Phra Suddhidhammaransi Gambhiramedhacarya or more commonly known as Luang Phor Lee Dhammadharo was a meditation teacher in the Thai Forest Tradition of the Dhammayutikka Nikaya Order of Theravada Buddhism. Luang Phor Lee was born in Ubon Ratchathani Province of Isaan and was a disci Bhuridatta.

Luang Phor Lee is regarded as one of the most influential Thai Forest Tradition Meditation monks. Among the forest monks, he devised the most comprehensive meditation instructions and composed the most detailed map of the jhanas. Luang Phor Lee was also one of the monks to bring the teachings of the Forest Tradition to the mainstream of Thai society. Although he never spoke much of his own meditative attainments, it was widely believed among his students that he attained the mastery of supernatural powers and that he was a deeply attuned psychic. It was believed that Luang Phor Lee was an expert of meditation that he can even have divine relics dropping out from his body. Once Luang Phor Lee had stood up in the sermon hall with the villagers, and the villagers witnessed with their own eyes that there were relics dropping from his body.

Luang Phor Lee first attended school at the age of 12 and left school at the age of 17.   During that period of time, he was preoccupied with earning money and had a plan for his early life where he could accumulate a life savings and start his own family by the age of 30. However as the time passed by, Luang Phor Lee’s priorities began to change at around the age of 20, when he accidentally killed a dog who ate an egg whilst he was cooking. As he recollected in his autobiography : “Immediately, I was sorry for what I had done. ” How on earth can I make up for this sin? ” I Thought :” With this remorsed thought in his mind, that event influenced him to ordain as a monk.

After ordaining as a Maha Nikai monk, he was reported being unsatisfied with the behavior of monks surrounding him. As the monks that are surrounding him were “playing chess”, “Held cock fights” and even ate food in the evening period of the day .

Upon meeting Ajarn Mun Bhuridatto, Luang Phor Lee reordained under the Dhammayut Sect where he wandered in the forests as “Tudong” (a monk who observed the dhutanga [ascetic practice]. He wandered and traveled as far as Burma, Cambodia and India.

After the rainy retreats in BE 2470, he went back to his hometown. As he stayed at a shrine in a nearby village, his father found out his whereabouts and came and later escorted him the rest of the way. When he arrived he stayed at the village cemetery where the villagers refused to dwell near for the fear of evil spirits.

Luang Phor Lee stayed there for several weeks giving sermons to people within the village and people from other villages. Luang Phor Lee got the villagers to take refuge in the Triple Gems (Buddham Saranam Gachami, Dhamman Saranam Gachami, Sangham Saranam Gachami). According to Luang Phor Lee, he wanted to put an end to the villagers’ fears of ghosts and evil spirits. This made some of the villagers fearful and upset, and they opposed him being there. When the district officer stayed there one night in the village, He agreed and sided with Luang Phor Lee’s agenda to rid the area of ​​spirit worship and make Buddhist practice more orthodox and accepted.

Luang Phor Lee was born on January 31st , BE 2449. The family is not rich. He has 9 brothers and sisters. When he was 11 years old, his mother passed away, so he took up the responsibility to go out to work and take care of his family at a very young age. Responsibility . Due to the difficult economic conditions of the family, Luang Phor Lee rarely had the opportunity to go to school when he was young, and he often attended it for a short period of time, and then dropped out of school due to family needs .

Luang Phor Lee learned from Ajarn Mun ‘s method. When Luang Phor Lee and Ajarn Mun met for the first time, Ajarn Mun felt that Luang Phor Lee was a monk who had a relationship with Buddha, so he loved him very much and devoted all his abilities to him. Unreservedly taught to Luang Phor Lee. Luang Phor Lee also quickly comprehended the master’s spells with his innate understanding of Buddhism, many of which are unique to Ajarn Mun . Luang Phor Lee also learned from Ajarn Mun There are many lost spells in ancient classics . After years of practice, Luang Phor Lee finally became a well- known master at Wat Osokaram Buddhist Temple in central Thailand, Shenmu Bagan Province .

Luang Phor Lee passed away in B.E. BE 2504 , ending his short but glorious monk career at the age of 55 .