Ven. U Buddharakkhita

Introduction

Venerable U Buddharakkhita is a respected meditation teacher and a significant figure within the Tusita Hermitage community. Born in Penang, he transitioned into the monastic life after a successful lay career, driven by a profound experience in intensive meditation. Known for his clarity in teaching and his bilingual fluency in English and Mandarin, he serves as a vital bridge for practitioners seeking to master the intricate Samatha and Vipassana techniques of the Pa-Auk tradition.

The Call to Renunciation

The spiritual turning point for Venerable U Buddharakkhita occurred in 2008. While attending a short meditation retreat at Tusita Hermitage in Kuching, he was deeply moved by the teachings of Venerable U Maṅgala and the inspiring examples of the young, dedicated monastics there. This encounter sparked a decisive shift in his life’s direction, leading him to renounce the householder life.

In 2009, he received full ordination from the Most Venerable Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw, one of the world's foremost masters of meditation. Under the rigorous guidance of his mentor, Ven. U Maṅgala, he began his training in the "forest style" of the Pa-Auk lineage, which emphasizes deep concentration (Jhana) as a foundation for insight.

Service at Tusita Hermitage

Venerable U Buddharakkhita’s dedication and aptitude for the Dhamma led him to assume significant responsibilities within the Sangha. He currently serves as the Assistant Teacher to Venerable U Kañcana at Tusita Hermitage in Kuching.

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Below is the recording of  1st session guided meditation by Ven. U Buddharakkhita on Thursday, 10 Aug 2017:

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Luang Por Pasanno

Introduction

Luang Por Pasanno is a highly revered senior monastic in the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah. With over 50 years of monastic experience, he is a primary figure in the establishment of the Forest Sangha in both Thailand and the West. Known for his profound calm and clear, practical Dhamma reflections, Luang Por Pasanno served as the Abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat for 15 years and later founded Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in California. In 2019, he was conferred the royal title of Chao Khun Phra Rajabodhivides by the King of Thailand in recognition of his significant contributions to the Dhamma.

Early Life and Training in Thailand

Born in Manitoba, Canada, Luang Por Pasanno’s spiritual search led him to Thailand in the early 1970s. He took full ordination as a Bhikkhu in 1974 at Wat Sahadhamma Katika in Phetchaburi.

During his first year as a monk, his preceptor took him to meet Ajahn Chah at Wat Nong Pah Pong. Deeply inspired by the master's presence, Luang Por Pasanno requested permission to stay and train within the community. He became one of the early residents of Wat Pah Nanachat (The International Forest Monastery), which was established specifically to accommodate the growing number of Westerners seeking monastic training in the forest tradition.

Leadership at Wat Pah Nanachat

In his ninth year of monastic life, Luang Por Pasanno was appointed the Abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat. Under his leadership, the monastery flourished and its reputation grew internationally as a center for authentic forest practice. During his 15-year incumbency, he oversaw the training of countless monastics and became a widely respected Dhamma teacher throughout Thailand, known for his fluency in the Thai language and his deep understanding of the forest lifestyle.

Establishing Abhayagiri in the West

After 24 years of living and practicing in Thailand, Luang Por Pasanno moved to California on New Year’s Eve of 1997. He joined Ajahn Amaro as Co-Abbot to establish Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Redwood Valley. This was the first monastery in the United States to be established in the direct lineage of Ajahn Chah.

When Ajahn Amaro was invited to lead Amaravati Monastery in the UK in 2010, Luang Por Pasanno served as the sole Abbot of Abhayagiri for the next eight years, guiding the community through significant physical and spiritual growth.

Guiding Elder and Sabbaticals

In the spring of 2018, after more than four decades of continuous administrative and leadership duties, Luang Por Pasanno stepped back from the role of Abbot. He entered a year-long sabbatical, practicing in various forest monasteries abroad to deepen his own meditation.

Upon his return, he transitioned into the role of Guiding Elder (or Anchor of Wisdom). While the administrative leadership of Abhayagiri is now held by Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Luang Por Pasanno continues to reside at the monastery as a source of guidance, providing invaluable mentorship to the Sangha and the lay community.

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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

Introduction

Venerable Khai Zhao is a compassionate pillar of the Malaysian Buddhist community, widely recognized for his fearless and dedicated service to those in society’s darkest corners. Born in Ipoh, Perak, he has spent over three decades in the robes, primarily known for his pioneering Dhamma work within the prison system. His teachings emphasize the transformative power of forgiveness and the possibility of finding inner freedom even within the walls of a prison cell.

Monastic Training and Education

Venerable Khai Zhao’s spiritual journey began in 1987 when he received his ordination under the Most Venerable Boon Kian at the Ang Hock Si Temple in Penang—the same temple where other notable Malaysian monks, such as Ajahn Cagino, began their paths.

Seeking a solid foundation in Buddhist philosophy, he enrolled in the Malaysia Buddhist College in Penang. Following his graduation, he did not seek a comfortable life in a large monastery but instead chose a path of intense social and spiritual service.

The Prison Ministry: A Voice for the Forgotten

In 1998, Venerable Khai Zhao began a mission that would define his monastic career: teaching the Dhamma in local prisons. He became one of the few monastics willing to provide spiritual counseling and guidance to death penalty inmates.

His work in the prison system focuses on:

• The "Final Journey": Helping death row inmates find peace, repentance, and spiritual refuge in their final days.

• Transformative Counseling: Guiding prisoners to understand the karmic consequences of their actions while showing them the path to mental liberation.

• Expanding the Reach: Since 2006, he has expanded his mission beyond Malaysia, traveling abroad to share his experiences and establish prison Dhamma programs in other countries.

Dhamma School Puja Assembly

Luang Por Thoon

Introduction

Most Venerable Luang Por Thoon is one of the "Old Guard" disciples of the legendary Ajahn Chah. As one of the very first batch of monks to ordain and train at Wat Nong Pah Pong, he represents the root energy of the Forest Tradition. For over 55 years, he has lived a life of rigorous simplicity and deep meditative inquiry. He is particularly revered for his unwavering commitment to the original standards (Patipada) set by his teacher and for his role in establishing one of the earliest branch monasteries in the lineage.

Early Training: The First Generation

Luang Por Thoon’s monastic journey began at the very heart of the Ajahn Chah movement. He was among the pioneering group of disciples who helped build Wat Nong Pah Pong from a wild, malaria-ridden forest into a world-renowned center of practice.

He spent nine years in close proximity to Ajahn Chah, serving him personally and absorbing the Dhamma through the "osmosis" of daily life. This period was characterized by:

• Severe Austerity: Practising with minimal requisites to break the mind's attachment to comfort.

• Direct Instruction: Receiving personal guidance from Ajahn Chah during the formative years of the lineage.

• Communal Labour: Learning that "work is practice," a hallmark of the Wat Nong Pah Pong style.

Abbot of Wat Pah Tam Seng (The 5th Branch)

Recognizing Luang Por Thoon's spiritual maturity and leadership capacity, Ajahn Chah appointed him to lead Wat Pah Tam Seng. Established 45 years ago, it holds a place of high honour as the 5th branch monastery of Wat Nong Pah Pong.

Under Luang Por Thoon’s guidance, Wat Pah Tam Seng has remained a sanctuary for those seeking the traditional "Forest Way." He has presided over the monastery for four decades, maintaining a stable and peaceful environment for generations of monks and laypeople.