Journals

Over a hundred of years ago, Somdej To Prommaramsi's words were as follows:

"My child, before you travel around seeking the blessings and grace of any revered monk, you must first have your own capital—which is your own merit. When your own merit is insufficient, only then should you borrow the merit of others to help you. Otherwise, you will not survive, overwhelmed by the debts of merit you went around borrowing beyond your means."

"When you do good deeds and gain merit, you will have to use it all to pay back those debts until nothing is left for yourself. Then, what will you have left for your next life? Diligently build your own merit, and heaven and earth will naturally assist you."

"Remember this well... when the time has not yet come, no deity can help you. But when the time does arrive, neither heaven nor earth can stop you. Do not rush the angels or the heavens; if you have never created any merit, who on earth will come to your rescue?"

This is the sermon of the Venerable Somdej Phra Phutthacharn (To Prommaramsi), who compassionately guided this Dhamma truth through a vision over a century after his passing. This serves as the ultimate reason why we must relentlessly do good deeds without end.

"If you have never built your own merit, who will come to your rescue?"

📌 Sermon by Somdej Phra Phutthacharn (Somdej To Prommaramsi)

📌 The Hidden Meaning Depend on Yourself First: Asking for blessings from sacred beings is like borrowing money from others to start a business. If you have no capital of your own (never doing good deeds, never creating merit), what you borrow will only lead to failure and spiritual debt.

Create Good Karma: The fruits of merit act as a protective shield and a passport for life. If life is down on its luck or facing obstacles, taking action to do good deeds yourself (through charity, morality, and meditation) is the only true way to solve the problems.

📌 Biography of Somdej Phra Phutthacharn (To Prommaramsi) A Revered Master: He is one of the most highly respected and faith-inspiring great monks in Thai history. He was granted the royal ecclesiastical title of "Somdej Phra Phutthacharn" during the reign of King Rama IV and served as the abbot of Wat Rakang Kositaram.

The Chinabanchorn Mantra: He revised and popularized this ancient chant, making it the most widely recited prayer in Thailand.