Ajahn Pasanno

Ajahn Pasanno
Ajahn Pasanno at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, September 2013
(Photo by Brian Carniello)
Personal
Born
Reed Perry

(1949-07-26) July 26, 1949 (age 75)
ReligionBuddhism
SchoolTheravada, Maha Nikaya
LineageForest Tradition of Ajahn Chah
EducationUniversity of Winnipeg, Canada, Bachelor of Arts (History)
Dharma namesPasanno
OccupationBuddhist monk
Senior posting
TeacherVen. Ajahn Chah
Based inAbhayagiri Monastery, Redwood Valley, California, US
Websiteabhayagiri.org

Ajahn Pasanno (born Reed Perry, Manitoba, Canada, July 26, 1949) is the most senior Western disciple of Ven. Ajahn Chah in the United States, and most senior in the world after Ajahn Sumedho and Ajahn Khemadhammo.[1] For many years he was the abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat International Forest Monastery in Northeast Thailand. In the late 1990s, Ajahn Pasanno moved to California to head the new Abhayagiri Monastery. With more than 40 years as a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk), Ajahn Pasanno has been instrumental in training many monks in Thailand and the United States and has been supportive of training for women.[2]

On December 5, 2015, at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo) in Bangkok, Ajahn Pasanno received the honorary ecclesiastical title “Chao Khun” and name “Phra Bodhinyanavidesa” from the Crown Prince of Thailand, on behalf of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.[3] The title “Chao Khun” is given periodically to monks in the Thai tradition who have distinguished themselves with their contributions to the monastic tradition. This high honour is particularly significant as Western monks are rarely awarded this special recognition.

  1. ^ "An Interview With Ajahn Pasanno", Fearless Mountain Magazine. Retrieved on September 19, 2013.
  2. ^ "Update on the Saranaloka Nuns’ Community", Board of Directors of the Saranaloka Foundation. Retrieved on September 19, 2013.
  3. ^ ""Mudita Ceremony for Ajahn Pasanno Jan 24"". Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2016.