Ven. Ajahn Dton

Ajahn Maha Dton Dhirapanno, also known as Dhirapanno Bhikkhu or Phra Maha Keyrati Srivuthana, is a respected Thai Forest Tradition teacher born in Chonburi, Thailand, in 1967.

After completing his medical education in Thailand, Ajahn Dton pursued advanced studies in paediatrics at the American Board of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Michigan under a scholarship provided by the Thai government from 1994 to 1997. During this period, he was recognized for his dedication and warmth, earning him the Best of Hospitality award.

Following the completion of his PhD, Ajahn Dton embarked on a meditation retreat in the United States under the guidance of Ajahn Jayasaro, the abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat. It was during this retreat that Ajahn Dton, then still a layperson, discovered the fulfillment he sought in the monastic life.

Returning to Thailand, Ajahn Dton took his monastic vows at Wat Pah Nanachat. His commitment and diligence led him to complete an advanced Buddhist course, earning him the distinguished title of "Maha," signifying proficiency in Grade 3 Pali studies.

Currently, Ajahn Maha Dton Dhirapanno serves as a Buddhist adviser and meditation instructor for hospitals, government departments, and schools in the vicinity of Wat Pah Bun Lom. He is also the co-abbot of Wat Pah Boon Lorm in Ubon, Thailand, and has conducted Dhamma talks and retreats both in Thailand and internationally.

As a visiting monastic at the Bandar Utama Buddhist Society (BUBS), Ajahn Dton continues to share his wisdom and insights with our community, inspiring us on our path towards spiritual growth and living compassionately.

Luang Pu Somboon Kantasilo

Phrathepvatcharayanvetee, or Luang Pu Somboon Kantasilo, was born on December 9, 1940, in Nai Subdistrict, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand, to parents Mr. Sum and Mrs. Pang Somunjarn. At the age of 84, with 52 vassa/rains, he has devoted his life to spiritual practice, teaching, and community service.

Ordained on March 24, 1972, at Wat Srichan, Luang Pu Somboon Kantasilo's journey in the Buddhist monastic life began with studying Dhamma under the guidance of Phra Acharn Fun Acharo at Wat Pa Udomsomporn, Phanna Nikhom District, for 5 years. He later pursued further studies with Luang Pu Chob and embarked on a 12-year pilgrimage in the forests of Phu Ruea District.

In 1989, Luang Pu Somboon Kantasilo founded Wat Pa Somboontham, where he continues to serve as a spiritual leader and teacher. His dedication to improving the lives of others extends beyond spiritual guidance, as he actively engages in philanthropic endeavours such as the construction of Pak Chom Hospital in Pak Chom District, Loei Province.

Luang Pu Somboon Kantasilo's life and work embody the core values of Buddhism, demonstrating his commitment to the well-being of his community and fostering spiritual growth in those who seek his guidance. His legacy serves as an inspiration for monks and laypeople alike, illustrating the transformative power of selflessness, devotion, and compassion.

Ven. Ajahn Achalo

Ajahn Achalo was born in Brisbane Australia in 1972. He developed a keen interest in meditation at the age of twenty and a year later left for Thailand to study Buddhism more intently.  After a two year period practising in various centres and monasteries, in 1996 Ajahn Achalo ordained as a Theravada Bhikkhu (monk) under Ajahn Liem at Wat Nong Pah Pong, the monastery founded by venerable Ajahn Chah. Although most of his training has taken place in Thailand, Ajahn Achalo has also lived in several international Forest Monasteries in the Ajahn Chah lineage.  

Ajahn Achalo is deeply grateful for his many opportunities to study with well-practiced monks as well as for having been able to train in several traditional contexts, including meditation monasteries, remote forests, and periods on pilgrimage. During his years of training, he has received personal guidance from many remarkable teachers, among them, Ajahn Sumedho, Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Jayasaro and Ajahn Kalyano. For most of his Bhikkhu life, he has considered Tan Ajahn Anan, abbot of Wat Marp Jan, to be his principal mentor. In addition, he has found the Dalai Lama's instructions and example to be of tremendous value.

via www.peacebeyondsuffering.org (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Tan Chao Khun Samai

Tan Chao Khun Mahā Samai Sukhasamiddho was born in Laos in 1943. After migration to Bangkok, he was ordained as novice in 1957. His full ordination took place in June 1963. During his time as young novice and young monk he completed his Dhamma studies at the advanced level and Pali Language at level 5. Before being admitted to study at the University level, he took another three years to do the secular studies. He was graduated from Mahamakut University in 1972. After taking one year course of training for Buddhist Missionary overseas, he was sent together with the most senior meditation teacher Luang Pu Boonyarith to Sydney to look after the newly established Buddhist center in 1974. 

As a reward for his long and good service to the Buddhist Community in Australia, Tan Chao Khun Samai has been given the new titles four times in the last 42 years. His current title is Phra Thepsilaporn.

