s age has always been a mystery. According to an elderly devotee, "I am over 70 years old now. When I was young, I heard my father say that my grandfather often saw this thin, otherworldly monk. My grandfather lived to be over 90, my father lived to be over 80, and now I’m over 70. Together, our three generations span about 200 years. So, think about how old this monk might be!"

Another follower, who is now over 90 years old, said that he had frequently seen this old monk in several nearby villages since he was a child, and the monk’s appearance hasn’t changed much over the years. According to the elderly people at the time, the monk originally came from Cambodia and spoke fluent Khmer, but not many people could understand him. Moreover, the monk was a man of few words, and no one knew his background or age.

Though he wore a monk’s robe, he never stayed in temples. Instead, he preferred to rest in small huts built for shelter in rice fields. Sometimes he would stay for several days or even months. According to the villagers, his whereabouts were unpredictable—sometimes he would appear once every one or two months, and other times he would disappear for two or three years. His mysterious background and unique appearance made people curious. At times, he looked like a monk, and at other times, he resembled a sorcerer with long hair, leaving people unsure if he was a monk or a layman. Luang Phor Sorn has many followers in northern Thailand, and they compare him to a living deity. To them, he is a Bodhisattva, a savior who rescues people from suffering. Whenever someone faces great hardship, they seek out Luang Phor Sorn in his village, believing that as long as they kneel before him with hands clasped in respect, their wishes will be granted.

Initially, some followers asked Luang Phor Sorn about his surname and age. He replied, "I have long forgotten my name, and I can't remember how old I am either. It feels like I have lived for a very long time, and it's almost time for me to return to my old home!"

When asked, "Which temple do you stay at now?" he answered, "I don’t have a temple. The sky is my blanket, the earth is my bed, and the entire universe is my home." If a new shop opens and is fortunate enough to have Luang Phor Sorn come to bless it, it is considered an immense blessing. Thai people place great importance on blessing ceremonies performed by monks.

Luang Phor Sorn’s whereabouts have always been unpredictable. Sometimes, he would appear once every few months, while at other times, he would disappear for two or three years before suddenly reappearing, always coming and going without a trace. Despite this, Luang Phor Sorn has many followers in northeastern Thailand. After learning about his mysterious nature, people became increasingly fascinated by him, and many wanted to visit him. Some even called him a "living deity."

In fact, Luang Phor Sorn shares some similarities with the Chinese deity Jigong. He liked to live in rice fields and often warmed himself by lighting fires with straw. Strangely, if a follower happened to see him warming himself and offered him clothes or money, Luang Phor Sorn would throw the offerings directly into the fire. After learning about this habit, people stopped offering him clothes, knowing that their offerings would just turn into ashes. Some believe that this could be because his practice mainly involved fire-related rituals, and placing objects into the fire might manifest them in other places. Of course, this is just speculation.