Luang Phor Ruesi Lingdam (หลวงพ่อฤาษีลิงดำ)
Ordained title: Phra Rajsuddhinanmongkol (พระราชสุทธินันท์มงคล)
Born BE 2459 (28 Jun 1916) — Passed BE 2535 (30 Oct 1992) • Temple: Wat Tha Sung (Wat Chantharam), Uthai Thani
At-a-Glance
- Birth name: Nguam Panthachoti (เงื่้อม พานิชโชติ)
- Birthplace: Bang Phlap, Pak Kret, Nonthaburi
- Ordination: BE 2480 (1937) at Wat Bang Phlap
- Practice: Vipassanā & Kasina; emphasis on sati–samādhi–paññā
- Known for: Renovation of Wat Tha Sung, “Glass Ubosot,” Hundred-Meter Hall, accessible Dhamma teachings
- Nickname origin: “Ruesi Lingdam” — the hermit-like lifestyle and dark outer robe
Early Life
Born 28 June 1916 (BE 2459) in Nonthaburi, Nguam Panthachoti showed an early bend toward study and contemplation. He entered monastic life with enthusiasm, taking to Pāli, canonical texts, and practical Dhamma with a disciplined, methodical style that would later mark his public teachings.
Ordination & Early Path
He was ordained in BE 2480 (1937) at Wat Bang Phlap, Nonthaburi. After ordination he traveled widely in search of seasoned teachers, building depth in meditation and doctrinal understanding. His diligence and clarity soon earned him a reputation for precise, workable instruction.
Why “Ruesi Lingdam”?
The affectionate epithet—literally “Black-Monkey Hermit”—grew from periods of secluded practice and a dark, outer robe he often wore. The name carried less about appearance than approach: a hermit’s discipline in the midst of public responsibilities.
Reviving Wat Tha Sung
In BE 2511 (1968) he began the careful revival of Wat Tha Sung (Wat Chantharam), then in decline. Under his lead, the monastery became a major practice center. Construction projects followed the practice, not the other way around: the Glass Ubosot, the Hundred-Meter Hall, and a network of vihāra and chedi that served the rhythm of teaching, retreats, and merit-making. Wat Tha Sung grew into a national pilgrimage site, known as much for order and clarity as for architectural beauty.
Meditation & Teaching Emphases
His hallmark was making advanced practice legible. He stressed mindfulness (sati), concentration (samādhi), and discernment (paññā)—often within Vipassanā and Kasina frames—paired with plainspoken talks on kamma, rebirth, and the practical path toward Nibbāna in this life. Many talks were recorded and circulated widely in print and audio, shaping generations of Thai practitioners.
Sacred Objects & Consecrations
He oversaw consecrations with the same restraint he applied to teaching—form serving function. Representative issues include Phra Phong Phutthakhun (sacred powder amulets), Rian Luang Phor (commemorative medals), and protective takrut and yant cloths, each blessed within sustained meditative ceremony.
Legacy & Passing
Luang Phor Ruesi Lingdam passed on 30 October 1992 (BE 2535), aged 76. His body is preserved in a glass casket at Wat Tha Sung, where devotees continue to pay respects. His voice remains in recordings; his method persists in the routines of the monastery he rebuilt: steady, clear, and usable in daily life.