A British-born Buddhist monk who has spent nearly five decades studying, teaching, and preserving the Thai Forest Tradition has become the first foreign-born monk in Thailand to receive the rank of Somdet Phra Ratchakhana, one of the country’s highest monastic honors.
On July 14th, 2026, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn elevated eight senior monks to the rank of Somdet Phra Ratchakhana through a royal command published in the Royal Gazette. Among them was Ajahn Jayasaro, who received the ecclesiastical title Somdet Phra Maha Phatcharayanamuni, making him the first monk born outside Thailand to receive the distinction.
The appointment marks a historic moment for the Thai Sangha, or monastic order, while also reflecting the increasingly international reach of Thailand’s Buddhist traditions.
| What is a Somdet?The title Somdet Phra Ratchakhana is the second-highest ecclesiastical rank in Thailand’s monastic hierarchy, below only the Supreme Patriarch. It is conferred by the King upon monks recognized for their exemplary conduct and significant contributions to Buddhism.Ajahn Jayasaro was one of eight senior monks elevated during this year’s royal promotion, but his appointment attracted particular attention because no foreign-born monk had previously reached this rank in Thailand. |
Getting to know Ajahn Jayasaro
Ajahn Jayasaro was born Shaun Michael Chiverton on January 7th, 1958, on the Isle of Wight, England. As a teenager, he became interested in Buddhist philosophy while searching for answers about the meaning of life.
He first joined Ajahn Sumedho’s monastic community in the United Kingdom in 1978 as an anagārika, or a layperson who has renounced worldly possessions out of commitment to the Buddhist faith. He traveled to Thailand the following year to train under the renowned meditation master Luang Por Chah Subhaddo at Wat Nong Pah Pong in Ubon Ratchathani Province, received novice ordination in 1979, and higher ordination in 1980.
He went on to spend decades practicing, teaching, and writing about Buddhism in both Thai and English. From 1997 to 2002, he served as abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, the International Forest Monastery established to train monks from around the world in the Thai Forest Tradition. After stepping down as abbot, he continued teaching while living a quieter monastic life in Thailand.
In recognition of his contributions to Buddhism, King Vajiralongkorn granted him Thai citizenship in 2020.
Beyond the milestone
Although Ajahn Jayasaro’s birthplace makes the appointment historically significant, the recognition reflects a lifetime devoted to Thai Buddhism.
Over more than 40 years, he has become one of the most respected contemporary teachers of the Thai Forest Tradition, known internationally for his meditation teachings, books, and talks. His writings have introduced many readers (both in Thailand and abroad) to the teachings of Luang Por Chah and the wider Theravada Buddhist tradition.
His elevation also illustrates how a tradition that originated in Thailand has developed an international following while remaining deeply rooted in its monastic heritage. Today, monasteries such as Wat Pah Nanachat continue to attract monks from around the world who come to train within the Thai Forest Tradition before returning to teach in their own countries.
For many observers, Ajahn Jayasaro’s appointment recognizes decades of dedication to Buddhist practice, scholarship, and teaching, while underscoring the global influence of Thailand’s living Buddhist traditions.
Paul Rujopakarn