Luangpor Thong Duharukham was born on the 14^th of May 1939 at Muang District, Nong Bua Lumpoo province. He is the eldest son of Ms. Lae and Mr. Noi Duharukham, both farmers. Luangpor Thong has two brothers and two sisters. He completed four years of compulsory education.

 In 1961, at the age of 22, Luangpor Thong was ordained as a monk. Abhakaro became his Buddhist name. During the following six years he engaged in the traditional studies of Dhamma courses.

 In 1967, he met Luangpor Teean Jittasubho and practiced Mahasati Meditation under his guidance. After cultivating self-awareness continuously for 30 days, Luangpor Thong reached the state of Roop-Nahm (body-mind basic stage). He continued practicing uninterruptedly for another nine days, at which point he experienced the state of “Birth- Extinction”, thus achieving a doubtless understanding of life and death.

 In 1985, Wat Sanamnai Monastery was formally permitted a temple. Luangpor Teean held a Sangkha meeting with all the monks who studied the Mahasati Meditation method and appointed Luangpor Thong the abbot of Wat Sanamnai, the most important Mahasati Meditation Center in Thailand. After Luangpor Teean passed away in 1989, “Luangpor Teean Jittasubho (Pann Intapew) Foundation” was founded, with Luangpor Thong as its president, a position he has maintained to this day.

 In addition to fulfilling his duties as Abbot and Foundation President in Thailand, Luangpor Thong has been teaching in the United States since 1992. He has also led numerous retreats in Taiwan. In 1995, Luangpor Thong and some interested American practitioners established the “Mahasati Association of America,” a non-profit organization dedicated to the teaching of Mahasati Meditation in the United States.

 

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