Residents
Ajahn Pasanno (Guiding Elder)
Ajahn Pasanno took ordination in Thailand in 1974 with Venerable Phra Khru Ñāṇasirivatana as preceptor. During his first year as a monk he was taken by his teacher to meet Ajahn Chah, with whom he asked to be allowed to stay and train. One of the early residents of Wat Pah Nanachat, Ajahn Pasanno became its abbot in his ninth year. During his incumbency, Wat Pah Nanachat developed considerably, both in physical size and reputation. Spending 24 years living in Thailand, Ajahn Pasanno became a well-known and highly respected monk and Dhamma teacher. He moved to California on New Year’s Eve of 1997 to share the abbotship of Abhayagiri with Ajahn Amaro. In 2010 Ajahn Amaro accepted an invitation to serve as abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England, leaving Ajahn Pasanno to serve as sole abbot of Abhayagiri for the next eight years. In spring of 2018, Ajahn Pasanno stepped back from the role of abbot, leaving the monastery for a year-long retreat abroad. After returning from his sabbatical, Ajahn Pasanno now serves as an anchor of wisdom and guidance for the community. The monastery is now under the active leadership of Ajahn Ñāṇiko, who Ajahn Pasanno requested to serve as abbot.
Ajahn Nyaniko (Abbot)
Ajahn Nyaniko was born and raised in California. In 2001, at the age of 20, he visited Abhayagiri and decided to request anagarika ordination. In 2002 he took novice ordination, and in July 2003 he was ordained as a bhikkhu. He received his basic training from Luang Por Pasanno and Luang Por Amaro at Abhayagiri, and has also spent over six years training in Thailand. Since Ajahn Pasanno stepped back from his leadership role in 2018, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Nyaniko guided the Abhayagiri community as co-abbots.
As of June 2020, with Ajahn Karuṇadhammo stepping back from his administrative duties, Ajahn Nyaniko is now serving as the abbot of Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.
Ajahn Cunda
Ajahn Cunda was raised in a warm and loving family in the suburbs of Northern Chicago and moved to California in 1996. His interest in Buddhism began in high school, continued in college, led him on a spiritual search to Asia, and eventually drew him towards Theravāda meditation practices. It was not until he first came into contact with the monks of Abhayagiri, however, that he understood how monastic training could lead to a life of wisdom, peace, and profound satisfaction. Ajahn Cunda headed for Abhayagiri in late 2005, and after two years as an Anagārika and Sāmaṇera, ordained as a Bhikkhu on May 22, 2008. Under Luang Por Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, he trained at Abhayagiri for eight and a half years. In 2014, Ajahn Cunda moved to Tisaraṇa Monastery in Canada, to practice under the guidance of Luang Por Vīradhammo. He departed for a more nomadic life in 2017, living in several western monasteries, including Bodhivana and Dhammagiri in Australia, Chithurst in England, and Santacittārāma in Italy, before returning to Abhayagiri in early 2020. In 2021 and early 2022 Ajahn Cunda spent a year at the Pacific Hermitage. Since April 2022, he has returned to Abhayagiri indefinitely.
Ajahn Kai
Ajahn Kai (Phra Chalermpol Chandadhammo) was born in 1986 in Chonburi — a province in eastern Thailand. However, his family decided to move him up to live with his grandparents in Bangkok for greater opportunities when he was 3. Growing up amid intense competition and stressful struggle in the capital city eventually urged him to investigate the true meaning of life, starting from the age of 12. But it was not until the age of 17 that he took an interest in studying the Buddha’s teachings, and the idea of giving monastic life a try became tangible. After he graduated from university and worked for a few years, he returned to his birth town to become a monk. He went forth in November 2012 with Luang Por Damrong Siribhaddho — one of Luang Por Chah’s senior disciples — as his preceptor, and then went back to stay under Luang Por Jundee’s guidance at Wat Pah Ampawan, Chonburi.
Having accompanied Luang Por Pasanno for a few of his yearly visits to Thailand, Ajahn Kai got an opportunity to come and stay at Abhayagiri. He realizes that it is a great opportunity to explore and reflect upon different perspectives of Buddhist practice in the context of a different culture and environment, within the community of “good friends” on the other side of the world.
