Chapter 10: Biography of Miss Nidjitra Kunkwandee

Written by Sangpej Indrakumara
Translated by: Flight Sergeant First Class Nipon Sritong-in

Nidjitra Kunkwamdee (nicked name Bebe) is the eldest daughter of three children, born on the 8th December 1975 in Vientien, Lao. Her father’s name is Tonghai. Her mother’s name is Khandavijit. Family name is Kunkwamdee.

The family migrated from Lao to France, living at 1 Rue de Vallon, Noisy le Grand, since 1977.

When she was a baby of 2-3 months old, she cried very often until it is noticeable. The doctor tried to diagnose but found nothing wrong. So, according to Laotian belief, old relatives performed a rite, tying sacred thread around her wrist because they were afraid that her guardian spirit had come to disturb her. The crying alleviated.

When she was 1 – 2 years old, Nidjitra became a lovely child that any one who had seen her would want to hold her. Nidjitra became a centre of attention.

When she began her schooling until her last year in high school, Nidjitra suffered from physical pain until she could not study as other ordinary children. Each day she had stiff and pain. Especially when she was thirteen she had chest pain like someone is squeezing, not allowing her to breathe normally. She had to suffer a lot.

Nidjitra had to see the doctor. Again, the doctor could not find anything wrong from the diagnosis, no matter how he tried. He could not identify the case as appendicitis or other pathology.

At night, while she was sleeping she felt as if someone was beckoning her downstairs. Nidjitra went crazy (full of anger and irascibility). Parents or any one could not soothe her. Finally, she wanted to go to the temple to listen to the preaching. Then she sought permission to become a nun, observing Precepts, wearing white robes at the Sri Lankan temple in Le Bourger, France.

In her bedroom there are Buddha paintings and Buddha images which she has revered all along. Through faith and belief in the Buddha’s virtues, her conditions have improved. She can smile and be joyful.

Until one night, Nidjitra slept and dreamt that she floated upward to receive one thing which is pure whiteness. At that time she was wearing white robes and meditated. In real life, during her meditation session she used to see Kwan Yin Bodhisatva came to protect her with concern.

Later, one night Nidjitra dreamt of seeing the Buddha while she was going out with several friends. Someone took her to see a sacred monk in order that he would cure her from the ailment. In her dream, that sacred monk was a Thai. He taught Nidjitra to practise meditation and carved his teaching in Thai language at her house. But she could not translate those words. She did not know what he wrote. But she knew it was Thai language, certainly.

Later on, the story in her dream has become true. It could have been her luck unexpectedly, Mr. Nipon and Mrs. Susan Sritong-in called her to pay homage to and ask for blessing from Luang Poh Jarun, who was passing France on his way to England. Nidjitra had to see the doctor. Again, the doctor could not find anything wrong from the diagnosis, no matter how he tried. He could not identify the case as appendicitis or other pathology. At night, while she was sleeping she felt as if someone was beckoning her downstairs. Nidjitra went crazy (full of anger and irascibility). Parents or any one could not soothe her. Finally, she wanted to go to the temple to listen to the preaching. Then she sought permission to become a nun, observing Precepts, wearing white robes at the Sri Lankan temple in Le Bourger, France. In her bedroom there are Buddha paintings and Buddha images which she has revered all along. Through faith and belief in the Buddha’s virtues, her conditions have improved. She can smile and be joyful. Until one night, Nidjitra slept and dreamt that she floated upward to receive one thing which is pure whiteness. At that time she was wearing white robes and meditated. In real life, during her meditation session she used to see Kwan Yin Bodhisatva came to protect her with concern. Later, one night Nidjitra dreamt of seeing the Buddha while she was going out with several friends. Someone took her to see a sacred monk in order that he would cure her from the ailment. In her dream, that sacred monk was a Thai. He taught Nidjitra to practise meditation and carved his teaching in Thai language at her house. But she could not translate those words. She did not know what he wrote. But she knew it was Thai language, certainly. Later on, the story in her dream has become true. It could have been her luck unexpectedly, Mr. Nipon and Mrs. Susan Sritong-in called her to pay homage to and ask for blessing from Luang Poh Jarun, who was passing France on his way to England.

At the residence of Mr. Nipon and Mrs. Susan Sritong-in, they called her to pay homage to Luang Poh. On her first step into the house and have a glance at Luang Poh, Nidjitra showed a sign of gladness. She touch Mrs. Susan and her aunt saying, “That’s right. He is the sacred monk that I have dreamt of and has left his Thai writing for me.”

From the night she met Luang Poh, Nidjitra’s condition has improved drastically. It can be said that the weird states she used to be in have completely vanished. Luang Poh Jarun has given her a new life. Nidjitra has become a new person full of love for parents, relatives and friends. She likes to sacrifice for the group as a whole and for the support of Buddhism.

All these time Nidjitra always remember the gratitude of Luang Poh Jarun and thinks that she can come to pay obeisance to Luang Poh in Bangkok, Thailand one day. Nowadays, Nidjitra always wears Luang Poh’s medal that Mr. Nipon has brought her.

Final Note

Finally, after I (Phra Narin Subhakaro) have finished writing this story, I have reconfirmed the whole story with Luang Poh. One point that I doubt very much is the sentence that Mr. Nipon has translated from Laotian language into Thai, contents as follows.

‘In her dream, that sacred monk was a Thai. She noticed his carving on the brick wall, which she did not know what he wrote. But she knew that it was a Thai language, certainly.’

Luang Poh was kind to explain this question to me that it must have been a misunderstanding or inexact inference. He wrote the word on a paper and placed it at the cement wall in her house. The word he wrote that Nidjitra could not read was the word ‘Satipatthana 4’ (the Four Foundations of Mindfulness).

Another question, I asked Luang Poh about his radiation of loving-kindness to teach meditation. How did he teach? What language did he use? This is because I know that Nidjitra knows very few Thai words. Mainly, vocabulary on meditation practice is difficult. Luang Poh told me that he taught in Thai language. When he taught standing meditation, he used the word ‘standing thus’. When he taught walking meditation, he just taught as it should be done. Nidjitra understood and perceived according to her own common sense.

The last question that I asked was, “Why can Luang Poh radiate lovingkindness to teach meditation practice to Nidjitra and some people?” Luang Poh was kind to explain as follows.

The reason that Nidjitra could perceive the loving-kindness which Luang Poh had radiated was, she used to be his relative in the past existence. There was a relative tie. This tie is a medium that liaise them. Another point, if two persons know each other, there is a relationship between them. Like student and teacher thinking of each other, when teacher radiates loving-kindness and student pays good attention he can receive that loving-kindness. Lovingkindness can be compared to radio wave transmitted from the radio station. If the teacher transmits from one channel and student is not interested, it is like tuning to another channel. Radio wave cannot be received. But if the teacher transmits from one channel and student pays attention to practise according to the teaching, having teacher in mind, it is like tuning in to the same channel. So, the student can receive the wave of loving-kindness radiated from teacher.

Credit: eBooks. Wat Amphawan.