Ajahn ( th, อาจารย์, , ) is a Thai-language term that translates as "professor" or "teacher". It is derived from the Pali word '' ācariya'' and is a term of respect, similar in meaning to the Japanese '' sensei''. It is used as a title of address for high school and university teachers, and for Buddhist monks who have passed ten '' vassa'' – in other words those who have maintained their monastic precepts unbroken for a period of ten years. The term

Luang Por Luang por (; , ) means "venerable father" and is used as a title for respected senior Buddhist monastics. ''Luang'' is a Thai word meaning "royal" or "venerable". It is used in both family context and to express respect for monastics. ''Por'' is ...

, "Venerable father", signifies an Ajahn of acknowledged seniority in Thai Buddhism.

Buddhism

According to the ''

Vinaya The Vinaya (Pali & Sanskrit: विनय) is the division of the Buddhist canon ('' Tripitaka'') containing the rules and procedures that govern the Buddhist Sangha (community of like-minded ''sramanas''). Three parallel Vinaya traditions remai ...

,'' any properly ordained monk can become an ' after ten '' vassa'' 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 Maha Bua (12 August 191330 January 2011) was a Thai Buddhist monk. He was thought by many of his followers to be an ''arahant'' (someone who has attained full enlightenment). He was a disciple of the esteemed forest master Ajahn Mun Bh ...

* Ajahn Brahm * Ajahn Chah *

Ajahn Jayasāro Ajahn Jayasāro (born Shaun Michael Chiverton in 1958) is a British-Thai Buddhist monk in the Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah. Biography Jayasāro was born on the Isle of Wight in England. At the age of sixteen, having been in contact with Bud ...

Ajahn Khemadhammo Ajahn Khemadhammo OBE (also known as Chao Khun Bhavanaviteht; born )Ajahn Lee Phra Suddhidhammaransi Gambhiramedhacarya (1907–1961), commonly known as Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo, was a meditation teacher in the Thai Forest Tradition of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya order of Theravada Buddhism. He was born in the Ubon Ratchathani P ...

Ajahn Mun (หลวงปู่มั่น)Ajahn Mun ( th, อาจารย์มั่น) , dharma_names = Bhuridatto , birth_date = , birth_place = Ban Khambong, Khong Chiam, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand , death_date = , death_place = Wat Pa Sutth ...

Ajahn Pasanno 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. For many years he was the abbo ...

Ajahn Sao Kantasilo Ajahn ( th, อาจารย์, , ) is a Thai-language term that translates as "professor" or "teacher". It is derived from the Pali word '' ācariya'' and is a term of respect, similar in meaning to the Japanese ''sensei''. It is used as a ...

Ajahn Sobin S. Namto Achan Sobin S. Namto ( th, พระอาจารย์โสบิน ส. นามโท) is a Buddhist monk who has taught Vipassana meditation and Buddhist psychology in Southeast Asia and North America for over 50 years. Biography Bor ...

* Ajahn Sucitto *

Ajahn Sumedho Luang Por Sumedho or Ajahn Sumedho ( th, อาจารย์สุเมโธ) (born Robert Karr Jackman, July 27, 1934) is one of the senior Western representatives of the Thai forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism. He was abbot of Amaravat ...

* 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 monks well known outside Thailand.

References

Thai Buddhist titles {{Thailand-stub

Buddhism

See also

References