Ajahn Sudhīro
Ajahn Sudhīro was born in Seattle in 1987. An interest in the workings of the mind led him to study psychology at Oregon State University. During this time, he was introduced to Buddhism through a philosophy course comparing the lives and teachings of Jesus and the Buddha. A growing fascination with the Buddha’s teachings led Tan Sudhīro to begin Buddhist study and practice. Shortly after graduating, he visited Abhayagiri and was deeply moved by the teachings and the community. He came to Abhayagiri in early 2011 and took Bhikkhu ordination on June 16, 2013.
Tan Tissaro
Tan Tissaro was born and raised in the quaint southern town of Fairhope, Alabama. The son of Eugenia and Robert Normand, he and his two siblings were raised in a household of loving support and encouragement. The gift of a strong family unit helped give him a foundation of confidence and courage that has proven invaluable as he has embarked upon his journey from chasing satisfaction in the world of endless material pursuits to seeking a deeper contentment and peace of mind within himself. This led him to vipassana meditation courses taught by S.N. Goenka. After five years of practice and service among various California centers he stumbled across Abhayagiri and immediately felt at home. He is incredibly grateful to have found such a wonderful community and for the support he has received from friends and family in beginning this new phase of his life. Tan Tissaro took Anagārika ordination on May 7th, 2016, went forth as a Sāmaṇera on May 6th, 2017, and took full Bhikkhu precepts on May 13, 2018.
Tan Rakkhito
Tan Rakkhito was born in 1961 in New Jersey. He lived most of his adult life in Oregon. As a young man he was drawn to the samana life he found in books, but at the time he was not able to follow that path. Many years later, after a life in the world, a timely reading of Bhikkhu Bodhi’s In the Buddha’s Words inspired him to once again explore monasticism. He found accord with the beloved and respected teacher Luang Por Pasanno, along with the Dhamma-rich Thai Forest Sangha. Tan Rakkhito took Anagārika precepts in November 2016, went forth as a Sāmaṇera in November 2017, and took full Bhikkhu precepts on November 4, 2018.
Tan Dhammavaro
Born in 1987, Tan Dhammavaro grew up in a supportive environment near Austin, TX. After completing his bachelor’s degree and experiencing some reluctance to further pursue education or a career, he was drawn to travel in Asia. While in India, he attended his first vipassanā course, taught by S.N. Goenka. After a few years of serving and practicing within this tradition, he was given the opportunity to act as an attendant to a senior monk. Moved by the monk’s embodiment of Dhamma, he felt compelled to explore monasticism and feels fortunate to be able to continue this pursuit. Tan Dhammavaro went forth as a Sāmaṇera in April 2019, and was accepted into the Bhikkhu Sangha on May 17, 2020. He spent his third year as a Bhikkhu in Thailand and returned in the Spring of 2023.
Tan Obhāsī
Tan Obhāsī was raised in Santa Rosa, California. Having felt existential confusion through his adolescence, finding meditation and subsequently the Buddhist framework that holds it changed his life dramatically. For the first time, confidence in the potential for real contentment and understanding of the way things are arose from deep inside, holding him utterly spellbound with this path of peace. Tan Obhāsī deeply appreciates his loving and supportive family and friends who have consistently encouraged him to follow his heart. May all beings be happy.
Tan Obhāsī went forth as a sāmaṇera (novice monk) on November 9, 2021 and was accepted into the bhikkhu sangha on December 4, 2022.
Tan Hemako
Tan Hemako was born in 1990 in rural Massachusetts. Curious about nature and the universe he studied physics at university and began meditating in his early 20s. After graduating he worked in education and on a vegetable farm before moving to New Zealand. There he first visited an Ajahn Chah branch monastery. To pursue monastic life he traveled to Abhayagiri, where he took anagārika ordination in 2022, novice ordination in 2023, and obtained full acceptance into the Bhikkhu Sangha in 2024 . Tan Hemako is grateful for supportive family, friends and a great opportunity to practice at Abhayagiri.
Anagārika Jack
Jack was born in San Francisco in 1990. Preoccupied with existential questions about life, death, and purpose from a young age, he stumbled into Buddhist literature. After a few years, he realized that these questions needed to be addressed through spiritual practice. Over the years, he explored different Buddhist centers and traditions. While considering and experimenting with different life paths, there remained a nagging desire for something truly satisfying in his life. Inspired by the community and teaching, he decided to request training at Abhayagiri, and he is very grateful to have the opportunity. Jack took anagārika ordination on May 11, 2024.