Each time the new title has been conferred upon him by the King of Thailand on his birthday, the 5th of December.  Moreover, Mahamakut University has conferred upon him PhD Honorary Degree in May 2003 in acknowledging his long service in spreading Buddhism. 

Tan Chao Khun Samai assumed the position as the leader of the Dhammayutta Sangha in Australia and New Zealand in 1998. He currently serves as a spiritual advisor to the Dhammayutta Sangha Council, and is the Abbot of Wat Pa Buddharangsee in Leumeah, NSW.

Ven. Ajahn Jutindharo

Ajahn Jutindharo grew up in Leeds. At university, he became interested in meditation and Buddhism, which culminated in a decision to join a Buddhist monastic order in 1987. His monastic life has been spent primarily in Britain, with short periods in Asia. Since 2007, he has been abbot of Hartridge Monastery in Devon, England.

Ven. Ajahn Keng

Chao Khun Keng Khemako is a Singaporean monk of the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Mun Buridatto. He is commonly known as “Ajahn Keng”. He was ordained in 1987 under the recommendation of Ajahn Geoffrey (Thanissaro Bhikkhu). One of his main teachers was Luang Pu Jiak Cundo, the first generation disciples of Ajahn Mun disciples. He received the title of Chao Khun in 2012. Currently, Ajahn Keng is the Abbot of Santi Forest Monastery (JB) and the Abbot of a hill-tribes forest monastery in Om Koi, Chiangmai , President of Palelai Buddhist Temple (Singapore).

Ven. Ajahn Ṭhānissaro

Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffrey DeGraff) is an American Buddhist monk of the Kammatthana (Thai Forest) Tradition. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1971 with a degree in European Intellectual History, he travelled to Thailand, where he studied meditation under Ajaan Fuang Jotiko, himself a student of the late Ajaan Lee. He was ordained in 1976 and lived at Wat Dhammasathit, where he remained following his teacher’s death in 1986. In 1991 he travelled to the hills of San Diego County, USA, where he helped Ajaan Suwat Suvaco establish Metta Forest Monastery. He was made abbot of the Monastery in 1993.

Ven. Ajahn Vajiro

Ven. Ajahn Vajiro was born in Malaysia in 1953. He met  Ven. Ajahn Chah and Ven. Ajahn Sumedho at the Hampstead Vihara in 1977. He joined the community in London in 1978. In 1979 he went to Wat Pah Nanchat and received upasampadā  from Ven. Ajahn Chah at Wat Pah Pong in 1980. Ven. Ajahn Vajiro returned to England in 1984, and assisted with the establishment of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. He lived in the monasteries in the UK for many years and then went to New Zealand followed by Australia. He returned to Amaravati in 2001 and for most of this century has lived there. He has been invited to lead a community in Portugal where it is hoped that a monastery may grow.

Ven. Ajahn Jayanto

Born in Boston in 1967, Ven. Ajahn Jayanto grew up in Newton and attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, during which time a period of world travel kindled a great interest in the spiritual life. A meditation class at the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center led him to live for a while at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, where he made plans to join the monastic community of Luang Por Sumedho as a postulant at  Amaravati Monastery in England in 1989. Taking bhikkhu (monk) ordination at the related Cittaviveka Monastery in 1991, he trained there and at Aruna Ratanagiri Monastery until 1997, at which point he embarked on a period of practice in Thailand and other Asian Buddhist countries.

He returned to the UK in 2006, where he lived at Amaravati until moving to Temple in 2014. Since 2009 Ven. Ajahn Jayanto has helped to lead the efforts to establish a branch monastery in New England, and he now serves as abbot of Temple Forest Monastery.

Āyasmā Rāhula

Āyasmā  Rāhula has lived in Asia for the last 21 years in different periods where he has practised and studied the Dhamma.

Ayasma was ordained in Myanmar with the most Venerable Sayadaw Dr. Nandamālābhivaṃsa. Since 2004 Ayasma has received meditation guidance from Sayadaw U Tejaniya and has studied Suttas and Abhidhamma with Sayadaw Dr Ukkamsacara.

In 2019 Āyasmā completed a course on Buddhist scriptures from Harvard University.

Āyasmā continues his training in Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary in Malaysia under the guidance of Ven. Ariyadhammika.

Āyasmā has offered weekly courses on the anatomy of the mind (applied Abhidhamma) in English and Spanish followed online by students in more than 15 countries.

Āyasmā continues introducing and propagating the Buddha’s teaching in South America, assisting in programs to aid parts of the society in the freedom from drug addiction and alcoholism, and supporting educational campaigns to prevent them.

Below are a few Dhamma talks by Āyasmā given in BUBS.

Ven. Ajahn Kittisobhāņo (Bhante Huat Poh)

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.