..续本文上一页like to help can contact either me or the Director and Assistant Director of Somdet Phra Pin Klao Hospital.

　　Phra Ajaan Lee

　　Special Room

　　Somdet Phra Pin Klao Hospital

　　(The Naval Hospital at Puggalo)

　　(On November 11, 1959, the Naval Hospital at Puggalo received permission from the Defense Ministry to change its name to Somdet Phra Pin Klao Hospital, one day after I was re-admitted.)

　　When I had finished the letter, I thought to myself: "At the very least, we should get 30,000 baht to help the hospital." So I had my intentions announced to my followers, and beginning that very day people started to donate money.

　　On November 16, a group of people from Samut Prakaan came to see me at the hospital to tell me that (a) there had been another car crash at "Death Curve" on Sukhumvit Road in Bang Ping; and (b) a number of people had seen all sorts of frightening spirits appearing at the curve. I decided it would be a good idea to make merit and dedicate it to people who had died in accidents along the road.

　　I went to consult the deputy governor of Samut Prakaan and a group of my followers, and we agreed that we would have to make merit. The proceedings began the evening of December 18. A group of monks chanted in a temporary pavilion set up by the side of Sukhumvit Road near the office of the Samut Prakaan Roads Bureau. Fifty phaa paas were presented and the names of the curves on the road were changed as follows:

　　Bodhi Tree Curve was renamed Bodhisattva Curve.

　　Death Curve was renamed Safe Curve.

　　Mido Curve was renamed Victory Curve.

　　This finished, I returned here to the hospital that afternoon, and have continued staying on for nearly a month since. The doctors and nurses have been very attentive and helpful. For example, Admiral Sanit Posakritsana, the director of the hospital, has been very attentive, bringing food to donate early each morning and looking after me as if he were one of my followers.

　　During this period I wrote a book, A Handbook for the Relief of Suffering, to be distributed free of charge. I had no difficulties in having it printed. Two of my followers helped print 2,000 copies: Khun Nai Lamai Amnueysongkram, 1,000 copies; and Navy Lieutenant Ayut Bunyaritraksa, the other 1,000. It seems that my aims have been realized fairly well. For instance, I wanted to collect money to help the hospital, and today — January 10, 1960 — as I leave the hospital after staying here 45 days, we”ve collected 31,535 baht, which shows that even when ill, I can be of use.

　　Even when I die, I”d like my remains to be of use to those still living. I”ve seen one example: Khru Baa Sri Wichai, who is revered by people up north. He had made plans to build a bridge across the Mae Ping River, but died before the bridge could be finished. So some of his followers took his body and placed it in a coffin near the unfinished bridge, with a notice that whoever wanted to help with the funeral, please help finish the bridge first. In the end, even as he lay there rotting, Khru Baa Sri Wichai was able to be of use to the people.

　　And so in my life I”ve aimed at being of use all along, ever since I first went out to practice meditation in 1926 up to the present. I”ve taught students in a number of provinces, and have helped set up monasteries for the convenience of Buddhists at large. In setting up monasteries like this, I”ve helped in two ways:

　　1) When my followers had set up monasteries on their own, but were still lacking in some way, I”ve offered assistance and encouragement.

　　2) When my friends were thinking of building monasteries but hadn”t yet completed them, if they needed monks I”d send some of my followers to live on a permanent basis. As for monasteries that my teachers had built while passing through from place to place, I”ve continued vis…

《The Autobiography of a Forest Monk》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…