Venerable Ajaan Khao Analayo
When news of Ajaan Khao’s condition reached the surrounding area, waves of lay people and Bhikkhus from that district rushed to the Wat to see him. In their hearts many people firmly believed in him as a refuge they could confidently entrust their lives to. So when they heard that he was seriously ill, they were very perturbed – as if the sky and earth had collapsed and their hearts had been torn from their bodies. After the news had been broadcast, people came in hoards from all directions, lay people as well as Bhikkhus and novices. They came to visit Ajaan Khao to see how he was. They were very eager to meet him and to pay their respects to him. For that reason, it appeared as if there was some large function taking place at Wat Thum Klong Pain while Ajaan Khao was sick. So many Bhikkhus and lay people came from so many different places that the Wat was unable to look after them all. There was not enough bedding or food and other necessities to go around. So they just had to help themselves and each other as best they could to make up for what was lacking. A Wat is a place to live for Bhikkhus, who rely on the local villagers for the food they receive on alms round. It is not a place where wealthy people live, which most people already know. One advantage of Wat Thum Klong Pain is that it is very large, with lots of forest and hills and plenty of shady trees. There are also a number of overhanging cliffs. It is all together quite a good place to stay if one takes the forest, the hills and the shady trees in the Wat as one’s accommodation, where one can just rest and sleep, relaxed and unconcerned. Even though there were large numbers of people to feed, there was always plenty of food given to the Bhikkhus on their daily alms round. From the start right through to the end of his 174