Luang Phor Pring Inthachoti, Wat Bang Pakok, Bangkok
Luang Phor Pring, born in 1870 in the Thonburi district of Bangkok, was one of the foremost meditation and wicha masters of his generation. He was ordained at Wat Thong Noppakun in 1877 and later moved to Wat Bang Pakok, where he spent most of his life in cultivation and teaching. From his youth as a novice, he showed deep interest in both Vipassana meditation and ancient Khmer wicha (Kom), disciplines that shaped his entire spiritual path.
He studied Dhamma and Pali intensively under the guidance of senior monks of his era, including Phra Mongkol Thepmuni, and traveled extensively for practice. Wherever a renowned meditation or wicha teacher was found, he would seek them out—studying, observing, and then entering tudong to deepen his realization. Over decades, his persistence and mental strength made him one of the most respected monks in both meditation and traditional healing.
By 1895 he had become abbot of Wat Bang Pakok and later, in 1927, was appointed preceptor (upajjhaya) for the district. His reputation grew sharply during wartime. When Bangkok was bombed during the Indochina and World War II periods, his temple—situated near a Japanese naval dockyard—remained untouched despite heavy air raids. Local people believed it was due to his nightly meditative protection rituals, which shielded the temple and surrounding area.
His fame as a protector and healer spread rapidly. He was invited to join major Buddha image consecration ceremonies nationwide, including the creation of Somdej Phra Sangharaja Pae’s Phra Kring at Wat Suthat. During that ceremony, his inscribed yantra plate refused to melt in the furnace until he personally chanted over it — a moment still remembered as proof of his spiritual power.
Luang Phor Pring’s amulets — particularly his Somdej powder images and luk om (sacred balls) — are legendary for metta, charm, invulnerability, and protection. His methods followed both meditative empowerment and strict Kom procedures, resulting in amulets that remain energetically active to this day.
His virtue was matched by humility and compassion. He treated all equally, often healing the poor and blessing soldiers and families during the wartime hardship. Among his disciples was Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon, who regarded him as a spiritual teacher.
Luang Phor Pring passed away peacefully on 17 August 1947, at the age of 78. In his final moment, he sat upright in meditation posture, folded his hands, and left his body calmly. His legacy remains deeply rooted in Bangkok’s spiritual history — a monk whose discipline, meditation, and wicha combined to produce amulets of lasting strength and grace.