Anagārika Kiran
Kiran is from Los Angeles, California. A chance visit to Abhayagiri turned a passing interest in meditation for him into a focus on Dhamma practice. Kiran took anagārika ordination on May 11, 2024.
Anagārika Sean
Sean was born and raised in Oregon, and he was introduced to the teachings of the Buddha as a child. Wandering off as a teenager and for most of his twenties, he eventually returned to, both, the West Coast and Buddhism. He’s grateful for the help and support of the community, both lay and monastic, which enables him to be here. Sean took anagārika ordination on May 11, 2024.
Anagārika Garrett
Garrett was born in 2000 and raised in Oklahoma. Searching for deeper meanings of life and the self through direct experience eventually led him to find the Buddha’s Teachings. Spending time in both Theravada and Ch’an monasteries inspired him to look into monastic life. Motivated by the Thai Forest dhutanga monks he took anagārika ordination on October 10, 2024.
Debbie Stamp
While traveling in Nepal, Tibet and Thailand in 1987, inspired primarily by the devotion witnessed in the Tibetan people, Debbie took her first retreat in Thailand, hoping to learn a little about Buddhism. Passing through England on her return to the USA, she visited Amaravati Monastery and spent almost a full year between Amaravati and Chithurst monasteries, gaining a bit more understanding of this path. Involved with the Sanghapala Foundation since its inception, she moved to the monastery in 1998, initially living on the neighbors’ property which was, in turn, offered to the monastery in 2002.
Ajahn Sek (Seksan Varapañño)
Ajahn Sek was born in 1973 in Yasothon province in northeastern Thailand. As a child, he had questions such as, “why are we born?,” “what are we living for?,” and “where are we heading to?” Growing up, he felt he didn’t really know himself. After reading the biography of senior teachers in the Thai Forest Tradition, he decided to go forth as a monk. He took full ordination in the year of 1998 in Yasothon province with Phra Khru Uttarakijkosol as his preceptor. Ajahn Sek then stayed and practiced at Wat Nong Pah Pong and other branch monasteries, and holds Luang Por Liem Thitadhammo as his main teacher. Today, Ajahn Sek feels that this path may lead him to answering his childhood questions. He is grateful for his teachers and monastic communities who have been supporting him on the way. Ajahn Sek’s favorite Dhamma reflection is: “however many victories you win, they can’t be compared to winning your own heart.”
Ajahn Sek is currently in Thailand.
Ajahn Karuṇadhammo
Ajahn Karuṇadhammo was born in North Carolina in 1955. He was trained as a nurse and moved to Seattle in his early twenties where he came in contact with the Theravada tradition. In 1992, he helped out with a monastic visit to the Bay Area and spent two months serving a winter retreat at Amarāvati Monastery in England. Ajahn Karuṇadhammo made the decision to ordain while visiting Thailand in 1995. He asked if he could be part of the prospective California monastery (the then unnamed Abhayagiri) and was part of the original group that arrived at Abhayagiri on June 1, 1996. After training for two years as an Anagārika and Sāmaṇera, he took full Bhikkhu ordination in May, 1998 with Ajahn Pasanno as his preceptor. Since Ajahn Pasanno stepped back from his leadership role in 2018, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāniko guided the Abhayagiri community as co-abbots for two years. In June 2020, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo stepped back from his administrative duties at Abhayagiri.
Ajahn Karuṇadhammo is currently in England.
Ajahn Kassapo
Ajahn Kassapo was born in Vietnam and raised in Guangdong, China. Beginning in 1998, he lived in the Los Angeles area, where he became interested in Buddhism. After visits to various monasteries, he decided to explore monastic life. He was a member of the lay support team during Abhayagiri’s 2005 Winter Retreat, during which time he decided to request to undertake the Anagārika training. He returned to Abhayagiri in May, 2005 and subsequently trained for two years as an Anāgārika and Sāmaṇera. Ajahn Kassapo received the higher ordination, becoming a fully ordained Bhikkhu on July 14, 2007 with Ajahn Pasanno as his preceptor. After spending a year training in Thailand, he returned to Abhayagiri in 2010.
Ajahn Kassapo is currently at Three Jewels in Fort Bragg, California.
