Luang Por

Luang por (Thai: หลวงพ่อ; RTGS: luang pho) means "venerable father" and is used in Thailand as a title for respected senior monastics. Luang is a Thai word meaning "royal" or "venerable". It is used in both family context and to express respect for monastics. Por is the Thai word for "father". It is used in both family context and in venerations. For instance, Luang Por Ajahn Chah was a well-known and widely respected monk. In his middle and older years as respect for him grew, people sometimes referred to him simply as "Luang Por".

The term is also spelled 'Luang Phor'.

Spencer Littlewood states:

The age of the Monk and the age of the person speaking to the monk will normally affect the way in which a person refers to that Monk. The system is Vague and is a reflection of the method of respect used in everyday Cotidian life in Thailand, where age means status, and the classification of the terminology used for different Family relatives is doubly complex as that Western system. A person who is slightly older than yourself would normally be referred to as "Pi" (meaning older brother or sister), and a younger person would be called "Nong". Therefore, if not knowing the title of a Monk, one should see if they are old enough to be ones older brother, one should call them "Luang Pi" (unless they are a famously established monk, and already have been commonly referred to as "Luang Pi". If the Monk could be ones Uncle or Father, then "Luang Por".

External links

• Buddha-Magic Buddha Magic - Thai Buddhism and Occultism, Sacred Amulets, Buddhist Culture and Ceremonies, Ruesi-ism and Animism, Sak Yant
• Luang Phor - Thai Buddhist Guru Monk Biographies