GUIDED BY THOSE WHO LIVE THE PATH
The Monk Life Project is guided by ordained monks who embody the practice they teach.
They are not motivational speakers, gurus, or influencers.
They are practitioners of simplicity, discipline, and awareness.
Their role is not to give answers—but to support participants in discovering truth directly.
MEET THE MONKS
Senior monks guiding the program have:
• Years of monastic ordination
• Extensive meditation experience
• Deep familiarity with teaching international participants
Their presence provides stability, authenticity, and continuity with the Buddhist tradition.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Monks involved in the Monk Life Project have guided hundreds of participants from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
They understand:
• The challenges of modern life
• The mental patterns of high achievers
• The emotional sensitivity of those in transition
Teaching is adapted with care—without compromising tradition.
TEACHING APPROACH
Compassionate Guidance
Guidance is offered gently and respectfully.
Participants are supported, not pushed.
Questions are welcomed.
Personal pace is respected.
Compassion is expressed through presence, patience, and understanding—not emotional dramatization.
NON-DOGMATIC STYLE
The Monk Life Project does not promote belief systems or conversion.
Teachings emphasize:
• Direct observation
• Personal understanding
• Practical application
Participants are encouraged to explore, reflect, and verify truth through their own experience.
ENGLISH INSTRUCTION
All teachings, guidance, and orientation are provided in clear, accessible English, making the program welcoming to international participants.
Language is simple, grounded, and free from unnecessary religious jargon.
The Monk Life Project is not about becoming someone else.
It is about seeing clearly who you already are.
Monk Sombat Rakkitajito
Chief Advisor
Ordination Date: 25 July, 1996
Languages: Thai, English
Education: Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)
Luang Pi Sombat Rakkitajito has dedicated 30 years to the monkhood. His spiritual journey began in early childhood, where he developed a strong foundation in meditation. Throughout his university years, he uniquely applied meditation to his academic pursuits. This mindfulness practice led him to achieve an outstanding record as one of the top-ranked students in his university.
Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Education, Luang Pi recognized the immense power of a calm and focused mind. Driven by a desire to explore the full potential of inner peace and to share this transformative tool with the world, he made the profound decision to ordain for life.
Monk Praputt (Buddhibalo)
Kamlang-ek / Phornprapha
Chief Executive Monk
Ordination Date:
Languages: Thai, English
Education: MSc ‘London School of Economics’
(Analysis, Design & Management of Information Systems)
Praputt Kamlang-ek / Phornpraph is son of Phornsan Phornprapha and the later Gen. Arthit Kamlang-ek. Born in Los Angeles, California, he spent his educational years in the UK until graduating with a Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics. Today he finds greater fulfillment and joy living the simple life of a monk.
Monk Narongchai Thanajayo
abbot, iMONASTRY Chiang Mai
Ordination Date: 1 April, 2007
Languages: English, Thai
Ph. D. In Peace Studies
A successful engineer in his youth, Laung Pi Narongchai lived and worked in the USA for nearly 10 years. Before ordaining he worked as a Project Counsellor for the Office of Science and Technology in the Thai Embassy in Brussels. For over a decade, he has been the Chief of the International Ordination and Training Program. His vision is to “Make the world a better place through the attainment of inner peace of individuals”.
Monk Anurak Sotthiko
Ordination Date: 3 July 1998
Language: English, Thai
I’ve learned Dhamma and became Dhammakaya Temple’s Volunteer since 1987 then ordained as a Monk on 1998, serving the Vice Abbot of Dhammakaya Temple as an Assistant since 1999-present, assigned to co-ordinating with other Organizations and Communities in order to promotes Dhamma, Goodwill and World Peace.
I would like to see people live in Harmony and Peacefully, believing that we are all the same so I shares the idea with the World via Dhamma Classes, Speeches, Social medias and Community Volunteer outreach programs.
Monk Tim
Teaching Monk
Ordination Date: 20 July, 2014
Languages: English, Thai
GED, Bachelors in Accounting
From Sacramento, California, Monk Tim travelled to Thailand in 2014 looking for meditation training and ordained as a Theravada Buddhist monk.
Ever since, immersed in a monk’s life of mindfulness and meditation, he shares his knowledge with individuals and groups from across the world. He enjoys the art of drawing and journaling, using it as a tool to support the pursuit of inner peace.
Monk Srijug Chavanapunyo
Teaching monk
Ordination Date: 16 December, 2018
Languages: English, Thai, Mandarin, Cantonese
Bachelor Degree in Recording Arts SAE institute, Australia
Luang Pi Srijug was born in the Southern part of Thailand and went to an international high school in Malaysia. He was passionate about success, so he joined his brother’s design company (Cerebrum Design Ltd) in sales and marketing and started his own network marketing company.
