Six years ago in the Thai province of Prathom Thani a monk named LP Thongpoon, also known as Luang Phor Thongpoon, died at the age of 97. He lived a modest life and was not a well known monk, that is, until his death. He started as a Buddhist novice named Thongpoon Klin Kham at 20 years of age and he dedicated 77 years of his life to the teachings of Lord Buddha.
On his death his lay monks started to prepare for the cremation. They awaited guidance on which date should the cremation take place. Whilst waiting for direction on the optimum date, the body was washed and placed in a casket. In accordance with Buddhist tradition for the Abbot of a Thai Temple the casket was placed in a plate glass box. Normally the body would start to decompose at this point and an associated smell is inevitable, but, in the case of LP Thongpoon, his body remained as if he was just asleep. No stench or discoloration was evident. Further as time progress the body started emanating a yellow glow almost as if it was turning to gold. Many thousands of Thais flocked to the temple to pay homage to this magical monk and to witness this miracle. A miracle because no chemicals were used on the body and no air-conditioning was used to keep the casket cool.
LP Thongpoon (Thong is the Thai word for gold) made very few Thai Amulet, and it is for this reason that they are both rare and highly collectable today.
