Part Five: Luangta Mahã Bua’s Assistance to the Thai Nation At the end of 1997, the year of Thailand ’s economic crisis, Luangta was seriously ill with suspected colon cancer. Spending the rains retreat in a small hut in the forest, the then 84 year-old monk experienced so many bowel movements a day that his condition became critical. He was so ill, in fact, that a funeral pavilion was built for him at front of the monastery. But, because Thailand needed his help, he could not allow himself to die. During that year, Thailand had experienced the worst financial crisis in its history: the baht exchange rate plummeted, people lost their jobs, and the country went deeply into debt. Because of that, Luangta made a solemn vow that should the medicine he was taking cure his illness, he would dedicate his life to rescuing the country from disaster, so that Buddhism would continue to thrive in Thailand . Fortunately for the Thai people, his condition improved so dramatically that he ...