**Article extract from a CD**

Ajahn Paññavaddho hardly ever left Wat Pah Baan Taad, but he was visited there by a constant stream of Westerners, both monastics and laypeople, who came to ask him questions about Dhamma practice. He was usually available for several hours every day receiving people at the dying shed. While he never set himself up as a teacher, he always tried to explain things as best as he could, often quoting his teacher, Ajahn Maha Boowa. He translated into English several of his books which have become classics of the forest tradition. In 2002 and 2003, he accepted invitation from Wat Pah Nanachat and spent several days discussing Dhamma with the Western monks who very much appreciated his presence and wisdom. Towards the end of his life, when he was in hospital care and in need of blood transfusion, because he had a very rare blood group, it was some of the Western monks who willingly donated their blood as an offering to him. His dry sense of humour hasnt left him even in his final days. Not long before he passed away, while drinking some tea, he remarked: Nothing spoils a good cup of tea like cancer. He died on the 18th August 2004, at 8:30 am, in his kuti at Wat Pah Baan Taad, aged 78. The monks from Wat Pah Nanachat had a chance to go and pay their respects to his body on the following day. The funeral itself took place on the 28th August. About 40 Western monks have gathered for the occasion, as well as many Thai monks including some highly respected senior Ajahns. Thousands of laypeople were watching as the funeral pyre was lit. Glancing up at the sky, everyone could see a bright aura around the sun which remained visible for quite some time before it faded away. This was regarded by many as an auspicious sign. After the ashes and bones were collected, the Western Sangha was honoured by being given a large share of them to be distributed to all the overseas branch monasteries. The memory of Ajahn Paññavaddho as a gentle and unassuming bhikkhu who, with 47 years in the robes, was the most senior Western monk in Thailand, will remain with us.