Rian Rakhang Nuea Thong Lueang Ruun Kroop Roop 60 Pii Thai Amulet from the venerable Luang Pho Thiraphan Mettavihari (Phra Khru Kraisorn Virat), Wat Phutta Viharn (also Wat Buddhavihara), Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from the 7/16/2002 (B.E.2545).
The amulet was created and published in a small series on the occasion of the 60th birthday of the venerable Luang Pho Mettavihari. It was consecrated in the 8/25/2010 by the venerable Luang Phi Kaweerat, abbot of Wat Katanyutaram, once more.
The amulet has the form of a bell and shows the venerable Luang Pho Mettavihari with the stroke "Luang Pho Mettavihari" on the front. At the back there is the Yahn of the venerable Luang Pho with the stroke "Wat Phutta Viharn Prathet Netherland Tieralueg Kroop Roop is 60 Pii". The amulet is in a silvery metal casing, height approx. 5.6 cm, width approx. 3.1 cm, thickness approx. 1.3 cm and weight approx. 21 grammes.
Luang Pho Mettavihari had special spiritual forces and abilities. He was a blessed seer and healer as well as a great teacher and master of the Vipassana meditation. His amulets are valid as luck-giving and protecting against and in illness. They should support the healing and recovery as well as give energy and confidence to sick person. Moreover, they should activate reserves of strength and selfhealing power.
The amulet gives luck and protects against misfortune. With the meditation it can be supporting and deepen this in the spirit of the venerable Luang Pho Mettavihari.
Luang Pho Mettavihari was a high revered teacher and master of the Vipassana-meditation. Still today he is high revered in the Netherlands and the USA. In the United States he founded in 1970 Wat Thai of Los Angeles in California and in 1971 Wat Thai Washington D.C. which belongs today to the biggest and nicest Thaitemples of the USA.
Phra Maha Mettavihari brought the Theravada Buddhism and the apprenticeship of the Vipassana meditation to the Netherlands in 1973. He informed at first numerous small meditation groups in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Groningen and Tilburg. Moreover, he founded the first Thai temple in the Netherlands, the Wat Phuttaram (also Buddharama) in Waalwijk, not far away from the German Belgian border. In the course of 3 decades he founded numerous meditation centres and informed hundreds of Dutchmen in the apprenticeships of Buddha and the Vipassana meditation. The Sangha Metta Meditatie centrum in the Saint Pieterspoortsteeg 29-1 in Amsterdam is one of his legacy.
Luang Pho Mettavihari was born as Thiraphan Nawang in the year of the horse, on Thursday, the 7/16/2485 (1942) in the Tambon Bang Pla Sroi, Amphoer Mueang, Changwat Chonburi, Thailand. His parents were Mr. Sooi and Mrs. Sa Nawang.
In the year of the cock, on Wednesday, the 12/18/2500 (1957), he ordained in Wat Ang Sila, Tambon Banbeuk, Amphoer Mueang, Changwat Chonburi, Thailand, to the novice (Buat Naen). Still before his ordination to the monk (Buat Phra), he attained the levels Naktham Chan Tree (1958), Naktham Chan Thoo (1959) and Naktham Chan Aek (1960).
In the year of the rabbit, on Friday, the 4/19/2506 (1963), he ordained at the age of 21 years in Wat Raht Bamrung, Tambon Makham Yong, Amphoer Mueang, Changwat Chonburi, to the monk (Buat Phra).
Short time after his ordination and "basic education" as monk, he was recalled in the USA, where he became Chao Kana of Los Angeles in the year B.E.2513 (1970) and founded Wat Thai of Los Angeles. At the request of the Thai municipality in Washington D.C., then he founded in the year B.E. 2514 (1971) Wat Thai Washington D.C.
In the year B.E. 2516 (1973) the venerable Luang Pho Mettavihari was removed because of his excellent achievements in the USA to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. His "temporary temple" was - until a suitable place was found for the temple - first in the Thai embassy in Hague. Then some months later he began with the construction of Wat Phuttaram (also Buddharama) in Waalwijk whose abbot he remained for 8 years.
His holiness the 18th Supreme patriarch of Thailand, Somdet Phra Sangkarat Ariyavangsagatanyana, appointed the venerable Luang Pho Mettavihari in the year B.E.2517 (1974) to the head of the Sangha in Europe (deputy of the Supreme patriarch for Europe). In the same year the consecration of Wat Phuttaram was also celebrated in Waalwijk.
Then, in the year B.E. 2525 (1982) he founded Wat Phutta Viharn (Wat Buddhavihara) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In the same year he decided to leave the office as an abbot of Wat Buddharama to be able to concentrate completely upon the instruction and education of Europeans in the Vipassana meditation. He has trained some of his pupils to the meditation teacher.
For his work the title "Phra Khru Kraisorn Virat" was conferred on him in 1987.
In the 2/28/2536 (1993) the first meditation centre was initiated in Groningen which was founded under his patronage and is managed by his former pupils whom he has trained to meditation teachers.
On Sunday, the 3/25/2007 the venerable Luang Pho Mettavihari passed away absolutely unexpectedly as a result of a heart deficiency at the age of 65 years and after 44 Phansa as a monk.
