Special guest visits: Luang Por Pasanno

Luang Por Pasanno, a guiding Elder of Abhayagiri Monastery in California, will be visiting us from June 8th to 14th. It will be his first visit to Norway so this is a good opportunity to visit the monastery and pay respects to him.

Phra Rajbodhivides (LP Pasanno)

Luang Por Pasanno was ordained in Thailand in 1974, with Venerable Phra Khru Ñāṇasirivatana as his preceptor. During his first year as a monk, his teacher took him to meet Ajahn Chah, with whom he requested to stay and train. As one of the early residents of Wat Pah Nanachat, Luang Por Pasanno became its abbot in his ninth year.

During his incumbency, Wat Pah Nanachat developed considerably in both physical size and reputation. Having spent 24 years living in Thailand, Luang Por 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 Luang Por Pasanno to serve as sole abbot of Abhayagiri for the next eight years.

In the spring of 2018, Luang Por stepped back from the role of abbot, leaving the monastery for a year-long retreat abroad. After returning from his sabbatical, Luang Por Pasanno now serves as an anchor of wisdom and guidance for the community. The monastery is now under the active leadership of Ajahn Ñāṇiko, whom Luang Por Pasanno requested to serve as abbot.