Koh Laem Forest Monastery
Allow me to introduce everyone to Koh Laem Forest Monastery, located in Thepharak District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. This place is filled with deep reverence and faith among the people of Nakhon Ratchasima, attracting many visitors who come to worship and appreciate the beauty of this temple. The monastery also has many devoted disciples who hold Luang Por Samai Sujitto in high regard. Renowned for his mystical knowledge, Luang Por Samai is a revered monk known for his genuine compassion and generosity. If you’re ready, come along to admire the beauty of Koh Laem Forest Monastery and get to know Luang Por Samai, a monk full of spiritual virtue. Join us as we explore this sacred place together!
We warmly invite everyone to visit Koh Laem Forest Monastery, located in Thepharak District, Nakhon Ratchasima. This revered place holds a special significance for the people of Nakhon Ratchasima, who travel here to pay their respects and admire its beauty. Many visitors also come to honor Luang Por Samai Sujitto, a well-known monk respected for his mystical knowledge and compassion. Are you ready? If so, let’s explore the beauty of Koh Laem Forest Monastery and get to know Luang Por Samai together!
Luang Por Samai of Koh Laem Forest Monastery is deeply revered by his disciples and the local community as a true giver and a role model in life. Phi Moo, one of his close disciples, shared that what inspires everyone’s faith in Luang Por is not just his mystical knowledge, which is a personal belief, but his genuine spirit of giving. Luang Por has built his merit through charitable acts and community service, inspiring all who have faith in him.
Luang Por Samai, born on March 22, 1963, originally named Samai Sutthiprapa, is the seventh of nine siblings. When he reached the appropriate age, he was ordained as a monk to honor his parents, with Phra Khru Suwannakuhaburiban of Wat Dong Mafai serving as his preceptor. Passionate about meditation and mindfulness, Luang Por Samai also studied mystical inscriptions under Luang Pu Suang Thitapanyo. Later, in 1985, he practiced meditation at Wat Mahathat in Bangkok, continually seeking knowledge through both practice and study.
After leaving Wat Mahathat, Luang Por Samai traveled to Takli District, where he assisted with the funeral rites of Luang Pu Waen. Following this, he, along with three fellow monks, went on a pilgrimage to the provinces of Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, and Nakhon Sawan. While staying at Tham Khao Pratun Temple in Takli, Nakhon Sawan, he received guidance in meditation practice from Luang Por Buasorn.
In his 11th and 12th years as a monk, Luang Por Samai returned to Nakhon Ratchasima, where locals invited him to reside at Koh Laem Forest Monastery. Since 1996, with the support of the community, the temple has grown and prospered.
Luang Por Samai is a direct disciple in the lineage of both Luang Por Khun and Luang Por Chaem, inheriting the art of "embedding sacred amulets under the armpit," a mystical practice passed from Luang Por Khun to Luang Por Chaem and then to Luang Por Samai. Known as the "Guardian Angel of Thepharak," Luang Por Samai is widely respected among government officials and the public alike, with locals believing that places he visits experience peace and prosperity.
Today, Luang Por Samai has tens of thousands of disciples both within Thailand and abroad, including Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. He has clearly stated that as long as his teachers are alive, he will not create any sacred objects. However, due to his great spiritual merit and the strong faith of his disciples, Koh Laem Forest Monastery has transformed from an abandoned place into a flourishing temple.
The temple is notable for its unique "floating ordination hall" and the grand three-dimensional pavilion, where a large Naga statue welcomes visitors at the base of the stairs. Inside, exquisite three-dimensional paintings can be found, including a depiction of the Buddha holding a lotus flower in his left hand, symbolizing enlightenment in Buddhism. Other paintings illustrate the "Three Worlds"—heaven, earth, and hell—offering teachings on understanding life and karma.
This pavilion serves as a meditation space, where monks, lay practitioners, and the public come to practice insight meditation and listen to Luang Por Samai’s teachings each evening.
This pavilion serves as a meditation center, where monks, nuns, and laypeople gather each evening to practice insight meditation and listen to teachings from Luang Por Samai.
Currently, Koh Laem Forest Monastery continuously welcomes a steady stream of disciples and devotees who come to pay their respects to Luang Por Samai, drawn by the spiritual legacy he has built, which continues to grow. This faith is reflected in the popularity of various sacred items, particularly the Yant Samphao Setthi amulet, renowned as Luang Por Samai’s most famous talisman. This amulet has significantly boosted his reputation. In addition, Luang Por Samai is highly skilled in inscribing sacred yantras, attracting numerous followers who travel to seek his blessings.
