Lineage of Teachers
Mahãsi Vipassana- Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo
general information
Vipassana Teachers
Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo
The Venerable Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo was the abbott and head vipassana meditation teacher of Northern Thailand and one of the most respected teachers in Thailand. His meditation method has become widespread throughout the world, especially in Northern Thailand. Ven. Ajahn Tong was ordinated as a young monk at the age of 12 and as an adult monk aged 20.
In 1954 he was invited to the Wat Mahadhatu temple in Bangkok where he completed basic training in vipassana meditation, followed by 2 years and 7 months of further practice in Burma under Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw (dec.) and Abhidhamma studies with several well-known teachers of the time, then returning to Chiang Mai in North Thailand.
He began to teach vipassana and establish meditation centers throughout the north, including the famous Wat Rampoeng Tapotaram templeVen. Ajahn Tong did teach vipassana for nearly 50 years and established over 50 temples and meditation centers in North Thailand and the world.
He resided at the Wat Chomtong temple in North Thailand. There he passes away on the 12th of December 2019
Ajahn Ofer Adi
Ajahn Ofer is a monk who has been practicing Vipassana meditation since 1989, first at Wat Rampoeng under the guidance of Luang Poh Banyat Akkayano, thereafter at Wat Chomtong, under the instruction of Ven. Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo. Both temples are in Chiang Mai district, Thailand.
For several years Phra Ofer taught meditation in Israel before he ordained as a monk in Thailand in 2001, followed by several years as a monk and meditation teacher at a Buddhist temple near Frankfurt, Germany.
He was awarded the “Annual Benefactor of Buddhism Award” for his service in the Dhamma by the Sangha in May 2010 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Another award followed in May 2011 in Bangkok by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, the award of the “Sao Sema Dhammacakka” (also known as the Golden Pillar of the Dhamma) for benefactors of Buddhism, awarded for introducing and spreading the Dhamma abroad.
Ajahn Ofer Adi is currently residing in the Newman Centre, Yavneel in Israel and teaches in several places in different parts of the world. In 2013 was promoted to the Thai monastic hierarchy.
Ajahn Kun Thanat
Our beloved teacher Ajahn Kun Thanat, who passed away 31st of March 2022; was a disciple of and assistant to Venerable Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo and senior teacher of Vipassana meditation. Thanat established and managed the meditation center for foreigners (non Thai) at Wat Chomtong temple in northern Thailand where he taught and trained students and teachers. Thanat spoke Thai, Chinese and English.
Thanat began training as a novice in Bangkok aged 18 followed by short periods of temple life at Chang Mai. In 1985 he began formal training in under Ven. Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo (disciple of Ven Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma).
In 1986 he began teacher’s training and has been teaching since 1988 together with his wife Kathryn. They have taught courses in different parts of the world
Kathryn Chindaporn
Kathryn Chindaporn, (Kathryn Johnston) is a student and teacher of Vipassana for over 30 years, having taught meditation in Thailand and her birthplace Washington State, as well as conducting courses on the West Coast, in Mexico, Puerto Rico. Hawaii, Europe, Israel and India since 1988.
From 1999 to 2007 she lectured at the Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya Buddhist University in Chiangmai, Thailand and is currently Thai-English interpreter and director of the International Meditation Department at Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara, Chomtong, Chiangmai.
Since 1989 she 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, Kathryn received the Benefactor of Buddhism Award of Chiangmai Province and the Sema Dhammacakka (Golden Pillar of Dhamma Award) in Recognition of International Dissemination of Buddhism, the latter conferred by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand.
Hildegard Huber
Hildegard has been a student of Ven. Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo since 1992.
In 1993 she started to teach in addition to running her shop for natural nourishments. Since 1994 she organised meditation courses for Ven. Ajahn Tong and Thanat and Kathryn Chindaporn in Germany, France, Slovenia and Sweden. During these classes she assisted the teachers.
In 1998 Ven. Ajahn Tong authorised her as vipassana teacher and gave her the name Dhammacari. Since then Hildegard teaches vipassana on her own. In 2004 she gave up her worldly professional life completely.
The Dhammacari Vipassana Meditation Center was founded in 2006 in Sonental (near Munich). Since then Hildegard has been living and teaching there.
In 2010 Hildegard received an award for her support in Buddhism and it’s teaching in the world from the governer of Chiang Mai province in Thailand.
The Dhammacari Vipassana Center is situated in Sonnenthal near Allgramsdorf/Rottenburg on Laaber. It is embedded in the hilly countryside of Lower Bavaria, Germany. This quiet spot offers ideal conditions for meditation
Sandra Luz Cibrian Ramirez
Sandra Luz Cibrian Ramirez is originally from Mexico and has been practicing Vipassana Meditation since 1990.
Her teachers are the former Venerable Phra Banyat Akkaynoat at Wat Rampoeng in Chiang Mai and Venerable Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo at Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara, and the last years Thanat Chindaporn. Since 1995 she has visited temples on a regular basis to attend meditation retreats. After a short while she also began to assist on retreats, and then started to teach in 1996.
Since 2010 she has spent most of her time at Wat Chomthong and teaches there alongside Kathryn and Thanat Chindaporn. Over the last years, Sandra has also been invited to Spain and Mexico to teach meditation retreats there.
Asher Gal
Asher Gal from Israel is practicing Vipassana meditation since 1988. He was student of the late Luang Poh Banyat Akkayano Bhikkhu at Wat Rampoeng, Chiang Mai, and is still student of the Ven. Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo of Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong.
Since 15 years he assisted Thanat Chindaporn in the meditation courses which take place in Israel. For three years he taught at the side of Phra Ofer at the center in the Kibbuz Ein Dor, Israel. Since the closing of the center he assists Ajahn Phra Ofer and substitutes for him as teacher in the courses in different places.
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