Biography of Venerable Luang Pu Kassapa Muni

Luang Pu recounted that his grandfathers were Phraya Phusamala (the elder) and Chao Phraya Mahinthrasakthamrong (the younger). Originally from Kamphaeng Phet Province, both entered royal service during the reign of King Rama IV. They served within the Grand Palace in the Department of Royal Garments and Regalia and the Royal Ablution and Anointing Division. They were the respective progenitors of the Arpornsiri and Phenkun lineages.

Because of his family’s long-standing and intimate ties to the Monarchy, Luang Pu developed a profound loyalty to every King and member of the Royal Family. This devotion was especially deep toward King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V). To this day, a wood-carved likeness of His Majesty stands before Luang Pu’s monastic dwelling—a lasting testament to his unwavering reverence and spiritual connection. This same loyalty and high esteem extended to the Heir Apparent and all members of the Royal Household throughout his life.

Education ; Luang Pu began his formal education at Bangkok Christian College. After a short period, he transferred to Assumption College in the Bang Rak district of Bangkok. He chose English as his elective subject and eventually completed the highest level of secondary education available at the time—Matthayom 6 (also known as Standard 7)—in 1928, at the age of 19.

Venerable Luang Pu Kassapa Muni was born in Bangkok, Thailand. His lay name prior to ordination was Prajongvas; it was later changed to Prayuthi Voravuthi. His family name was Arpornsiri. His father was Praphahiratthaphibun (Prawat Arpornsiri), and his mother was Mrs. Phahiratthaphibun (Phuean Arpornsiri). Luang Pu was the second of three sons. His elder brother, Prapaiwong, bore a name that rhymed with his own, Prajongvas, while the youngest was Prasatsilpa. All three brothers have since passed away; the youngest died one year after Luang Pu’s own passing. Before entering the monastic life, he was married to Mrs. Prachumsri Arpornsiri, with whom he had four children: two sons and two daughters.

Upon completing his secondary education, Luang Pu—who possessed an excellent command of both spoken and written English—applied for a position at the Windsor Company, a British firm. However, he worked there for only one to two weeks before his father learned of this. His father disapproved and required him to resign.

His father then directed him to apply to the Revenue Department of the Ministry of Finance instead. When asked about the reason for his father’s opposition, Luang Pu replied with a smile that his father was a nationalist who wanted him to serve the Thai people and the country.

From that point onward, he entered government service. The Minister of Finance at the time was Phraya Chaiyotsombat, followed later by Luang Praditmanutham.

Luang Pu began his civil service career in 1928 as a clerk at the Revenue Department, Ministry of Finance, earning a monthly salary of 30 baht. His primary responsibility was monitoring daily revenue records. In 1934, he was appointed Secretary of the Tax Division within the same department. By 1940, through dedicated service, he rose through the ranks from a second-grade clerk to a third-class civil servant. He was later transferred to the Opium Revenue Division of the Excise Department, with his salary increasing to 80 baht.

​At the end of 1940, he joined the Statistics and Correspondence Section under the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry. By early 1944, he was promoted to a second-class civil servant and appointed Head of the Statistics Division, earning 140 baht.

By 1 December 1961, at the age of 52, Luang Pu grew weary of worldly life. Having dedicated five years to samadhi and insight meditation while still in office, he experienced a profound sense of peace and Dhamma-clarity. Despite being approved for the position of Deputy Director-General, he chose to forgo the promotion and resign three years ahead of his scheduled retirement to devote himself entirely to spiritual practice.

​At the time of his resignation, after 36 years of service, his final salary was 2,500 baht. He requested his pension as a lump sum of 90,000 baht and transferred all his land and assets to his family as a final act of renunciation.

​Following his resignation on 30 November 1961, he was ordained at Wat Pho (Wat Phra Chetuphon). Somdet Phra Wanrat (who later became the Supreme Patriarch) served as his preceptor, and Luang Pu Doo (Phra Ratchasangwarapimon) was his Dhamma teacher. He remained in the monkhood for the rest of his life.

​Throughout his monastic life, he strictly adhered to the four ascetic practices (dhutanga):

1. ​Wearing robes made from discarded cloth (pamsukula).

