Devoted Heart: Forever Until the End of the World

Venerable Acariya Thoon Khippapanyo was born in 1935, and ordained as a monk in 1961. He was a pupil of renowned Venerable Acariya Khao Analayo of Wat Tam Klong Paen in the Nong Bua Lam Phu province of Thailand. In his early years, Acariya Thoon set out to various forest destinations and practiced dhamma until he profoundly realized and understood according to the truth that the Buddha had laidn forth.

Venerable Acariya Thoon Khippapanyo’s remarkable life achievements truly exemplify his dedication to sustaining Buddhism for posterity. In 1985, Acariya Thoon built and established Wat Pa Ban Koh in Udon Thani as a site for practitioners to train in the Buddha’s dhamma. Acariya Thoon also built and supported many temples in Thailand, as well as abroad in the principal cities of Hong Kong, San Francisco, and New York. In 2001, he designed a majestic pagoda that was erected in just 15 months, due to the incredible faith of his followers both in Thailand and overseas. A grand museum at Wat Pa Ban Kon was built for Acariya Thoon to live in, as well as to honor his remarkable life story and house his relics. For his priceless contributions to Buddhism, Acariya Thoon received the royal distinction of Phra Banyapisantaera in 2005.

Not only was Acariya Thoon exceptional in terms of wisdom, but he was also talented in a number of other ways. Herbal medicines sold at Wat Pa Ban Koh are produced from organically grown herbs according to Acariya Thoon’s original recipes. And in 2008, Acariya Thoon designed and hand-carved four large wooden Buddha statues, for a tribute to the four great milestones in the Buddha’s history. He also organized leadership conventions for children in order to familiarize them with their Buddhist supports and to provide them with the wisdom to survive in our increasingly wayward world.

Venerable Acariya Thoon Khippapanyo used a variety of media to connect people to the Buddha’s dhamma. He authored over 100 poems, wrote and produced didactic plays, and gave countless dhamma sermons around the globe. Acariya Thoon also authored over twenty highly acclaimed books on dhamma practice, both in Thai and translated into English. For his eloquence in writing Buddhist books, Acariya Thoon received the honorable Saemadhammajakka award in 1990. His most popular books include The Cause of Suffering, Panna to Train the Mind, Sammaditthi, and Sappurisadhamma. Paradigm Shift was Acariya Thoon’s penultimate book authored before his passing in November 2008, and the book he was most proud of because of its comprehensive nature.

Acariya Thoon was famous for his unique, straightforward approach to dhamma practice that emphasized the need to identify the suffering, harmful consequences, and dangers inherent in all things, as well as the necessary cultivation of individual mindfulness, alert and focused concentration, and insight-wisdom. He successfully developed a distinctive and practical method for people to eliminate the suffering that emerged in their daily lives.

Venerable Acariya Thoon Khippapanyo entered final nibbana on November 11, 2008 at Wat Pa Ban Koh in Udon Thani, Thailand. He was 73 years of age and had been ordained for 48 years.