LuongTa Chanhphy Panyano Manivong has been well respected, not only by Buddhist communities, but also by communities of other religious faith as well. LuongTa has dedicated his time and effort in promoting Buddhism. LuongTa’s methods of teaching Dharma have been very effective and he has made them very easy for Buddhamamaka to understand Dharma and some of those people who have listened to LuongTa’s Dharma can properly apply his Dharma teaching to their daily life. Therefore, LuongTa’s teaching method has been very beneficial to a large number of people.
LuongTa Chanhphy Panyano Manivong is now 76 years old. LuongTa settled in Australia on 21 June 1981 as a refugee. LuongTa is now an Australian citizen.
LuongTa Chanhphy Panyano Manivong travelled all over the world to promote Dharma. During his Dharma Tour LuongTa has made a number of Buddha Statues and organised various religious activities. For example, LuongTa has made:-
A Buddha Statue weights 300 kilos and presented to Wat Lao Buddhalavarn, Campbelltown, Australia as Principal Statue,
LuongTa has written Dharma Books in Lao, Thai,Vietnamese and English languages and distributed to a number of institutions and temples free of charges. These Books are entitled:-
1.Insight Meditation - Vipassana The Middle Way
2.The Emptiness You Are Looking For
These Dharma Books have been distributed to 17 countries worldwide.Starting in 1994 LuongTa travelled to a number of countries including Singapore, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, United Kingdom, Thailand, Canada, United States of America, New Zealand, Lao and Cambodia
LuongTa has constructed his anniversary Buddha Statue which is about 2.1 meter high, 1.50 meter wide and weights 1500 kilos. The lotus throne of the Statue is 2.0 meter. The Statue is made of bronze and LuongTa has donated to the Vietnamese temple, The Temple Chu Hoa Nghiem on 15 June 1997. Additionally, on 1 July 1997 has donated the Buddha Statue with Seven Headed Nagra as principal Statue to Ajarn Saly Sourintha and a medium size bronze gong as well.
In 1996 LuongTa has published two Dharma Books entitled ‘Insight Meditation - Vipassana The Middle Way Part II’ and ‘ The Emptiness You Are Looking For’. The former was published 2000 copies and the latter 5000 copies. These two Dharma Books have been distributed worldwide including 2000 copies for the USA. In addition, LuongTa has donated 100 copies for every Lao Buddhist temple; 300 copies for Canada. In Australia alone, LuongTa has donated 100 copies for each Lao Buddhist temple except 300 copies for Wat Lao Buddhalavarn. Apart from this, LuongTa has donated to other institutions including Vietnamese Buddhist temple, Cambodian Buddhist temple as well as the Upwey Buddhist Discussion Centre where LuongTa conducted most of his Dharma teaching to Australians and other nationalities since 1992. LuongTa has donated a large Statue of Bodhisattva Kuan Yim as well as another Buddha Statue to the value of $US 6000 to the Upwey Buddhist Discussion Centre. For Wat Lao Buddhanimit Canberra, LuongTa has donated the statues of Phra Mokhala and Phra Salybout.
In 1997, LuongTa has compiled a complete book of his Dharma teaching in three languages Thai, English and Lao. This Dharma Book is entitled ‘ Vipassana The Middle Way of the Six States of Consciousness’ as Dharma gift. On the celebration day of the donation of a large Buddha Statue to the Temple Chu Hoa Nghiem, Vietnamese Buddhist temple, on 15 June 1997 LuongTa has organised 32 religious donations (in Pali it is known as ‘ Addhaparikhana Eight) for as donation to the temple. In addition, LuongTa has donated 21 yellow robes to 21 Buddhist monks who participated in the presentation of the Buddha Statue known as ‘Louang Pou Vimouddhisouk’.
On 8 May 1997 LuongTa travelled to Laos to visit his Senior Buddhist monk who organised for LuongTa to join the monastery as a monk when LuongTa was in Laos initially. During this visit, LuongTa has donated an amount of 3,000,000 kips (Lao currency) to the Administrative Committee of Muong Saiphong, Vientiane Province to be used for the construction of the main gate of Wat Ban Phakhao (Ban Phakhao Buddhist Temple). Also, during his visit, LuongTa has organised 2 ‘Kong Bouath’ religious ceremonies for 2 Buddhammaka to join the monastery and LuongTa has spent another Baht 25,000 (Thai currency).
On 10 May 1997 which coincided with the Buddhist New Year LuongTa travelled to Cambodia where LuongTa has conducted prayers for those killed in the ‘Killing Fields’ during the Pol Pot Regime. On 17 May 1997 LuongTa returned to Thailand and started his meditation for 5 days during which time he neither ate nor talked to anyone so that he could dedicated his merits to all world beings as well as those who have assisted him in so many ways including those assisted in the publication of his Dharma book entitled ‘ Vipassana The Middle Way of the Six States of Consciousness especially Mr Vithoun Nithakorn and his family as principal financial donor and supporter.
The merits that LuongTa has carried out will not only help promoting the continued flourishing of Buddhism, but will also benefit all Buddhamamaka in general regardless of their ethnic origin as well as all the gods and goddesses and may the power of the Triple Gems help protect them from all harms and sufferings. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu Anoumodhami.
Finally, we would like to confirm that what has been said is true in every particular as we have closely followed and witnessed what LuongTa has done and also with the assistance of the following people including LuongTa Chanhphy Panyano Manivong, Mr Khamphoua Naovarangsy, Mr Thou Maharath, Mr Sayasack Phrasathane, Mr Thong Sengphrachanh, Mr Frank Carideo Jr and many other Buddhamamaka who have assisted, corrected and designed the present volume until its completion.
Mr Khamphoua Naovarangsy & Mr Thou Maharath
70-72 Linwood Street, Malden, MA 02148-7127
(617) 321-3724 & (617) 397-9802
USA 1 May 1997