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 The Isle of Wight ( ) is a Counties of England, county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the List of islands of England#Largest islands, largest and List of islands of England#Mo ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

. At the age of sixteen, having been in contact with

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

through reading, he left for India, where he spent "a couple of years" traveling and learning before hitchhiking back to England. At the time he was still looking for a way of life in line with his personal principles. In Asia he heard about an Englishman who had been a monk in the

Thai Forest Tradition The Kammaṭṭhāna Forest Tradition of Thailand (from pi, kammaṭṭhāna meaning Kammaṭṭhāna, "place of work"), commonly known in the West as the Thai Forest Tradition, is a Parampara, lineage of Theravada Buddhist monasticism. The ...

and was leading meditation retreats. Upon hearing his stories of life as a forest monk, he realised it was the way of life he was looking for. After joining

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 Amarav ...

's community as an

anagārika In Buddhism, an anagārika (Pali, 'homeless one', ; f. ''anagārikā'' ) is a person who has given up most or all of their worldly possessions and responsibilities to commit full-time to Buddhist practice. It is a midway status between a bhikkh ...

in 1978 he travelled to Thailand to ordain at Wat Nong Pah Pong in 1979. He received full ordination by

Ajahn Chah Chah Subhaddo ( th, ชา สุภัทโท, known in English as Ajahn Chah, occasionally with honorific titles '' Luang Por'' and ''Phra'') also known by his honorific name "Phra Bodhiñāṇathera" ( th, พระโพธิญาณเ� ...

in 1980 and was abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat from 1997 to 2002. He currently lives alone in a one-monk

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whic ...

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

. In 2018, Jayasāro authored a biography of Ajahn Chah entitled ''Stillness Flowing''. In 2019, Jayasāro was honoured with a royal title from Thailand's King

Vajiralongkorn Vajiralongkorn ( th, วชิราลงกรณ; , ; born 28 July 1952) is the King of Thailand. He is the only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. In 1972, at the age of 20, he was made crown prince by his father. After his ...

(Rama X). On 9 March 2020, Jayasāro was granted Thai citizenship by royal decree.

Thai honorific ranks

* 28 July 2019 - Phra Raj Bajramanit Bisithadharmagunasundorn Mahakanisorn Bovornsangaram Gamavasi (พระราชพัชรมานิต พิสิฐธรรมคุณสุนทร มหาคณิสสร บวรสังฆาราม คามวาสี) * 17 July 2020 - Phra Thep Bajranyanamuni Vipassanavidhikosol Vimolbhavanavarakit Mahakanisorn Bovornsangaram Gamavasi (พระเทพพัชรญาณมุนี วิปัสสนาวิธีโกศล วิมลภาวนาวรกิจ มหาคณิสสร บวรสังฆาราม คามวาสี) * 7 July 2021 - Phra Dharma Bajranyanamuni Phawanavidhisuvithan Srilajahnsuvimol Kosonkitchanukit Mahakanisorn Bovornsangaram Gamavasi (พระธรรมพัชรญาณมุนี ภาวนาวิธีสุวิธาน สีลาจารสุวิมล โกศลกิจจานุกิจ มหาคณิสสร บวรสังฆาราม คามวาสี)พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ เรื่อง พระราชทานสัญญาบัตรตั้งสมณศักดิ์
เล่ม 138, ตอนที่ 34 ข, วันที่ 8 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2564, หน้า 3

Notable works

* * *

Other Publications

*
Letting Go Within Action
' (2018) *
Seen in their true light
' (2012) *
Daughters and Sons
' (2012) *
On Love
' (2012) *
The Real Practice
' (2008) *
Twain Shall Meet
'

References

Sources

* * *

External links

ธรรมะ โดย พระอาจารย์ชยสาโร/ Dhamma by Ajahn Jayasaro
(Youtube channel maintained by authorized lay supporters)
''Blue Eyes in Saffron Robes''
(a 1979 documentary featuring Ajahn Jayasāro)
Teachings by Ajahn Jayasāro
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jayasāro, Ajahn 1958 births Living people Clergy from the Isle of Wight English Buddhist monks British emigrants to Thailand Thai Forest Tradition monks Ajahn Jayasaro