Ordained in the Dhammayut Thai Forest Tradition, Bhante Huat Poh has been instrumental in sharing the profound Dhamma to the lay community, in ways that promote deeper understanding of the Buddha’s Teachings and inspire faith to walk the Path that leads to Liberation. Born and bred in Penang, Bhante Huat Poh was first introduced to Theravada Buddhism in his teens, and his interest and practice in the Dhamma has steadfastly progressed as he grew into adulthood. Finding his true calling, he decided to give up his career as an engineer, to go forth. Having spent the past 15 years of his monkhood practicing in remote areas of Thailand, Bhante Huat Poh currently divides his time between Vihara Boon Raksa in Penang, and a monastery in Omkoi, north Thailand. Phra Ajahn is currently spending his time between Omkoi and Malaysia and is proficient in giving Dhamma teachings and meditation in English as well as Hokkien.
Luang Por Pasanno
LP Pasanno took ordination in Thailand in 1974 with Venerable Phra Khru Ñāṇasirivatana as preceptor. During his first year as a monk he was taken by his teacher to meet Ven. Ajahn Chah, with whom he asked to be allowed to stay and train. One of the early residents of Wat Pah Nanachat, LP Pasanno became its abbot in his ninth year. During his incumbency, Wat Pah Nanachat developed considerably, both in physical size and reputation. Spending twenty-four years living in Thailand, LP Pasanno became a well-known and highly respected monk and Dhamma teacher. he moved to California on new year’s eve of 1997 to share the abbotship of Abhayagiri with Tan Ajahn Amaro. In 2010 Tan Ajahn Amaro accepted an invitation to serve as abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England. LP Pasanno is now the sole abbot of Abhayagiri.”
Sayadaw Nyanapurnik Mahathera
Ven. Sayadaw Nyanapurnik Mahathera, a Pali scholar and Vipassanacariya has been working actively for the progress and development of Theravada Buddhism in Nepal. He was born on 21st November, 1939 in Tansen, Palpa which is about 90 kilometers north of Lumbini, the birth-place of Lord Buddha. Ordained as a novice at the early age of 16, he spent a year in Buddhist studies in Nepal and went to Myanmar for further study.
In 1963, he was awarded the prestigious ‘Sāsanadhaja Dhammāchariya’ title, a highly-respected honour in Burmese Buddhist monastic education. Besides this Dhamma education, he has also completed various levels of formal education which includes School Leaving Certificate (SLC) in 1971, IA (1974), BA (1977) and MA (Culture and History) from Tribhuvan University, Nepal along with Diploma in Sanskrit from Banaras Sanskrit University, India. He is an author and translator of about 50 books on Buddhism, both in Nepali and Nepal Bhasha languages. He was also one of the members of the publication team of the Pali Burmese World Dictionary, Burma (1964-66). He has travelled extensively around the world as a Meditation instructor.
In 1984, Sayadaw founded the Vishwa Shanti Vihāra in Kathmandu, and became its spiritual director. The vihāra was expanded in 1997 to house the ‘World Peace Buddhist School’ for the education of Buddhist monks and nuns, in order to further propagate Theravāda Buddhism in Nepal.
He was bestowed the ‘Agga Mahā Saddhammajotikadhaja’ title in 2001 from the Government of Myanmar for his outstanding service to the propagation of Buddha-Sāsana around the world.
Sayadaw Nyanapurnik visited and delivered many teachings in Malaysia, which included this Dhamma teaching given in BUBS during his visit in 2015.
Ven. Kai Zhao
Ven. Khai Zhao was born in Ipoh, Perak. In 1987. He took ordination with most Ven. Book Kian at Penang Ang Hock Si Temple. After graduation from Malaysia Buddhist College in Penang, he started teaching Dhamma in local prisons, especially to death penalty inmates from 1998. Since 2006, he has been travelling locally and abroad teaching Dhamma in prisons, conducting retreats and giving counselling and guidance.
