@antares.buddha.ce: Somdet Phra Ñāṇavajirottama, widely known as Luang Por Viriyang Sirintaro, was a highly revered Theravada Buddhist monk, insight meditation master, and author belonging to the Dhammayuttika Nikaya order. Born on January 7, 1920, in Saraburi Province, Thailand, he devoted more than 80 years of his life to monastic service and became one of the most influential meditation teachers both in Thailand and internationally. He passed away on December 22, 2020, at the age of 100. He was born Viriyang Boonteekul, the fifth of seven children to a railway station master. His family later relocated to Nakhon Ratchasima Province. During his adolescence, he worked extensively to support his family. The intense physical strain caused him to collapse and suffer a severe bout of paralysis. While incapacitated, he made a solemn vow that if he were to recover, he would dedicate the rest of his life to Buddhism and the betterment of humanity. After being successfully cured by a white-robed ascetic, he fulfilled his promise by entering the monastic life. He ordained as a novice monk at the age of 15 at Wat Sutthi Chindaworawihan. He initially trained under Phra Ajahn Gong Ma, accompanying his mentor on rigorous dhutanga ascetic wilderness treks across Thailand for eight years. On May 20, 1941, at the age of 21, he received full ordination as a bhikkhu monk at Wat Sai Ngam in Chanthaburi. Later that same year, he was introduced to the legendary pioneer of the Thai Forest Tradition, Phra Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta. Luang Por Viriyang spent four deeply transformative years closely attending to and learning from Ajahn Mun. Recognizing the profound depth of his teacher's oral discourses, he painstakingly transcribed them, which led to the publication of the seminal text Muttothai. In the early 1960s, Luang Por Viriyang moved to the outskirts of Bangkok to fulfill a directive to spread insight meditation practices to the urban population. On a swampy piece of land, he established Wat Dhammamongkol, which grew into one of the largest and most prominent monasteries in the capital. Under his leadership, the temple expanded to feature extensive educational structures and the tallest stupa in Thailand. His ultimate vision was to reduce global conflict and promote inner peace through accessible mindfulness practices. In 1999, he founded the Willpower Institute, an international non-profit organization designed to train meditation instructors through a simplified, highly structured curriculum. To spread these teachings globally, he traveled extensively and established multiple Theravada Buddhist temples and meditation centers across North America, serving as the Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya Order in Canada. Through his life of unyielding discipline, architectural achievements, and global outreach, he left an enduring legacy that continues to guide millions of practitioners worldwide.

Antares Buddha Centre

Open In TikTok:

Region: SG

Tuesday 27 October 2026 15:18:29 GMT