Ajahn ( th, อาจารย์, , ) is a Thai-language term that translates as "professor" or "teacher". It is derived from the

Pali Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist '' Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Bud ...

word '' ācariya'' and is a term of respect, similar in meaning to the Japanese ''

sensei Sensei, Seonsaeng, Tiên sinh or Xiansheng, corresponding to Chinese characters , is an East Asian honorific term shared in Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese; it is literally translated as "person born before another" or "one who ...

''. It is used as a title of address for high school and university teachers, and for Buddhist monks who have passed ten ''

vassa The ''Vassa'' ( pi, vassa-, script=Latn, sa, varṣa-, script=Latn, both "rain") is the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada practitioners. Taking place during the wet season, Vassa lasts for three lunar months, usually from Jul ...

'' – in other words those who have maintained their monastic precepts unbroken for a period of ten years. The term Luang Por, "Venerable father", signifies an Ajahn of acknowledged seniority in Thai Buddhism.

Buddhism

According to the '' Vinaya,'' any properly ordained monk can become an ' after ten ''

'' in the robes, thus a Thai monk becomes ''ajahn.'' A senior monk may bear the honorific title ''phra ajahn'' ( th, พระอาจารย์,"venerable monk"), or in more informal situations, ''than ajahn'' ( th, ท่านอาจารย์,"venerable monk"). Some famous ''ajahns'' are: * Ajahn Amaro * Ajahn Maha Boowa * Ajahn Brahm * Ajahn Chah * Ajahn Jayasāro * Ajahn Khemadhammo * Ajahn Lee * Ajahn Mun * Ajahn Pasanno * Ajahn Sao Kantasilo * Ajahn Sobin S. Namto * Ajahn Sucitto * Ajahn Sumedho * Ajahn Suwat Suvaco * Ajahn Thate * Ajahn Geoff In Thai, such highly esteemed monks would rarely be called simply ''ajahn chah'', ''ajahn mun'', etc., as there are much more respectful ways for addressing or referring to them. The term "Ajahn" is generally not formal enough to be used without the prefix "Pra" or "Tan" for monks when addressed by the laity, but this formality has been loosened when it comes to Western monks and

Theravada ''Theravāda'' () ( si, ථේරවාදය, my, ထေရဝါဒ, th, เถรวาท, km, ថេរវាទ, lo, ເຖຣະວາດ, pi, , ) is the most commonly accepted name of Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school' ...

monks well known outside Thailand.

References

Thai Buddhist titles {{Thailand-stub

Buddhism

See also

References