Wat Pah Nanachat

Wat Pah Nanachat, “the International Forest Monastery”, was established in 1975 by Ajahn Chah in a small forest about 15 km from Ubon Ratchathani, in north-east Thailand. Ajahn Chah founded it for men from other countries who did not know Thai language or culture and wanted to train as monks in the Thai Forest Tradition. Ajahn Sumedho, his American student, was invited to lead the community as its first abbot.

Two of Ajahn Chah’s Western students later served as abbot here: Ajahn Pasanno, who became abbot in his ninth year as a monk, and Ajahn Jayasaro, who was abbot until the end of 2002. The monastery’s website does not name its current abbot, so check it directly.

English is the main language of communication and instruction, and the community includes monks, novices and postulants of many nationalities. The day starts before dawn with chanting and meditation, followed by the alms round and the single meal. Much of the rest of the day is left for private practice in huts or meditation halls.

Lay guests are welcome, with conditions. The monastery asks them to write first to the guest monk with their name, gender, nationality, age, arrival date and intended length of stay; if there is no reply, it cannot host you. Guests keep eight precepts, wear white, join the communal work and meetings, and put away phones and computers. Food and lodging are free.

The monastery asks that guests already have some meditation experience, ideally a retreat of about ten days, and names the International Dharma Hermitage at Wat Suan Mokkh as one place to do one. Women may stay, but there are no resident nuns or women teachers, so they should be able to practise independently. The monastery’s “Staying” page, including its note on mental health, is the authority on current rules.