This short biography of Venerable Lersi Sompit is courtesy ofMr Wit Sukhsmaran
Ajarn Sompit was born in the Lopburi province of Thailand. From a young age he expressed an interest in both Buddhism and the occult sciences. As is tradition, he ordained as a novice monk when he was still a child. Though he was not a novice for long he did get a chance to meet two lay people, a man and a woman, who took him as their student. These two lay people were practicing the eight precepts and abstaining from eating any meat. People who practice in this manner are known as nak phatibat. They have knowledge of different sciences and practice meditation. From these two teachers he learned various methods of saiysaht and putthamon.
Even after disrobing as a novice he continued to learn from these two teachers. After living as a novice he became a dek wat, or a temple boy. This means he lived at the temple and helped the monks with various tasks. He was also able to study with the monks and any other teachers that were willing to teach him there.
Lersi Sompit as a youth
Later at age 20, Ajahn Sompit ordained as a monk. He was a monk for about 15 years. During this time he met with and was the student of many different and famous geji ajahn, or meditation masters. He learned all sorts of sciences such as astrology, fortune telling, incantations, etc. He also went on tudong, for many years. This is when a monk goes on foot to live in the forest, caves, mountains, etc. At this time, Ajahn Sompit travelled throughout most of the country and also went to Burma, Laos and Cambodia. He was on a search for teachers and places to practice his mediation.
Lersi Sompit as a young Buddhist monk, practicing meditation in bouilling oil!
While still on tudong, Ajahn Sompit met a Lersi named Lersi Puth. This Lersi was living on a mountain in the Pechabun province of Thailand. Ajahn Sompit stayed to study with this Lersi for some time. Later, Ajahn Sompit decided to give up the life of a monk and ordain as a reusi. For him, this path suited his practice better. The life of a reusi was not governed by the rules of a monk. The monk’s rules state that a monk is not allowed to grow, pick or make his own food. He is dependent on lay people to offer him food daily. As a reusi he was able to practice in the solitude of caves and mountains for many days, even weeks, without having to see another person. Of course there were many other reasons which supported his decision to become a reusi. Ajahn Sompit ordained as a reusi at the age of 35 and has been a Lersi ever since. Lersi Sompit during a pilgrimage at Wat LP Sothorn
At the present time, Ajahn Sompit is over 50 years old and is currently located in Pathumthani. As he was taught by his teacher, he now helps people from the general public with their various problems and ailments. It is the job of a reusi, after many years of practice, to give back to the community and help those in need. Ajahn Sompit does this by utilizing the knowledge he obtained through his years of study and practice both as a monk and a reusi.
Among some of the services he offers for people are:
Sacred tattoos
Ceremonies and methods for treating bad karma
Meditation practice
Dhamma talks
Fortune telling
Etc.
He also helps with various ceremonies held around the country. These include Master Day Ceremonies or Wai Kru, Suat Pan Yak, Suat Puttha Phisek, Making sacred herbal oil, Blessing amulets, etc.
Lersi Sompit live in town and goes only to the forest during his retreats, he is a maried man and does not live as an hermit, on the contrary he has a very active life and for example go regularly to Singapore to bless his local disciples and give teachings.
The amulets of
Lersi Sompit are recognised as efficient and are the fruit of a long and patient work following precisely the instructions of the ancient tradition.
Rare image showing some of the few Lersi of our time. From left to right: Lersi Sutho (from Nongkhaï), Lersi Sorot (from Kon-Khien), Lersi Warapot (from Ubon Ratchatani) and Lersi Sompit, Lersi Mokala Kolat, Lersi KampeeTom (from Mahasalakhan)
On this picture Lersi Sompit is making a love-charm out of wax...
Lersi Sompit is famous for his capacity to sit and meditate in a giant Wok full of boiling oil!
Another Thaï Master doing a similar demostration in boiling hot oil.
