What is Phra Pidta?
This has been the most popular question among many amulet hobbyists or collectors. Some say it is Maha Thera Sanghajay while some said that it is a fighter…the list goes on and on. In the 1970s, it was illegal to wear an image of Phra Pidta in Singapore, and therefore a negative reputation was casted upon this sacred image by people outside of this amulet circle. It has been perceived that such an amulet with such an image was spurring the bearer to commit crimes and yet not to be caught, to involved in fights but yet little or no danger or hurt will be inflicted upon them. Despite of such, it’s mysteriousness and popularity continued to current times. For example, a beautiful piece of Phra Pidta Ven. LP Kron, Wat Bangsek, can fetch up to one or two millions THB in value and yet there are elite hobbyist or collectors whom are still searching for it.
Phra means Monk or amulet and Pidta means close eyed. The image of this person closing its face with his palms is a symbolical image of Maha Thera Sanghajay in Sammabart meditation. In Sammabart meditation one will go into deep absorption, as a result jhanas will appear. Usually at high levels of jhana super-normal powers may occur, things like walking through walls or stopping bullet(s) just like it was in the movie when Keanu Reeves in Matrix Trilogy.
Sammabart Meditation
As some of you or most of you would have known by now, some Ven. Krubas or Luang Pu, especially in the Nothern Thailand, practises Sammabart meditation. It is a rigorous and intensive meditation where they can spend days, weeks or even months in complete solitude. At times you will not believe the extend on the passion of veneration some devotees have, they may stay entirely in a far changwat (district). They can drive or fly many hours just to bring food and monk requisites to wait for the Teacher to exit his Sammabart meditation. And the scene is just awesome….jaw-dropping to be exact, the entire space is filled with people waiting patiently and quietly for The One to open his senses.
That is the symbolical meaning in wearing Phra Pidta. That we will always be blessed with Maha Metta, Maha Lap and Maha Niyom so that where ever we go, we will make good and easy earnings/livings. It will enhance our ability to attract benefactors that will help us when we are in need.
Supernormal feats of Jhana attainments
Many of us have heard of strange encounters, most rather unbelieveable stories with regards to Phra Pidta. We will not share them here because we don’t want to give people a negative impression in encouraging people or youths especially to commit crimes.
To quote you from Buddhist Texts, as regards to super-normal feats due to jhanas attainments;
“Having been one, you become many; having been many, you become one; you appear and vanish; you go unhindered through a wall, through a rampart, through a mountain as though through space; you dive in and out of the earth as though it were water; you walk on water without sinking as though it were earth; seated cross-legged, you travel in space like a bird; with your hand you touch and stroke the moon and sun so powerful and mighty; you exercise mastery with the body as far as the brahma world.” – Samyutta Nikaya 12.70
“And then the Buddha came to the River Ganges. And some people were looking for a boat, and some were looking for a raft, and some were binding together a raft of reeds to get to the other side. But the Buddha, as swiftly as a strong man might stretch out his flexed arm or flex it again, vanished from this side of the Ganges and reappeared with his Order of monks on the other shore.” – Digha Nikaya 16.1.33
Perhaps this may explain to you why bearer of an image of sacred Phra Pidta may help a person to avoid danger or unfortunate incidents. Of course, faith is very important. In the past, people were simpler in thinking and when they meet good practising Reverend and receive a sacred piece of Phra Pidta from Reverend’s hand, and in times of danger, they undoubtedly heldfast to their Phra Pidta and atthitthan (wish). When such strong faith and sacredness of Phra Pidta intertwines….miracles happened. Now most people have very little faith to count on their amulets to save their life.
What determines the sacred energies of a Phra Pidta?
- The Gaeji Archan. Needless to say, if a Teacher practises more Metta MahaLap, his amulets would be more of such a nature. If he practises more of Kungkhapan, then his amulets would be of Kungkhapan. Of course there are some very well attained Teachers that can consrecate amulets of any nature intended.
- The materials. Generally, amulets made from pong/powder or wan/herbs will be more of Metta Mahalap. Leklai, leknampi, or other metals will be more of Kungkhaphan and Klaewkard.
- The puthaphisek. The better the puthaphisek, the better the energies, of course. It’s another different and eloborate discussion on how is it considered a good puthaphisek. We will share when the opportune arises.
Before I end this introduction, I would like to stress that no Phra Pidta or other sacred amulets can ever help any person to commit crime. As Buddhist we have to accept the cause and effects of Karma. Nothing happens without a cause….nothings is coincidental…when your Karma reapens, events will actualize.