Āyasmā Saṅgāmaji
Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, Āyasmā Saṅgāmaji became a novice monk in Sri Lanka in 1998 at the age of 24 with Bhikkhu Katukurunde Ñānananda as his preceptor. He got higher ordination in 2000. He lived with Bhante K. Ñānananda and in a branch monastery until 2007, then left to live in solitary places in the forests of Sri Lanka until 2014. This period was interspersed with a stay of half a year in Bodhinyāna Monastery in Perth, Australia. He later spent about two years in Thailand, in Wat Pah Nanachat and branches, and about five months in a forest monastery in New Hampshire, US.
In 2018 he came to Malaysia and has been staying in Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary for about a year.
His main interests are the study and practice of Early Buddhism, the training of the mind, and a simple monk's life in the forest.
Ven. Sri Saranankara
Ven. Sri Saranankara arrived in Malaysia from Sri Lanka 30 years ago. Over the past three decades, Venerable has been working energetically to fulfill the spiritual and religious needs of Buddhists throughout the country. As its abbot, he had built the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sentul into an important monastery today with many resident bhikkhus.
Ven. Sri Saranankara is also instrumental in establishing many other Buddhist Societies, notably the Maha Karuna Buddhist Society, Kinrara Metta Buddhist Society, Mudita Buddhist Society, Upekkha Compassionate Home, and Sungai Long Buddhist Society. Venerable Sri Saranankara is also the Spiritual Advisor to many Buddhist Societies throughout Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
In recognition of his vast contributions to the development of Malaysian Buddhist movement, the Malwatte Chapter of the Syamupali in Kandy, Sri Lanka, conferred upon Ven. Sri Saranankara the ecclesiastical title of “Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka” in 2008. The Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia also appointed him a Monastic Advisor in 2012.
Luang Por Thoon
LP Thun is one of the first batch of disciples ordained by Venerable Ajahn Chah at Wat Nong Pah Pong. After ordination, LP Thun served and practised under Ven. Ajahn Chah at Wat Nong Pah Pong for 9 years. LP Thun was then appointed by Ven. Ajahn Chah as the abbot of Wat Pah Tam Seng, which has been established for 45 years as the 5th branch monastery of Wat Nong Pah Pong.
Luang Por Anek Yasadinno
Luang Por (LP) Anek Yasadinno was born in 1946 in Ubon province, Thailand. He received ordination as a Buddhist monk in 1967 at his local village monastery and moved to Wat Nong Pah Pong in the following year to practise under the tutelage of LP Chah. In 1973, LP Anek became the first abbot of Wat Pah Sai Ngam and played a major role in building up the monastery, where he has since lived. He is one of the respected elders of the greater society of monasteries and monks in the LP Chah lineage in Thailand and abroad.
Luang Por Boon Chu
Luang Por Piak
Luang Por Piak is one of Thailand’s most respected teachers of Dhamma and meditation. Born in 1948, Luang Por Piak’s given name is Prasobchai but he was nicknamed ‘Piak’. As a child and young man Luang Por Piak did not have much interest in religion or meditation. It was when he was studying for his Masters in New York that Luang Por Piak began to develop an interest about the mind. When he returned to Thailand from New York for medical treatment, he spent some time in a monastery under the guidance of Luang Pu Boon Nah (disciple of Luang Pu Kao Wang). He soon discovered he has a genuine affinity for the practice and decided to ordain as a monk for the annual 3-month rains retreat. One of his aunts advised him to visit three teachers: Luang Pu Kao, Luang Pu Fun and Luang Por Chah (all three being disciples of Luang Pu Mun). When Luang Por Piak met Luang Por Chah, he had a strong intuitive sense that this was the right teacher for him. On 3rd July 1976, Venerable Piak received full Bhikkhu ordination from Luang Por Chah. Luang Por Piak is now the Abbot of Wat Pah Cittabhavana, Pathumthani, Thailand.
Āyasmā Aggacitta
Āyasmā Aggacitta is a Malaysian Buddhist monk who received higher ordination from his preceptor, Bhaddanta Mahasi Sayadaw in 1979. He trained under various teachers, notably Sayadaw U Pandita, Sayadaw U Tissara, Sayadaw U Acinna and Sayadaw U Tejaniya.
