Ajahn Pasanno
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.
Featured Audio Talk
August 5, 2011 - Family Retreat Talk
Oftentimes, things are not in their right place—something feels disconcerting or agitating because we're honing in on a small bit of the picture. But when we can keep stepping back and reminding ourselves of the possibilities of equanimity, that's when the heart settles. We can let people and circumstances be what they are, we can let the world be what it is. When we're not comparing, pushing, manipulating, or trying to get it to be a certain way, we're a lot more accepting, and just reminding ourselves of this simple perspective gives us an opportunity for clear seeing.