Biography
Phra Ajahn Saengtham Tapasilo
Born on Saturday, June 5, 1971(Year of the Pig).
Ordained as a Buddhist monk on May 3, 1992,
at Wat Krung Rat Bamrung. Bo Thong Subdistrict, Kabin Buri District, Prachin Buri Province, Thailand.
Monkhood Ordination
B.E. 2535 (1st Rains Retreat): Practiced meditation in the “Samma Araham” tradition at Wat Tham Khao E-To.
B.E. 2536 (2nd Rains Retreat): Began practicing meditation in the “Techo Kasina” tradition at Wat Ban Krung Rat Bamrung.
Also began his first Dhutanga walking pilgrimage with the group of Luang Por Phawana Buddho, traveling from Kanchanaburi Province to Nakhon Pathom Province.
B.E. 2537–2539 (3rd–5th Rains Retreats): Practiced Vipassanā meditation at Wat Khao Tabaek.
B.E. 2540–2542 (6th–8th Rains Retreats): Practiced Samatha meditation (element contemplation) and Vipassanā meditation at Suan Khanun Monastic Residence (Tham Khao Cha-ang).
During the 6th Rains Retreat, he began undertaking solitary Dhutanga walking practice through the forests, traveling from Nakhon Nayok Province to Saraburi Province. He stayed at Wat Pa Traitham, where he first encountered a monk with a deeply developed meditative concentration that could be directly perceived.
It is said that there was an exchange of meditative focus between Ajahn Chan and a monk of 24 rains retreats, during which Ajahn Chan was able to discern that his own meditative strength was greater, leading the senior monk to acknowledge it.
During the 7th Rains Retreat, he undertook a Dhutanga pilgrimage from Doi Mae Salong to Phitsanulok Province. During this journey, Ajahn Chan had the opportunity to meet Ajahn Somsak Pan Daeng, who was widely renowned at that time for his mastery of Techo Kasina meditation, at Chiang Dao Cave.
It is said that Ajahn Chan and Ajahn Somsak engaged in a meditative exchange related to kasina practice, after which Ajahn Somsak acknowledged that Ajahn Chan possessed a stronger level of meditative concentration.
Ajahn Chan had the opportunity to stay at Tham Sombat Monastic Residence, where he first met Luang Pu Khom, a monk renowned for possessing higher spiritual attainments (abhiññā).
During the 8th Rains Retreat, Ajahn Chan undertook a Dhutanga pilgrimage in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary together with Ajahn Witoon.
B.E. 2543 (9th Rains Retreat): Practiced Vipassanā meditation at Wat Takhian Thong.
B.E. 2544–2545 (10th–11th Rains Retreats): It is recounted that Sakka Devaraja appeared in an invitation for Ajahn Chan, while he was in Chiang Rai Province, to spend the rains retreat at Tham Pha Bong so that his meditation practice could further develop.
At that time, Ajahn Chan had only 300 baht with him. He originally intended to travel to Phan District, but there were no buses available. He then tried to find transportation to Phrae Province, but no seats were available. By coincidence, a Chiang Rai–Nakhon Phanom bus passed by, with a fare of 250 baht, so he boarded it and traveled to Tham Pha Bong.
After getting off the bus, he walked about 5 kilometers along an old cart path from the entrance road and arrived at around 2:00 AM.
During the 10th–11th Rains Retreats, Ajahn Chan undertook the ascetic practice of Nesajjika Dhutanga, vowing to refrain from lying down throughout the entire rains retreat.
B.E. 2546 (12th Rains Retreat): Ajahn Chan undertook a Dhutanga pilgrimage from Doi Mae Salong through Chiang Mai Province, Lamphun Province, and Lampang Province, eventually arriving at and residing at Wat Nam Tok Sai Rung, where he has remained up to the present day.
