The quiet root of the forest tradition: a monk of very few words who took to the forests of the northeast, kept the ascetic practices, and taught by what he had become — above all, to Ajahn Mun.
Ubon Ratchathani, northeast Thailand
The teachers
Those who walked it before us
The Thai forest tradition began early in the twentieth century with two wandering monks of the northeast, Ajahn Sao and Ajahn Mun. Their students, and their students' students, carried it across Thailand and around the world.
With his teacher Ajahn Sao, the founder of the Thai forest tradition. After decades of wandering practice in the forests and mountains, he trained nearly every great forest master of the next generation.
Wat Pa Suddhavasa, Sakon Nakhon
One of Thailand's most influential Buddhist thinkers: the monk who founded Suan Mokkh, the Garden of Liberation, and spent sixty years calling the teaching back to its heart.
Suan Mokkhabalārāma (Suan Mokkh), Chaiya, Surat Thani
A disciple of Ajahn Mun and a master of breath meditation, whose clear, practical instructions are still among the finest guides to concentration ever written.
Wat Asokaram, Samut Prakan
Ajahn Mun's close disciple and biographer, and for many years the senior teacher of the forest tradition — known for the fierce clarity of his teaching.
Wat Pa Baan Taad, Udon Thani
The forest master whose simple, direct teaching reached the whole world: founder of Wat Nong Pah Pong, of more than two hundred branch monasteries, and of the first forest monastery for Westerners.
Wat Nong Pah Pong, Ubon Ratchathani
Ajahn Chah's first Western disciple to teach, and the monk who brought the forest tradition to Europe: founding abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, Chithurst, and Amaravati.
Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, England
Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu
born 1949
American abbot of Metta Forest Monastery and one of the great translators of our time, who has put close to a thousand suttas into careful English — all offered free.
Metta Forest Monastery, California
Ajahn Jayasāro
born 1958
An English disciple of Ajahn Chah, former abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, and the author of Stillness Flowing, the fullest account of Ajahn Chah's life and teaching.
Wat Pah Nanachat (abbot, 1997–2002)