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Published on October 11, 2007

However, his final day came yesterday when he was just 96 and his final mission is yet to be completed.

During the past several years, Phra Panyanandha - abbot of the Cholprathan Rangsarit Temple - had been devoted to creating an appealing learning centre for anyone interested in learning about Buddhism.

For this project, a temple hall is now being built over a lake inside the compound of Mahachulalongkornrajavidayala University for monks in Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district.

With a construction budget of over Bt140million, the hall will have 8,000 square metres in utility space.

The project will also be dedicated to HM the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, according to an engineer in charge of the project.

"I will not die till the construction of the temple hall is completed," Phra Panyanandha Bhikkhu had often reiterated in his final years. He clearly labelled this project as his final mission.

However, failing health sent him to Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital on October 1. Four days later, he successfully received angioplasty with a stent placement for his coronary thrombosis and coronary artery disease.

"But we then found he developed lung infection and kidney problems," Siriraj Hospital director Dr Prasit Wattanapa said yesterday.

The doctor said the revered monk finally succumbed to lung infection and kidney failure.

Ordained as a monk at the age of 20, Phra Panyanandha had risen to prominence through his writings, preaching and charitable works. He was also known as the first Thai monk to propagate Buddhism in Europe.

Embracing the core of Buddhism, the monk had never promoted superstitious rituals and had never been involved in the sale of amulets - which is often dubbed Buddhism-related commerce.

Phra Panyanandha once spent a part of his life at the Suan Mokkh, a forest Dhamma centre in Surat Thani where he dedicated his life to Buddha's teaching together with his peers, including the late Phra Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.

The late Buddhadasa Bhikkhu was on Unesco's list of great international personalities in 2005.

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn said yesterday Phra Panyanandha had the merit to be nominated for the list too.

Phra Panyanandha's followers vowed yesterday to ensure construction of the temple hall over the lake is completed.

"He was very concerned about this pending project. As his followers, we will ensure that his final mission is completed," one said.

Started in 2005, the construction is about 60 per cent complete. The followers of Phra Panyanandha have said there is enough money to ensure the project is completed as the revered monk had wished.

But it will take over a year to complete construction of the temple hall, which is a similar design to the temple hall at the Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram or the Emerald Buddha Temple.

A royal sponsored bathing ritual for Phra Panyanandha will take place at the Cholpratan Rangsarait Temple in Nonthaburi.

The Nation