People, many of them collectors, are doing the rounds of Buddha amulet stalls in Nakhon Ratchasima city looking for Luang Phor Khoon amulets. The most popular are the first batch of amulets blessed by the monk in 1969 when he was at Wat Sa Kaew in the province.

Thamrong Phadungkiattipong, president of the Chatuchak-Korat Buddha Amulet Society, said after hearing news of the abbot's illness many people had come to ask for amulets and pictures of the monk, especially amulets consecrated by him in 1969, 1974 and 1976 as these were extremely rare.

Saner Pongsuwan, an avid Luang Phor Khoon amulet collector, said he had a large collection of the monk's amulets as he had enormous respect for him.

The medical team taking care of the monk at Siriraj Hospital said yesterday his memory was better, movement in his left arm and leg had improved and he was able to take a satisfactory amount of liquid food through a tube.

However, he needed to remain under watch for a while longer.