Short Biography of
Venerable Acariya Varongkot Virivatharo (Luangta Ma)
Wat Phrommapanyo (Wat Tham Muang Na)

Thambon Muang Na, Amphor Chiang Dao

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Early Life
Luangta Ma’s original name is Varongkot Suwannakun. He was born on November 23rd 1934 in the Noraniwat district of Sakon Nakhon, a north-eastern province of Thailand. His father’s name is Wandee Suwannakun and his mother’s name is Sorpar Suwannakun. His parents had three children of which Vorangkot was the second.

Ordination
Luangta Ma has been a lay disciple of Luangpu Du and practised meditation under Luang Pu’s guidance for more than 20 years. When his teacher was over 70 years old, he implored Luangta Ma to ordain as a monk. Luangta Ma complied with his teacher’s wish. He was ordained on Sunday, July 24th 1988 at 10:06 AM at Wat Buddhathaisawan in the Ayutthaya province. Venerable Ajahn Pathrakit (Luangpor Huan), the abbot of Wat Buddhathaisawan, was the preceptor of the ceremony. Venerable Ajahn Suangthorn Dhammanithed (nicknamed Boonsong) acted as first ordination teacher and Venerable Ajahn Pichit Kitarthorn (nicknamed Sanae) acted as the second ordination teacher.
Pilgrimage and Ascetic Practices
After Luangta Ma spent one lent in robes, he went to pay respect to Luangpor Huan and asked his permission to leave the monastery in order to go on a pilgrimage. He also took the Thirteen Austere Practices, which constitute an ascetic practice considered helpful by the Buddha for removing the defilements. Luangpor Huan gave his consent, upon which Luangta Ma went to pay respect to Luangpu Du at Wat Sakae. He arrived at night time when Luangpu Du was the only person residing at the abode at Wat Sakae. Luangpu Du gave him a sermon and wished him well. He finally added: “Wherever you stay, I will be with you. Take this amulet. If you need my assistance, just turn to the amulet.” With these words he gave him an amulet with Luangpu Du’s image imprinted on it, some travel utensils, and 500 Baht in cash.
Luangpu Du told Luangta Ma to go up north, yet he did not state any reason for it. In the morning, Luangpu Du sent a monk to bring Luangta Ma a lunch box, since he knew that Luangta Ma was too busy with preparations that morning and didn’t go on alms round.
After these events, Luangta Ma followed his master’s advice and went north. He became a solitary wandering monk and practised Tudong (pilgrimage on foot) through northern Thailand for several years. He often lived in caves to practice meditation. He experienced  many odd and unusual occurrences during this time. One day he reached Prathat Jomjaeng which was formerly known as Prathat Jomkithi. At this place, he meditated in the open and prayed to find a secluded place suitable for solitary meditation. Miraculously, an old man appeared in the morning and told Luangta Ma about a remote cave in the forest of Muang Na. If it wasn’t for the old man’s story, he would moved onwards to the Four Buddha Footprints in Mae Rim.

Muang Na Cave
Luangta Ma, however, decided to follow the old man’s lead. He sought the cave which the old man had told him about and -while on his way- asked Luangpu Du for guidance through serene contemplation. It wasn’t long until Luangta Ma found the cave, which the locals simply called Muang Na cave. The cave was exactly as the old man had told him. When he arrived there, Luangta Ma took up mediation and contacted Luangpu Du through contemplation.
In 1990 it became known to Luangta Ma that Luangpu Du had left his physical body. He went to Ayutthaya to join the royal funeral ceremony. After the ceremony, he returned to the Muang Na. Since then Luangta Ma practised solitary meditation at the cave for more than ten years. During this time he was supported by the Thai and Shan villagers who live in the Muang Na area.
Originally, Luangta Ma set out to seek enlightenment in this life, as epitomised by the Arahat ideal. Yet, when he advanced his meditation practice, he connected to previous stores of Bodhicitta. He felt deep sympathy for all beings and prayed to stay on, rather than to pass into Nirvana, in order to help all beings in the heaven, human, animal, and hell realms.
Consequently, Luangta Ma decided to give up the solitary life in order to help others to practise. He began building a temple around the cave in Muang Na. At the same time, he started to teach the Dhamma to people who came to the temple and he instructed them in meditation practice.
In recent years, Luangta Ma was able to attract a considerable following. He is now widely recognised in Northern Thailand; he is also known for his great kindness. It is obvious to his students that Luangta Ma follows the ideal of the Bodhisattva. He teaches the Dhamma to his students, as well as meditation and amulet making in the tradition of Luangpu Du. Thus Luangta Ma continues the lineage of his great Ayutthayan master Luangpu Du.

过了一段时期，龙达玛向龙婆Huan请求，允许他离开寺庙去的朝圣。龙婆Huan给了他的同意，龙达玛就去拜见龙婆嘟Wat Sakae。他去到已经是晚上的时间，龙婆嘟是唯一在庙里驻守的人。 龙婆嘟给他讲道，并祝他好运。他最后补充道：“无论你到哪里，我会与你同在。拿着这个护身符。如果你需要我的帮助，就使用这个护身符。”龙婆嘟给了龙达玛这个护身符，一些旅行用具，以及500泰铢的现金。
龙婆嘟告诉龙达玛北上，但他没有说明任何原因。龙婆嘟在早晨命一个和尚为龙达玛送来一个饭盒，因为他知道龙达玛正忙着准备，早上并没有去化缘。
这些事件之后，龙达玛跟着龙婆嘟的意见并北上。几年来他在泰国北部一个人孤独的游走以及实行Tudong（赤脚朝圣）。他经常住在山洞里练习坐禅。在此期间，他经历了很多奇怪和不寻常的事件。有一天，他到达Prathat Jomjaeng，前名为Prathat Jomkithi。在这个地方，他开始坐禅和祈祷，找到一个适合坐禅的僻静地方。不可思议的是，一位老人在早晨出现和告诉龙达玛，远方Muang Na的森林有一个洞穴。 龙达玛决定遵循老人的指引。他根据老人的告知寻找洞穴，也通过沉思默想向龙婆嘟请示。过了不久，龙达玛就发现了洞穴，当地人简称为孟娜洞穴（Muang Na Cave）。这个洞穴与老人诉说的一模一样。当他到达那里的时候，龙达玛就坐禅告知龙婆嘟。
1990年龙达玛得知龙婆嘟圆寂了。他到大城府参加皇家葬礼仪式。仪式结束后，他回到孟娜穴。从那时起龙达玛在洞穴里孤独的练习坐禅十余年的时间。在这段时间内师傅就是由附近的村民支持的。
本来，龙达玛是想修练到阿罗汉境界。然而，当他提升他的坐禅练习，他对众生感到深深的同情，并祈求可以留下来，以帮助所有的人，人类，动物，天堂以及地狱领域。
因此，龙达玛决定放弃孤独的生活，以帮助他人修练。他开始在孟娜洞穴的周围建造一座寺庙。与此同时，他开始教去庙里的人关于佛法，他指示他们打坐修炼。
近年来，龙达玛在泰国北部被广泛认可，他的仁慈也被大家认同。他的学生很明显的感受到龙达玛是为菩提心作想的。他教导他的学生佛法，坐禅以及依据龙婆嘟的传统制造护身符。因此，龙达玛继承了龙婆嘟的伟大智慧。

Credits given to Thomas and Ann in watthummuangna.com