Heart is Knowing

Luang Pu Dun (Phra Rajavudhacariya Atulo) was born in the village of Prasaht in Surin
Province, Thailand on October 4th, 1888. He was the oldest in a family of five children and so
took on much of the family responsibilities. In his mid-teens he became a lead actor in the
Provincial theatre. At the age of twenty two he ordained as a Buddhist monk at Wat
Jumapolsuddhavasa in Surin Province. After his ordination he resided at Wat Kauko just
outside the city of Surin where he practiced meditation under the guidance of Acharn Luang
Paw Aak. With the monks discipline not being very strictly observed and with his crude duties
of caring for cattle and building ox-carts. He became disillusioned after six years and decided
to look into the scholastic side of monasticism. He therefore went to a temple to study in the
city of Ubon Rajathani..
After studying for several years he came to the conclusion that study offered
only memory and not the real experience of practice. About this time Thailand's
most honored forest dwelling monk, Acharn Mun, came to stay the rainsretreat in a nearby temple. Acharn Dun went to hear a talk by this famous
teacher and was so inspired by Acharn Mun's description of the forest practice
that he joined Acharn Mun after the rains- retreat and wandered under his
guidance for the next sixteen years.
After wandering in the forests and mountains for many years he returned to his
home Province of Surin and settled down at Wat Nah Sahm. This Temple,
however, was far out in the country and as Acharn Dun became very well
known and respected there was no room for all the people who came to hear
him talk. He eventually was offered a place nearer to the city and he therefore
moved to another forest temple called Wat Rongong Samet. He remained there
during the rains-retreats but continued to go wandering outside that time
especially in the untouched and deep forest of Cambodia.
For the last fifty years of his life he resided at Wat Burapharam in Surin. With his
final passing taking place during his 96th birthday celebration preparations on
October 30, 1983.
Note: The word "Luang Pu" ,which is used throughout, means "Venerable
Grandfather" and this is how he was affectionately referred to.

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