The Fire Yogi has performed this Fire Ritual for a total of 1000 days over the last 45 years. The Yogi, weighing a mere 94 pounds, has been able to survive on only two bananas and a glass of milk with a few drops of water twice a day for the last 28 years.
I had the leisure to examine the wok Lersi Sompit use for his demostrations (he keeps it in his garden when not using it) and to speak with one of his disciples, and it appear those demostration are 100% genuine. Some medicinal plants are added to the oil to produce a medicinal oil, but to my knoledge no "trick" is used by Lersi Sompit.
When i met Lersi Sompit he told me that his own Master was abble not only to sit and meditate in boiling hot oil but also to place in the oil a living fish, to live it there for a few minutes and to get the fish back later, unharmed and in good health!
Lersi Sompit told me he tried to do this but that the fish died. Lersi Sompit also told me his Master had the very special power to stop any car engine just with the strenght of his mind, once again he tried this and could not reproduce this power.
"My Master was very strong!" he said showing his picture on the wall...
The Nam Mön bowl of Vénérable Lersi Sompit. Please notice the numerous Holy stones and more specifically the Jin-Gang beads that are there to give invulnerability powers to this Holy water.
When i was there i saw Lersi Sompit bless a visitor with this water and then hit him several time with a sharp sword and then "cut his throath" with the sword whitout producing any injury!
Lersi Sompit blessing one last time the amulet i take for Magiedubouddha.com
Lersi Sompit bless a tattoed man who then enter partially in trance
One of the disciplesof Vénérable Lersi Sompit :
Mr Wit Sukhsamran (Tevijjo Yogi)
I met Mr Wit Sukhsmaran in the beginning of 2008 and i am gratefull that amongst other things he helped me to meet with his Master Lersi Sompit. I hope to have more occasions to see him and to share knoledge with him.
Despite his young age Wit Sukhsamran is one of the very very few Western disciples of the Lersi tradition that i believe to be serious in his spitiual quest (unlike many money/fame-driven "new age" people i met before) , respectfull of Dharma and who managed to integrate Thaï society because amongst other things of his perfect mastery of the Thaï language.
So with Wit authorisation i decided to place here his biography
Wit was born in 1979 in the USA. He was born of a Lutheran family with a mother practicing Wicca. His father was also part Native American and this was a significant influence in his childhood.
He was exposed to both of these traditions and this has obviously had an affect on his life path.
Since a very young age he was interested in esoteric studies, religion and the martial arts. After much study and research he officially became Buddhist at the age of 13.
His first initiation with a Thai master was at the age of 15. Prior to this he had some contact with the Tibetan Kagyupa tradition.
Wit came to Thailand with the Thai monk who is his Master when he was only 17 years old and has been traveling back and forth ever since.
He has been living there permanently for the last 3 years.
He became a disciple of the Lersi tradition between 2005-2006. While he has had the opportunity to study with many different teachers he holds three teachers as his main influences and has received traditional initiation by all three.
- Phra Ajahn Sukit whom he studied under since he was 15 years old.
- A White robe Ajahn named Ajahn Prasong (who is in an old father-son lineage of Northern Thai Shamans and has practiced as a Lersi for many years.)
- Venerable Lersi Sompit
Currently Wit is preparing to pass the final stages of the ceremony that will make him a Lersi for life. This ceremony is scheduled for next year. He has already undergone most of the preparatory training which is needed before one can make this commitment.
When I asked Wit what he thought about the state of the Lersi tradition in 2008 his reply was that there are very few genuine Lersi nowadays.
Many people are mediums and channel the spirits of Lersi but this doesn't mean they are practicing as Lersi.
A medium who is communicating with Lersi Tafaï Also, there are many people who find that wearing the robes of a Lersi is a good way to make money and get customers for their fortune-telling, amulet selling or tattooing business.
A real Lersi is someone who holds certain vows and practices and is working for the good of others, not the good of himself.
