Ajahn Jayasāro
Theravāda Buddhist monk (born 1958)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ajahn Jayasāro (born 7 January 1958) is a British and Thai Buddhist monk in the Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah.
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7 January 1958
- United Kingdom
- Thailand
Ajahn Jayasāro | |
|---|---|
Ajahn Jayasāro in 2018 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Shaun Michael Chiverton 7 January 1958 Isle of Wight, England |
| Citizenship |
|
| Notable work(s) | Stillness Flowing: The Life and Teachings of Ajahn Chah (2017) |
| Website | jayasaro.panyaprateep.org |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Order | Mahā Nikāya |
| School | Theravāda |
| Lineage | Thai Forest Tradition |
| Dharma name | Jayasāro ชยสาโร |
| Ordination |
|
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Ajahn Chah (upajjhāya) |
| Based in | Ban Rai Thosi, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima |
| Previous post | Abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat (1997–2002) |
Biography
Jayasāro was born Shaun Michael Chiverton on 7 January 1958 on the Isle of Wight in England.[1][2][3] After finishing school and working to earn some money, he spent a number of years travelling, making his way overland from England to India. Upon his return, he attended a ten-day course at a vipassanā mediation centre. The centre had been founded by an Englishman who had been a monk in the Thai Forest Tradition. In the evenings, he gave Dhamma talks in which he described his experiences as a monk in Thailand, and these talks inspired Jayasāro to become a monk himself.[4]
In 1978, he joined Ajahn Sumedho's community at Oaken Holt, Oxford, for the rains retreat (vassa) as an anagārika.[2][4] In November of that year, he travelled to Thailand, where he became a disciple of Ajahn Chah at Wat Nong Pah Pong.[2] His lower ordination (pabbajjā) as a novice monk (sāmaṇera) took place in the early part of 1980, and he received higher ordination (upasampadā) as a bhikkhu on 3 June 1980, at the age of 22, with Ajahn Chah as his preceptor (upajjhāya).[5][1]
From 1997 to 2002, he was the abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat.[2][5][1][6]
In 2017, he published a biography of Ajahn Chah entitled Stillness Flowing.[7]
In 2019, he was honoured with a royal title from King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X).[8] On 9 March 2020, he was granted Thai citizenship by royal decree.[9][10]
On 12 July 2026, he was elevated to the rank of Somdet Phra Rachakhana and awarded the title of Somdet Phra Maha Phatcharayanamuni. He is the first foreign-born monk in the history of Thailand to hold the rank of Somdet Phra Rachakhana.[1]
Since 2003, he has lived in a hermitage in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima, near Khao Yai National Park. The hermitage is sometimes referred to as Ban Rai Thosi and sometimes as Janamāra.[2][1][11][5][7]: xvi
Thai honorific ranks
- 28 July 2019 – Phra Rat Phatcharamanit Phisitthammakhunsunthon Mahakhanitson Bowonsangkharam Khammawasi (พระราชพัชรมานิต พิสิฐธรรมคุณสุนทร มหาคณิสสร บวรสังฆาราม คามวาสี)[12][8]
- 17 July 2020 – Phra Thep Phatcharayanamuni Wipatsanawithikoson Wimonphawanaworakit Mahakhanitson Bowonsangkharam Khammawasi (พระเทพพัชรญาณมุนี วิปัสสนาวิธีโกศล วิมลภาวนาวรกิจ มหาคณิสสร บวรสังฆาราม คามวาสี)[13]
- 7 July 2021 – Phra Tham Phatcharayanamuni Silachansuwimon Kosonkitchanukit Mahakhanitson Bowonsangkharam Khammawasi Aranyawasi (พระธรรมพัชรญาณมุนี ภาวนาวิธีสุวิธาน สีลาจารสุวิมล โกศลกิจจานุกิจ มหาคณิสสร บวรสังฆาราม คามวาสี)[14]
- 12 May 2024 – Phra Phrom Phatcharayanamuni Siwipatsanathurachan Phaisanwithetsatsanakit Wisitsilachandilok Sathokthammawichit Mahakhanitson Bowonsangkharam Khammawasi Aranyawasi (พระพรหมพัชรญาณมุนี ศรีวิปัสสนาธุราจารย์ ไพศาลวิเทศศาสนกิจ วิสิฐศีลาจารดิลก สาธกธรรมวิจิตร มหาคณิสสร บวรสังฆาราม คามวาสี)[15]
- 12 July 2026 – Somdet Phra Maha Phatcharayanamuni Siwipatsanaphawanaphoson Sophonthammanusit Wichitthammapatiphan Phaisanwithetkitthada Susilachanwatsunthon Mahakhanitson Bowonsangkharam Khammawasi Aranyawasi (สมเด็จพระมหาพัชรญาณมุนี ศรีวิปัสสนาภาวนาโภศล โสภณธรรมานุสิฐ วิจิตรธรรมปฏิภาณ ไพศาลวิเทศกิจธาดา สุสีลาจารวัตรสุนทร มหาคณิสสร บวรสังฆาราม คามวาสี อรัญวาสี)[11][1]
Notable works
- Letting Go Within Action (2006)
- On Love (2010)
- Daughters and Sons (2011)
- Mindfulness, Precepts and Crashing in the Same Car (2011)
- Seen in Their True Light (2012)
- Without and Within: Questions and Answers on the Teachings of Theravāda Buddhism (2013)
- Skilful Desires (2014)
- Stillness Flowing: The Life and Teachings of Ajahn Chah (2017)
- From Heart and Hand (2017)
- From Heart and Hand: Vol. II (2019)
- From Heart and Hand: Vol. III (2022)