Pha Khamdi Tissapanya Thera, Abbot of Vat Nong Si Khun Meuang from 1931 to 1951. Dates: born in A. D. 1890. Died on June 5, A. D. 1951Biography: Pha Khamdi Tissapanya Thera was born in A. D. 1890 at Ban Hua Phon (Ban Vat Nong) of Luang Prabang. He was a son of Mr. Phia Kuan Theng (Ajan Phoumma) and Mrs. Phia Kuan Theng (Mrs. Keo La) of Ban Hua Phon (Ban Vat Nong), Luang Prabang. He was ordained as a novice at the age of 15 at Vat Nong Si Khun Meuang for 1 year then he moved to Vat Pa Siaw, Ban Xieng Maen, Chomphet District, Luang Prabang province for a practice of Vipassana meditation with Pha Phoumma until he was 21, and he was ordained as a monk at the age of 21 at Vat Pa Siaw for four years and then he was disrobed for two years. He was ordained as a monk for the second time in 1920 at Vat Pa Siaw. In 1925, he traveled to the Union of Burma for six months for further studies of Vipassana then he returned to Luang Prabang. In 1931, he was invited by lay people of Ban Vat Nong to live at Vat Nong Si Khun Muang and he was appointed to be an abbot of Vat Nong Si Khun Meuang. In 1949, he was appointed to be Chao Khana Tasaeng Neua (chief monk of the Buddhist Sangha in the Northern of Xieng Thong Group). He had held Vipassana retreats at Vat Pa Siaw, many monks and novices and lay people had been to practice with him. Therefore, he was respected by lay people of Ban Vat Nong. He passed away at Vat Nong, Luang Prabang on June 5 A. D. 1951, at the age of 61, and 31 Vassa (year of the Buddhist retreat).
Original material consists of: silver gelatine DOP print.