2. ​Possessing only a single set of robes.

3. ​Collecting alms as a daily routine.

4. ​Dwelling in the forest as his monastery.

​He maintained these rigorous practices until his final years. In 1988, shortly before the Rains Retreat, he insisted on going on his alms round despite heavy rain. This led to a severe chill and subsequent pneumonia. Luang Pu passed away peacefully on 11 August 1988, at nearly 80 years of age.

It is appropriate to reflect briefly on the period during which Luang Pu served in the civil service for a total of 36 years under two principal ministries: the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry. During this time, he gained extensive experience and earned the trust of his superiors and the respect and warm regard of his subordinates. This stemmed from his genuine kindness, compassion, and strong sense of justice.

Luang Pu was an avid reader, particularly of the Tipitaka (Buddhist scriptures), with special emphasis on the Vinaya (monastic discipline) and the Suttas (discourses). He once remarked that he had studied and reviewed these texts repeatedly, up to three times. As printed editions of the Tipitaka were not widely available at the time of his ordination, he meticulously hand-copied important passages himself in an orderly and elegant script.

Beyond the Tipitaka, he was also interested in Chinese historical literature such as Sam Kok (Romance of the Three Kingdoms), Liad Kok (Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms), and Ho Pa. He further pursued studies in various disciplines, including Brahmanism, astrology, omens and portents, dream interpretation, mole interpretation, and physiognomy.

In addition to his reading, Luang Pu was highly skilled in literary composition, both in prose and poetry. During his time as a layman serving in the Ministry of Industry, he was appointed to the editorial committee and served as a staff writer for the ministry’s journal, Utsahakorn (Industry). His works, including short stories and novels, were published in ministry journals and other outlets under various pen names, such as “Mayuramat” for political writings, “Sri Thammasok” for religious works, and “Wethang” for romantic writings.

His poetic compositions encompassed a wide range of classical Thai forms, including Rai (in both short and long forms), Khlong Song (two-line verse), Khlong Sam (three-line verse), and Khlong Si (four-line verse), as well as Klon Hok (six-syllable verse) and Klon Paed (eight-syllable verse). He was particularly skilled in composing Khlong Si, a form widely regarded as more challenging to render beautifully than the standard Khlong Si Suphap. In this field, Luang Pu demonstrated exceptional mastery.

The books written by Luang Pu during his monastic life are numerous. Each volume describes his background, his earnest determination in the practice of Dhamma in various places and circumstances, as well as the results he attained through steadfast and proper practice. Many of these books later served as supporting factors in the construction of buildings and facilities during the early stages of Wat Phip Phliwanaram, such as a large library for study and research, temporary meditation huts on the hillside, and monks’ dwellings.

The books written by Luang Pu, in chronological order, are as follows:

• Six Months on Phu Kradueng

• Paññā in Jambudvīpa (Panjamas in Chompoothaveep)

• Poi Sian (The Eight Immortals) (Various materials had been prepared since his time as a novice, although there had not yet been an opportunity to write them down.)

• Rules and regulations of the monastery, and the practice of fundamental monastic duties

• Conditions of saṅkhāra-dhamma (conditioned phenomena)

• The Seven Qualities of a Virtuous Person (Sabburisa-Dhamma) and Basic Meditation Practice

• When I Came Upon a New Place — the final volume written by Luang Pu, completed only four years before his passing.

This work is highly recommended for Luang Pu’s disciples and all those interested in his Dhamma, and for general reading.

In particular, the section on the nature of conditioned phenomena (saṅkhāra-dhamma) required Luang Pu to employ considerable concentration and wisdom in composing and compiling it into a complete volume. One may need to read it two or three times with focused attention in order to fully appreciate the depth and subtlety of the Buddha’s teachings, as well as the gentle elegance of the literary style through which Luang Pu conveys his insights, supported by illustrative comparisons that make the content easier to understand.

This content is based on the Thai commemorative volume Miscellaneous Dhamma Writings: A Commemorative Volume on the 10th Anniversary of the Passing of Luang Pu Kassapa Muni (11 August 1998), written by Khun Aram Dhammadat. Selected portions have been translated into English for online publication.