In 1994, Āyasmā Aggacitta spent 4 years in solitary meditation retreat in Sarawak. Since returning to West Malaysia in 1998, Āyasmā Aggacitta has spent considerable time investigating popular interpretations and practices of Buddhism in the light of the Pali scriptures, real life experiences and contemporary research findings. Using a critical yet constructive approach, he has been sharing his findings with interested parties in order to bring them closer to a practical reality they can more easily connect with. In 2000, Āyasmā Aggacitta founded Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS) in Taiping, Perak. In 2012 he accepted the invitation of the Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia (TBCM) to be on its Monastic Advisory Panel.
Ven. Buddharakkhita
Ven. Buddharakkhita was born in Penang in 1971. After attending a short meditation retreat at Tusita Hermitage (Kuching) in 2008, he was inspired by Ven. U Mangala and the young monastic that he decided to go forth.
He was ordained in 2009 by the most Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw and began to train under Ven. U Mangala. He is fluent in both English and Mandarin. Currently he is assistant teacher to Ven. U Kañcana in Tusita Hermitage (Kuching), teaching meditation to monks, nuns and laity.
Below is the recording of 1st session guided meditation by Ven. Buddharakkhita on Thursday, 10 Aug 2017:
Ven. Dhammavuddho Mahathera
Ven. Dhammavuddho Mahathera was the abbot of Vihara Buhhha Gotama. As a layman, he graduated from the University Malaya in 1971 and worked as an Electrical Engineer with the Public Works Department. In 1983, he went forth into the homeless life in the Mahayana tradition. Three years later, he was reordained in the Theravada tradition in Thailand. Thereafter, he spent about 10 years living the solitary lifestyle in quiet places.
He has written numerous booklets on Buddhism, e.g. Return to the Original Buddha's Teachings, Message of the Buddha, Buddhist Monk's Precepts, Liberation: Relevance of Sutta-Vinaya, Only We Can Help Ourselves, etc. His talks in English, Hokkien/Fujian, Cantonese, span the years 1988 - 2013. The 5 Nikayas in English, Hokkien Angguttara Nikaya, Samyutta Nikaya, Majjhima Nikaya; as well as other talks have been recorded in audio and video. In 1998 he established the Vihara Buddha Gotama, a 15-acre piece of land outside Temoh, Perak. In 2012, he consented to be on the Monastic Advisory Panel of the Theravāda Buddhist Council of Malaysia (TBCM).
Luang Por Liem
Luang Por Liem Ṭhitadhammo is a Buddhist monk in the Thai Forest Tradition. He was born in Sri Saket Province in the Northeast of Thailand on the 5th of November 1941. After higher ordination at twenty years of age, Luang Por practised in several village monasteries throughout the Northeast until he joined the Forest Tradition in 1969. He took up the training under Luang Pu Chah, who later became one of the most famous monks in the country, and whose reputation and influence has continued to spread throughout the world, even today. Living under Luang Pu Chah’s guidance in Wat Nong Pah Pong in Ubon Province, Luang Por Liem soon became one of his closest disciples. After Luang Pu Chah became severely ill in 1982, he entrusted Luang Por Liem to lead the monastery. Shortly thereafter, as Luang Pu Chah’s illness prevented him from speaking, the Sangha of Wat Nong Pah Pong appointed Luang Por Liem to take over the abbotship. He fulfils this duty up to the present day, keeping the heritage of Luang Pu Chah’s Dhamma and characteristic ways of monastic training available for monks, nuns and lay disciples.
Luang Por Sumedho
Luang Por Ajahn Sumedho (born Robert Kan Jackman, July 27, 1934, Seattle) is the senior Western representative of the Thai forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism. He was abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, UK, from its consecration in 1984 until his retirement in 2010. Luang Por means Venerable Father, an honorific and term of affection in keeping with Thai custom; ajahn means teacher. A bhikkhu for 45 years, Sumedho is considered a seminal figure in the transmission of the Buddha's teachings to the West.