什么是帕Pidta？
这一直是许多佛牌（护身符）爱好者或收藏家最常问的问题。有人说这是诗尊者Sanghajay（佛祖最早的跟随者之一），有人说这是一个战士…也有很多不一样的说法。在1970年代，在新加坡戴帕Pidta佛牌是非法的，
因此，这让圈外人对这神圣的形象产生了负面形象。此佛牌被误解为是鼓励带者去犯法而不被抓到，与别人打架时保护佩戴者受到很少或根本没有被伤害。尽管这样，它的神秘性和人气持续上升。一尊完美的
帕Pidta。Ven. LP Kron，Wat Bangsek，虽然已经叫价一两百万泰铢，但还是有爱好者或收藏家不停地在寻找。
帕指的是和尚或佛牌（护身符），Pidta就是关闭眼睛。这种用手心掩盖脸的形象象征着尊者Sanghajay打坐的形象。Sammabart Meditation（打坐）的修炼者会先入定，进而达到禅（Jhana)坐的状态，
当修行者的禅坐修为修炼到高阶时，通常会发生超常规的事情，例如，有穿墙走壁的能耐，或让子弹停止。
Sammabart Meditation (打坐/禅坐)
相信你们或者你们中的大多数人都知道，一些法师，Krubas或LP(銮浦)，尤其是泰国北部的，都有练习Sammabart Meditation。这是一个严谨而密集的Meditation（打坐），他们可以完全孤独度过几天，
几周甚至几个月。他们通常会选泽到森林，山洞或坟场这些远离人群和诱惑的地方修炼禅坐。他们的追随者/信徒们也会在这段期间显示出惊叹的支持行动，有的穿州越府，开车或飞行几个小时，带来许多食品和用品等，安静，耐
心地等待高僧退出他Sammabart Meditation（禅坐）。
穿戴着帕Pidta象征着我们将永远被MAha Metta, Metta Mahalap（财运）,和Metta Mahaniyom（声望运，帮助佩戴者容易出名和有大众缘）祝福/保佑。不论我们去到哪里，我们都会容易赚取盈利/谋生。
他将会提高我们在有需要时吸引赞助者(贵人）的能力。
Jhanna（禅）的神奇事迹
我们当中有很多人听说过关于佩戴帕Pidta神奇时所发生的神奇遭遇，但是为了不想让大家，特别是青少年，对帕Pidta有错误的认知，也不鼓吹别人犯罪，因此我们不会在这里与大家分享。
引述佛典里关于达到jhanas造诣的神奇事迹;
“Having been one, you become many; having been many, you become one; you appear and vanish; you go unhindered
through a wall, through a rampart, through a mountain as though through space; you dive in and out of the earth as
though it were water; you walk on water without sinking as though it were earth; seated cross-legged, you travel in
space like a bird; with your hand you touch and stroke the moon and sun so powerful and mighty; you exercise mastery
with the body as far as the brahma world.” – Samyutta Nikaya 12.70
“佛祖到达恒河时，有的人在寻找船只，有的人在寻找木筏，有的人在合力制造木筏想到达彼岸，但是佛祖却很轻松的把它的和尚们变到了彼岸。” Digha nikaya 16.1.33
这或许可以解释为什么佩戴一尊神圣的帕Pidta佛牌可能帮助我们避免发生危险或不幸事件。当然，信念是非常重要的。在过去，人们在思想简单，当他们佩戴着由得道高憎所赠送的帕Pidta时，他们会很自
然的在遇到危机时祈求他们的帕Pidta帮助他们。当这种坚强的信念和神圣的帕Pidta交织…。奇迹发生了。但是现代人都很少指望他们佩戴的佛牌在他们遇到危险时救他们。
什么因素会影响到帕Pidta神圣的能量？
1。The Gaeji（得道高僧 Archan (为佛牌开光的师傅）。如果该师父比较修炼Metta MahaLap（财运），他的佛牌自然而然比较倾向Metta Mahalap。如果他修炼Kungkhapan（保护佩戴者刀枪不入），
那么他的佛牌自然倾向Kungkhapan。当然也有一些得道非高憎可以随心所欲的制造任何性质的佛牌。
2。材料。一般来说，由Pong/粉或WAN /草药制造的佛牌将比较倾向Metta Mahalap。 Leklai（沥赖），leknampi，或其他金属将比较倾向Kungkhaphan和Klaewkard（避险）。
3。Puthaphisek（有多位得道高僧一起参与的开光法会）。 该Puthaphisek越好，当然有更好的能量。好的puthaphisek是一个不同的讨论，我们将在适当的时候与大家分享。
在我结束这个介绍前，我想强调的是，任何帕Pidta或其他佛牌都不能帮助任何人犯罪。身为佛教徒的我们必须相信因果循环。…。没有任何事情是巧合…事出必有因。