Ajahn Jayasaro, a prominent British-born Buddhist monk ordained in the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah, has become the first foreign-born monk in Thailand’s history to be elevated to the senior monastic rank of Somdet Phra Rachakhana.
King Vajiralongkorn elevated eight senior monks to the second-highest rank in Thailand’s nine-tier monastic hierarchy, below only the supreme patriarch, by royal decree announced on 14 July.
Ajahn Jayasaro, previously known formally as Phra Phrom Phatcharayanmuni, has received the new monastic title of Somdet Phra Maha Phatcharayanmuni.
The announcement in the Royal Gazette stated that the honors were granted in recognition of the monks’ exemplary conduct and significant contributions to Buddhism.
Ajahn Jayasaro was born Shaun Chiverton in England in 1958. After traveling to Thailand to study Buddhism, he became a disciple of the renowned Thai master Ajahn Chah (Phra Bodhinyanathera) at Wat Nong Pah Pong in Ubon Ratchathani Province in 1978, and was ordained as a novice monk in early 1980. He received full ordination in June 1980, with Ajahn Chah as his preceptor.
After completing five years of monastic training, Ajahn Jayasaro undertook forest wandering and solitary meditation until the Vassa three-month annual retreat in 1986, after which he mainly stayed at Wat Pah Nanachat, the international branch monastery of Wat Nong Pah Pong.
Ajahn Jayasaro served deputy abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat from 1986–96, and as abbot from 1997–2002.
Over the decades, Ajahn Jayasaro has earned renown for his knowledge of the Dhamma and his work to share the Buddha’s teachings in Thailand and around the world.
In 2011, Ajahn Jayasaro received an honorary doctorate in Buddhist Communications from Thailand’s Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. He was granted honorary Thai citizenship by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 in recognition of his contributions to Buddhism. In 2024, he was awarded the rank of deputy Somdet Phra Ratchakhana under the title Phra Phrom Phatcharayanamuni.
Ajahn Jayasaro has written several books on Buddhism in Thai and in English, including a detailed account of Ajahn Chah’s life and teachings titled Uppalamani.
Thailand is a predominantly Theravada Buddhist country, with 92.5 per cent of the nation’s population of 69 million identifying as Buddhists, according to data for 2021 published by the US Department of State. Muslims make up 5.4 per cent and Christians 1.2 per cent. The Southeast Asian kingdom has 44,195 officially registered temples, including 311 royal temples, and roughly 300,000 Buddhist monks. While communities of female renunciants also exist, including fully ordained female monks, the monastic authorities in Thailand have yet to officially recognize the full ordination of women.
See more
Ajahn Jayasaro becomes first foreign-born Somdet (Bangkok Post)
King elevates Ajahn Jayasaro as Thailand’s first foreign-born Somdet monk (The Nation)
เปิดประวัติ พระพรหมพัชรญาณมุนี หรือ “เจ้าคุณฌอน” สมเด็จฯ ต่างชาติองค์แรก (ไทยรัฐ)
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