Phra Prommongkol Vi
Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo
Director of Insight Meditation Center,
Abbot of Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara, Chomtong, Chiangmai.
One of the most highly revered meditation masters of Northern Thailand, born in 1923, The Most Venerable Ajarn Tong studied with many of the Great Buddhist Masters of the 20th century, including Kruba Srivijaya, Kruba Jayavongsa, Kruba Prommacakka, Kruba Khaopi, of Chiang Mai Province.
And the Great Vipassana Masters in Wat Mahadhat, Somdej Phra Buddhacariya (Phra Pimoladhamma Assabha Maha Thera) and Chao Khun Dhammadhiraraja Mahamuni (Jodok P.9), as well as the great Burmese Masters, Mahasi Sayadaw (Agga Maha Pandita) Teacher of the Satipatthana Vipassana Kammatthana method and Bhadantacariya Assabha Maha Thera of Wat Vivekasom, and many more Great Elders.
The Most Venerable Ajarn Tong taught Satipatthana Vipassana in Thailand and worldwide for over 60 years. He passed away in 2019 at age 96.
Thanat Chindaporn
Thanat Chindaporn was a senior disciple of the Most Venerable Chao Khun Phra Prommongkol Vi (Most Venerable Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo). He was a senior teacher of Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation in the Theravada Buddhist tradition of Thailand and was the director of the International Meditation Department at Wat Phra Dhatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara, Chomtong, Chiangmai, which was established in the year 2000.
Ajarn Thanat studied Vipassana Meditation with the Most Venerable Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo in the mid 1980’s and he began his teaching apprenticeship with the late Venerable Luang Poh Banyat Akkayano, the founding co-director of Thailand’s Northern Insight Meditation Center at Wat Ram Poeng (Tapotaram), Chiangmai.
Since 1988, Ajarn Thanat has conducted meditation courses in Thailand, North & South America, and throughout Europe.
In 2004, Ajarn Thanat received Thailand’s Benefactor of Buddhism Award for his dissemination of Buddhism worldwide.
Ajarn Thanat passed away on March 31, 2022 at the age of 80.
Kathryn Chindaporn
Kathryn Chindaporn, is a senior disciple of the Most Venerable Chao Khun Phra Prommongkol Vi (Most Venerable Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo), having studied Vipassana since 1986.
Ajarn Kathryn has been guest lecturer at the Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya Buddhist University in Chiangmai, and is currently Thai-English interpreter and assistant director and meditation teacher at the International Meditation Department at Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara, Chomtong, Chiangmai. Since 1989 Ajarn Kathryn has interpreted for Thai meditation masters, published five Thai-English Buddhist translations, and appeared as guest speaker and interpreter on Thai and Mexican television and radio. In 2000, Ajarn Kathryn received the Benefactor of Buddhism Award of Chiangmai Province and the Sema Dhammacakka in Recognition of International Dissemination of Buddhism, the latter conferred by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand.
