Luang Por Nyanadhammo

Introduction

Most Venerable Luang Por Nyanadhammo is a highly esteemed senior monk in the Thai Forest Tradition and a direct disciple of the legendary Ajahn Chah. With nearly 50 years in the robes, he is recognized for his profound mastery of the Dhamma, his skill in meditation, and his fluent command of the Thai language, which has allowed him to bridge the gap between Eastern forest wisdom and Western practitioners. He currently serves as the Abbot of Wat Ratanawan, a secluded forest monastery located at the edge of Khao Yai National Park.

From Biology to the Buddha's Path

Born in Adelaide, Australia, in 1955, Luang Por Nyanadhammo's spiritual journey began during his university years while studying biology. His scientific inquiry into the nature of life eventually led him to the Buddha’s teachings. Inspired by what he read, he traveled to Thailand in 1978 to seek a more authentic way of living.

He received his novice ordination at Wat Bowon Niwet Wiharn in Bangkok from Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara (the late Supreme Patriarch of Thailand). In 1979, at the age of 24, he received full Bhikkhu ordination from Ajahn Chah at Wat Nong Pah Pong, becoming part of the historic first generation of Westerners to train in the heart of the Northeast Thai jungles.

The Life of a Jungle Monk

Following his ordination, Luang Por spent many years as a wandering monk (Tudong). He traveled to the most remote corners of Thailand, staying in secluded caves and mountaintop monasteries to refine his meditation practice. During this period, he sought out and studied under many of the great living forest masters of the time, absorbing the "Standard" of the Forest Tradition—a lifestyle of relentless mindfulness, simplicity, and endurance.

Leadership and Service

Luang Por Nyanadhammo has held several significant leadership roles within the Ajahn Chah lineage:

• Australia (1994–2002): Served as the Deputy Abbot to Ajahn Brahm at Bodhinyana Monastery, where he was instrumental in supporting the growing Australian Sangha.

• Wat Pah Nanachat (2002–2007): He returned to Thailand to serve as the Abbot of the International Forest Monastery, guiding a diverse community of monks from all over the world.

• Wat Ratanawan (2007–Present): He was invited to lead Wat Ratanawan in Korat province. Under his guidance, the monastery has become a renowned sanctuary for serious practice, known for its strict adherence to the forest way and its deep natural silence.

Luang Por Dtun

Introduction

Luang Por Dtun is widely considered one of the most significant living meditation masters in Thailand today. A direct disciple of the legendary Ajahn Chah, he is revered for his impeccable conduct (Sila), his profound meditative insights, and a remarkably gentle demeanor that masks a powerful and unwavering dedication to the Dhamma. His life and teachings serve as a beacon for both monastics and laypeople seeking the path to inner liberation.

Early Life and Renunciation

Born in 1955 in the historic province of Ayutthaya, Luang Por Dtun was raised in the bustling environment of Bangkok. Despite his urban upbringing and his success in academia—completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics—he felt a powerful pull toward the spiritual life from a young age.

In his mid-twenties, he chose to leave behind a promising worldly career to seek the truth of the Buddha’s teachings. He traveled to Northeast Thailand to ordain at Wat Nong Pah Pong, where he was accepted as a disciple by Ajahn Chah, who served as his preceptor.

A Reputation for Excellence

Even during his early years as a junior monk, Luang Por Dtun’s practice was a subject of quiet awe among his peers. He was noted for his extraordinary diligence, often spending entire nights in walking and sitting meditation. His fellow monks frequently remarked on the distinct aura of calm and clarity that surrounded him, a testament to his deep concentration and purity of heart.

Under Ajahn Chah’s guidance, he mastered the fundamentals of the forest tradition, emphasizing the integration of strict monastic discipline with the constant investigation of the mind.

Establishing Wat Boonyawad

After years of intensive practice in the remote forests of Thailand, Luang Por Dtun was eventually invited to lead a small hermitage in Chonburi. Under his compassionate leadership, this humble site evolved into Wat Boonyawad, now one of the most prominent and respected training monasteries in the country.

Today, Wat Boonyawad is home to approximately fifty monks. Despite the monastery's size, Luang Por Dtun maintains a rigorous standard of practice, ensuring that the environment remains dedicated to silence, meditation, and the authentic forest lifestyle established by his teacher.

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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