..续本文上一页open about it. One person who was open about it was Mae Thawngmuan Siasakun. She made a vow: "If this ajaan is really honest and sincere, may he draw my set of robes in the raffle." When we drew the raffle tickets, it turned out that I actually did draw her set of robes.

　　* * *

　　With the celebration over, I returned to Bangkok and then went to wander around from place to place. When the time came to stop for the rains, I returned as always to be with the Somdet. That rainy season his illness was much worse. He didn”t sit in meditation much at all. Most of the time he”d meditate lying down. After the rains he passed away.

　　During the rains he was very sick. His asthma flared up and he couldn”t get any sleep. One night at about 2 a.m., a monk came running for me. All the monks and novices were in an uproar because the Somdet had told them to go for the doctor, but here it was late in the middle of the night — how could they go for the doctor

　　 Chao Khun Sumedhi had had the monk go for me instead so that I could reason with the Somdet, for the Somdet wouldn”t listen to anyone else.

　　So I went up to the Somdet and asked him, "What medicine did you take today

　　 How many tablets

　　 How many times

　　"

　　"I can”t breathe," was his answer.

　　I felt his body. He was fiery hot. I learned that he had taken one tablet too many. The doctor had told him to take one tablet twice daily, but he hadn”t felt like going to all that trouble, and so had taken two tablets at once. Now he had a bad case of heartburn, and could hardly breathe. I told him, "I”ve seen this sort of thing before. It”s not serious. In about 15 minutes it”ll pass."

　　A moment later he closed his eyes and entered samadhi. Monks and novices were sitting around on all sides. After a while he said, "I”m fine now. You don”t have to go for the doctor."

　　During the cold season his asthma flared up again. One morning he sent a novice to fetch me. At the time I had visitors, so the novice simply spoke to me and left. The Somdet then asked him, "Is Ajaan Lee here in the temple

　　"

　　"Yes."

　　"In that case he doesn”t have to come. My mind is at rest. If he leaves the temple, though, go after him and have him come back."

　　At about five in the evening he sent the novice to look in on me. The novice didn”t say anything to me because I was sitting in meditation. He returned to the Somdet and said, "Ajaan Lee is in." A little later, at about six, he came for me again. This time I hurried up to see the Somdet. He made a number of directives concerning the temple, and then lay still. I went downstairs for a moment.

　　Suddenly there was a commotion upstairs, so I hurried up again. Along with the Somdet in the room were the monk who was nursing him and Chao Khun Dhammapitok. Looking at the Somdet”s condition, I knew he wouldn”t last. Monks and novices were running around in confusion, and the doctors were all upset. One of them had stuck his finger down the Somdet”s windpipe to remove some phlegm, but to no avail. When I could see that there was no hope, I ordered the doctor to stop: "Don”t touch him." And a moment later, the Somdet breathed his last.

　　When we had finished washing the body, we met for consultation, and the following day arranged for the ceremonial bathing of the corpse.

　　The temple committee then began the merit-making ceremonies. They asked me to be in charge of the kitchen, which I agreed to do. Khun Nai Tun Kosalyawit was my assistant. The first seven days we didn”t have to draw on the temple funds at all because so many people came and made voluntary contributions. Altogether the merit-making lasted 50 days. During this period we drew on temple funds from time to time. After the 50 days were over I decided I”d have to go off for a rest.

　　* * *

　　On the 10th of April I left for Lampang to he…

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