Chiangmai, Thailand

Ven. Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo

Meditation Master

Venerable Ajahn Tong has devoted his life to the practice and teaching of Satipatthana Vipassana Kammatthana (insight meditation based on the four foundations of mindfulness). He has spent over 6 decades teaching meditation and establishing and expanding meditation centres throughout Thailand. He ordained as a novice monk in 1934 and as a full fledged monk in 1944 giving him 69 years as a monk and 79 years in robes.

Ajahn Tong is currently Abbot of a Buddhist Monastery called Wat Phradhatu Sri Chom Tong Voravihara in Ban Luang Commune, Chom Tong District, Chiang Mai Province which includes an international meditation centre and approximately 300 meditation rooms.

He is Chief Vipassana Kammatthana Master of the Northern Region of Thailand and is one of Thailand’s most highly respected meditation teachers. Spending most of his time teaching in Thailand, he has authorized several teachers who have learned under his guidance to share this practice abroad.

Thanat Chindaporn

Visiting Teacher

Thanat Chindaporn is a lay meditation teacher in the Theravada Buddhist tradition and is currently the Director of the International Meditation Department at Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara, Chomtong, Chiangmai.

He trained under Venerable Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo and the late Venerable Phra Banyat Akkayano, the former director of Thailand’s Northern Insight Meditation Centre.

Since 1988, he has taught meditation in Thailand, India, Washington State, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, California, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Slovenia, France and Israel. Based in Thailand for most of the year he spends the summer months teaching western students internationally. In 2004, he received Thailand’s Benefactor of Buddhism Award, presented to him on behalf of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, for his dissemination of Buddhism world-wide.

Sandra Young

Resident Teacher

Sandra Young completed her basic course in insight meditation in 2002 with Edward Kooij in Hamilton, Canada and continued practicing with Edward for several years

In 2016, Sandra travelled to Chomtong, Thailand where she remained resident for over a year in order to undertake the teacher training under Thanat and Kate Chindaporn.

In 2017, Sandra was recognized on behalf of Chiang Mai Province, Thailand for her work to teach insight meditation in Canada and Thailand. In 2018 she was appointed by Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo to teach insight meditation based on the four foundations of mindfulness.

Sandra brings a long and varied professional experience to her meditation teaching having worked in education policy, community development and in running her own African home furnishings business. She currently lives in Toronto with her partner Patrick and teaches students regularly at the Buddhavipassana Meditation Centre.

Miriam Young

Resident Teacher

Miriam Young completed her basic course in insight meditation in 2002 with Edward Kooij in Hamilton, Canada and continued practicing with Edward as her teacher.

She was later temporarily ordained as a Buddhist Nun (Maechee) in the Theravada tradition by Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo from 2002 until 2004. During this time she began the meditation teacher training under Thanat and Kate Chindaporn and later also trained with Sandra Luz Cibrian.

In 2013 she was appointed by Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo to teach insight meditation based on the four foundations of mindfulness. In 2018, Miriam was presented with the Benefactor of Buddhism award by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand for her teaching of insight meditation in Canada.

She teaches meditation in English mostly in Toronto, Canada and from time to time at Chomtong Temple and International Meditation Centre in Chiangmai, Thailand. She lives in Toronto with her husband, Alex.

Alex Young

Resident Teacher

Alex Young first began practicing insight meditation in Hamilton, Canada in 2001 and continued practicing with Edward Kooij as his first teacher.

He began teacher training under the guidance of Thanat and Kate Chindaporn in 2006 and later also with Sandra Luz Cibrian. In 2013 he was appointed by Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo to teach insight meditation based on the four foundations of mindfulness. His work in developing meditation centres and teaching Insight Meditation was recognized in 2014 by the Governor of Chiangmai Province, Thailand and he was selected in 2020 to receive a country-wide Benefactor of Buddhism Award from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand.

He teaches meditation in English and in French mostly in Toronto, Canada and from time to time at Chomtong Temple and International Meditation Centre in Chiangmai, Thailand. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Miriam.