Thai forest tradition (kammaṭṭhāna) · Dhammayut order
Ajahn Maha Boowa
Luang Ta Maha Boowa Ñāṇasampanno
หลวงตามหาบัว ญาณสมฺปนฺโน
1913–2011 Wat Pa Baan Taad, Udon Thani
Ajahn Mun's close disciple and biographer, and for many years the senior teacher of the forest tradition — known for the fierce clarity of his teaching.
Bua Lohitdi was born on 12 August 1913 in Udon Thani and ordained on 12 May 1934, taking the name Ñāṇasampanno. He first studied the scriptures to the level of Mahā — hence “Maha Boowa” — before leaving the study halls to train under Ajahn Mun, whom he served closely for years.
In November 1955 he began to build Wat Pa Baan Taad, the forest monastery near Udon Thani where he taught for the rest of his long life. His teaching was uncompromising and vivid, aimed squarely at the defilements, and his biography of Ajahn Mun made the forest masters known far beyond the forest.
After the death of Ajahn Thate in 1994, he was regarded as the senior figure of the lineage. He died on 30 January 2011, a monk for seventy-seven years. His teachings are available in English, translated by Ajaan Dick Sīlaratano of Forest Dhamma Monastery.