In our journey through life, we often find ourselves working tirelessly—sowing the best seeds, applying the right effort, and following every rule—yet results continue to elude us. When hard work fails to yield peace or prosperity, the obstacle is rarely external; often, it lies in an unexamined burden within our own lives.

A story shared by the revered master Luang Phor Lersi Lingdam illustrates this principle with striking clarity.

The Land with an Ancient Past

While staying at a temple in Sankhaburi, Luang Phor was visited by a laywoman named Khun Chao, who came to him with a heavy heart. She farmed over 20 rai of rice fields, working just as hard as her neighbors, using the same quality seeds and fertilizer. Yet year after year, her harvests were poor while others thrived. She was deeply confused about where she had gone wrong.

Instead of offering immediate advice, Luang Phor asked to see her fields.

Walking through the land, he noticed something Khun Chao had passed every day without a second thought: scattered, broken bricks and ancient roof tiles. To an ordinary observer, they were worthless debris. But to Luang Phor, they were evidence—the subtle physical remains of an ancient temple.

He explained to her that part of her field was historically Thorani Song—Sangha land.

Khun Chao was stunned and immediately objected: “But I bought this land legally. I have all the proper documents!”

Luang Phor then shared a fundamental teaching passed down by his teacher, Luang Phor Parn of Wat Bang Nom Kho:

Once land has been dedicated to the Sangha, no matter how many centuries pass—even if the temple crumbles into dust, and even if the land is legally bought and sold through generations—the sacred dedication of that property remains intact.

This is because true Sangha property does not belong to any individual who can sell it away; it belongs to the collective Sangha across space and time.

Restoring Harmony Through Right Action

Turning pale, Khun Chao realized that for five years, she had unknowingly been farming on monastic grounds. Distressed, she asked what she could possibly do to fix it.

Luang Phor did not instruct her to give up her farm, nor did he ask her to perform elaborate, empty rituals. Instead, he guided her toward a simple, practical act of integrity.

Since only about four rai of her land encompassed the old temple site, he advised her to formally lease that portion from the Sangha for a nominal rent of 100 baht per year, offering the money to any local abbot for the benefit of the Sangha.

Moved by genuine faith and a desire to make things right, Khun Chao offered six years’ worth of rent (500 baht for the past five years, plus 100 for the current year)—a substantial sum at the time, when a bowl of noodles cost a fraction of a baht.

The following year, a severe drought struck the region. Fields dried up, crops withered, and farmers were forced to plow under their losses. Yet, one single field in the entire district remained lush, green, and completely untouched by the drought: Khun Chao’s.

From a teaching of Luang Phor Phra Rajaprommayarn  (Luang Phor Lersi Lingdam) of Wat Tha Sung. Recorded from a Dhamma talk on 15 February 1991.

Luang Phor did not share this story to instill fear or push superstition. He shared it to remind us of a profound spiritual truth: intentions and subtle karmic ties matter.

If we humble our minds and perform noble deeds, acknowledging that throughout beginningless time we might have unwittingly done wrong without recollection or knowledge, that sincere sense of repentance can shift the course of our lives.

This principle is by no means unique to Thai Buddhism; in Chinese Mahayana practice, repentance is a central pillar with numerous formal texts and methods. Yet true repentance is ultimately simple: we admit that we are not flawless, recognizing that what is done in the past is gone and cannot be changed. Instead, we aspire to be good people in the present, dedicating any good deeds we perform—regardless of how small—to the benefit of ourselves and others.

When we soften our mental attitudes in this way, we naturally attract good things into our lives.

May all be well and happy.