Luang Por Amaro
Born in England in 1956, Ven. Amaro Bhikkhu received a BSc. in Psychology and Physiology from the University of London. Spiritual searching led him to Thailand, where he went to Wat Pah Nanachat, a Forest Tradition monastery established for Western disciples of Thai meditation master Ajahn Chah, who ordained him as a bhikkhu in 1979. Soon afterwards he returned to England and joined Ajahn Sumedho at the newly established Chithurst Monastery. He resided for many years at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, making trips to California every year during the 1990s.
In June 1996 he established Abhayagiri Monastery in Redwood Valley, California, where he was co-Abbot with Ajahn Pasanno until 2010. He then returned to Amaravati to become Abbot of this large monastic community.
Venerable Sayadaw U Indaka
Venerable Sayadaw was born on October 5 in 1952 in Upper Burma. As a young man he came to the local monastery to become a novice. Later he went to the famous Mahagandhayon monastery in Amarapura where his older brother was. In 1972 he was ordained by Ven. Mahagandhayon Sayadaw. He studied the Buddhist scriptures and finally took and passed the Dhammacariya-Exam. After that he taught the Buddhist scriptures for ten years.In 1976 he practiced Vipassana meditation in the Mahasi Meditation Centre in Mandalay where he was taught by Ven. Chanmyay Sayadaw. Some years later he went to the Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation Centre in Yangon, where he was commissioned to teach meditation. In 1996 Ven. Chanmyay Sayadaw sent him as a teacher and abbot to the new Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation centre in Hmawbi.Since 2004 he lives in his meditation centre in the suburbs of Yangon and teaches people from Burma and from abroad alike.
Ven. Ajahn Anan Akiñcano
Ven. Ajahn Anan Akiñcano took ordination under Ven. Ajahn Chah in 1975. He spent the next four years diligently practicing meditation and acting as Ven. Ajahn Chah’s personal attendent, allowing him to develop a close connection with his teacher.
After this intensive training period he sought out more secluded and dangerous places to further his meditation. In 1984 he settled in the dense forest of Rayong, establishing the monastery that came to be known as Wat Marp Jan. The early years there were difficult and on multiple occasions Ajahn Anan faced bouts of malaria that took him close to death.
Today, his reputation as a meditation master has grown, along with the number of monks coming to practice under him to seek his guidance. He is responsible for looking after more than ten branch monasteries and well over 100 monks.
Ven. Ajahn Dtun
Ven. Ajahn Dtun is considered to be one of the greatest living meditation masters in Thailand. Renowned for his gentle demeanour and deep wisdom, Ven. Ajahn Dtun has always had an impeccable reputation as a well-practised monk in the Ajahn Chah Tradition. Even as a junior monk, there was a buzz among the monks regarding Ven. Ajahn Dtun due to his dedication to practise and an aura of calm and clarity around him.
Born in 1955 in Ayutthaya, Thailand, Ven. Ajahn Dtun was raised in Bangkok. After completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, he decided to become a monk at Wat Nong Pah Pong with Ven. Ajahn Chah as his preceptor. Presently, Ven. Ajahn Dtun is the Abbot of Wat Boonyawad in Chonburi, Thailand. Wat Boonyawad has grown from being a hermitage of a few monks to a large monastery with close to fifty monks training under the guidance of Ven. Ajahn Dtun.
Ven. Ajahn Nyanadhammo
Ven. Ajahn Nyanadhammo was born in Adelaide, Australia in 1955 and studied biology at university. His contact with the Dhamma via reading a Buddhist book eventually drove him to Thailand to receive his novice ordination in 1978 at Wat Bowon Niwet Wiharn in Bangkok.
Full ordination followed in 1979 at the age of 24, under Ven. Ajahn Chah at Wat Nong Pah Pong in Ubon Ratchathani province. In 2002, he became the abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, a branch monastery of Wat Nong Pah Pong with an international community of English speaking monks. In 2007, he became abbot of Wat Ratanawan, where he is currently residing.
Below is a video of Dhamma talk by Ven. Ajahn Nyandhammo