Ajahn Ṭhitapañño
Ajahn Ṭhitapañño was born in 1983 in Washington, DC and spent much of his childhood in the surrounding suburbs. While in college he developed an interest in spirituality and began to meditate daily and attend meditation retreats. After college, Ajahn Ṭhitapañño pursued his spiritual aspirations. This eventually led him to Abhayagiri. Ajahn Ṭhitapañño was accepted into the bhikkhu sangha at Abhayagiri on June 13, 2009, with Luang Por Pasanno as the preceptor.
Ajahn Ṭhitapañño is currently at Three Jewels in Fort Bragg, California.
Tan Khantiko
Tan Khantiko was born in 1979 and raised in Nashville, TN. After finishing his studies, he decided to pursue monastic training and arrived at Abhayagiri in December 2012. He went forth as an Anāgārika on May 5, 2013, took Sāmaṇera ordination on May 17, 2014, and took the full Bhikkhu precepts on June 9, 2015.
Tan Khantiko is currently in Thailand.
Tan Suddhiko
Born in 1986 and raised in Boulder, CO, Tan Suddhiko was introduced to Buddhism at a young age and was always interested in what happens after death. He was Influenced by his older to start meditating. His aspiration in becoming a Buddhist monk is to live a life that has the maximum amount of positive impact on the world, while causing the least amount of harm. Tan Suddhiko trained as an Anāgārika and Sāmaṇera between 2015 and 2017. He took the full Bhikkhu precepts on June 17, 2017.
Tan Suddhiko is currently in Thailand.
Tan Cittapālo
Tan Cittapālo was born and raised in the state of Maine. He first encountered Buddhism in 2011 during his gap year in Thailand. After reading Food for the Heart, Tan Cittapālo made his way to Abhayagiri, where he found a deep connection with the community and practice. Tan Cittapālo took full Bhikkhu ordination on August 25th, 2019, with Ajahn Pasanno as his preceptor.
Tan Cittapālo is currently at Temple Forest Monastery in New Hampshire.
Tan Jotimanto
Tan Jotimanto spent the majority of his life in Oregon, where he was born in 1990. In 2009, he enrolled at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. He double-majored in Mathematics and Creative Writing (with no particular goal in mind, other than to harness the faculties of his intellect that were concomitant to those disciplines). In a turn of events that, to him, seemed to be nothing less than cosmically serendipitous, he encountered his first Dhamma talk on YouTube during his junior year of college. After a year of personal Dhamma study, he decided to practice meditation on a whim. After several months of meditation practice, he developed the firm resolve to ordain. Thus, after graduating from college, he got a job at the Safeway in his hometown, and by living with his parents, practicing restraint, and funneling all of his available income into his student loans, he was able to pay off his debt - working a part-time, minimum wage job. With all of his debts paid, he headed straight to Abhayagiri. Tan Jotimanto took Anāgārika ordination in 2017, Samanera ordination in 2018, and was accepted into the Bhikkhu Sangha on December 2, 2019.
Tan Jotimanto is currently at the Pacific Hermitage in White Salmon, Washington.
Tan Yasa
Born in 1987, Tan Yasa grew up in Burbank, California. At the age of nineteen, after reading a book on Buddhism which was given to him by his mother, he undertook a three-month stint living and working at a Buddhist Meditation retreat center in Colorado. After participating in various meditation retreats and living at different Buddhist retreat centers, Tan Yasa became interested in pursuing a monastic life. He went on to serve the 2012 winter retreat at Abhayagiri and shortly after, on April 28th, 2012, he went forth as an Anāgārika. In living at Abhayagiri as an Anāgārika for over a year, he found that he was not quite yet ready to continue on with monastic training. Returning to life outside of the monastery, he spent time in residence at Insight Retreat Center, Santa Cruz, while studying as a full-time student at the nearby Cabrillo College. After completing a BA in South and Southeast Asian Studies at UC Berkeley, he began to re-explore Buddhist monasticism. Tan Yasa gratefully arrived back at Abhayagiri in October 2018. After going on to serve the winter retreat of 2019, he re-ordained as an Anāgārika on April 27th, 2019. Tan Yasa went forth as a novice monk on May 6, 2020 and was accepted into the bhikkhu sangha on June 17, 2021.
Tan Yasa is currently in Thailand.