While pursuing his dream, he continued to practice meditation and has had several (9) short-term ordinations since 2003. In 2018 after his 10th ordination, he decided to stay and
Monk Worawut
Teaching Monk
Ordination Date: 22 July, 2018
Language: Thai, English
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering
Monk Worawut ordained for his third time 5 years ago. Previously, he had ordained for a short period of time twice. Before becoming a monk this time, he had taught in a university for over 25 years. While still a layman, he had been interested in Buddhism, and was active in practicing, and promoting Buddhism.
When he had the opportunity to ordain this time, he planned to stay day by day to practice meditation, learn more of Buddhism, and help keeping and spreading the teaching of Lord Buddha. Monk Worawut currently stays at “iMONASTERY” in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai, Thailand. He helps teaching and mentoring individuals from around the world who come to train and ordain as a Buddhist monk, in the program called Monk Life Project.
Monk Phop
Senior Mentor Monks
Ordination Date: 7 March, 2022
Languages: English, Thai
BS. Food technology
Born and raised by a Christian mother from the Philippines, I am the father of two beautiful children, the oldest of whom is currently a sixth-year monk. I earned a degree in food technology from the Philippines while studying there, making English my second language, which led me to work for international corporations like Cargill, Tyson, Heineken, Nestle, and Kellogg.
I chose to become an ordained monk on March 7, 2022, after being released from my lay life obligations. My time at the monastery taught me the value of studying the Dhamma, practicing meditation, and leading a modest, forest-dwelling monastic life. This experience has allowed me to remain in the monastery to this day, serving as a mentor monk for all newcomers. The primary objective is to accrue merit and spread happiness to all participants, just as I did in the past.
Luang Pi Richawiwit Dantabalo
Management Monks
Ordination: March 7, 2022
Languages: English, Thai
Master’s degree Film & Digital
Luang Pi Bank, age 41 years graduated with a master’s degree Film-Video Department.
Before he became a monk.
He was a professional dancer representing in Thailand. And a dance coach successful in this career the William B Studio dance institute. For more than 20 years, has competed in dance competitions in many countries. And also the founder of Bangkok International Dance Club(BIDC) in Thailand.
In the year 2022, He received advice on the Monk Life Project ordination project from Khun Phonrsan Kamlang-Ek (Phornprapha) and Phra Praputt Putthiphalo and was ordained as a monk on March 7, 2022 until now. When he has practiced meditation from the master for 1 month. When he has practiced meditation he has discovered the true happiness of life. And when he practice meditation more and more for do meditation practice more developed too. The inner peace that comes from practicing Dhamma makes he realize what true life requires. And the most importantly, he also dedicated his life to spreading Buddhism to foreigners around the world at iMONASTERY Chiang Mai.
Monk Sukhum Yatikaro
Ordination Date: 10 April 2016
Languages: Thai and Khmer
Education: Lower Secondary School (Grade 9)
Dhamma Qualification: Advanced Level of Buddhist Studies
Venerable Sukhum is originally from Cambodia. He came to Thailand with strong determination, seeking to build a stable life, and worked at a factory in Lopburi Province for over two years. During that period, he gained important life lessons in patience, perseverance, and appreciation for the opportunities he received.
Out of gratitude to his parents, Venerable Sukhum decided to ordain in the Buddhist monastic life to repay their kindness. His initial intention was to ordain for a short period of approximately three weeks. However, after entering the monastic life and experiencing the true way of a renunciant, he discovered a deep sense of happiness, inner peace, and meaning in life that he had never known before. This experience strengthened his faith, leading him to continue ordaining day by day up to the present.
Monk Ionatan Saccabalo
Mentor Monk
Ordination Date:
Language: English
Born close to Venice, Italy, and raised within a strong Christian cultural background, he spent his early years exploring a Hippie way of life and searching for deeper meaning.
At the age of 20, despite having no prior Buddhist background, feeling a strong inner calling, he made the decisive choice to quit his job and worldly pursuits behind, he traveled to Thailand, where he undertook higher ordination as a Buddhist monk.
Since then, he has dedicated his life to walking in the footsteps of the Lord Buddha and the Great Masters, committing himself fully to the path towards Liberation and Peace for the whole world.
Monk Marian
Mentor Monk
Ordination date: 7. 5. 2025
Languages: English, Slovak
Monk Marian has discovered Buddhism when dealing with a question: what is the happiness? Where to find it?…Since what he had learned made sense to him, he gradually decided to step into this way of life, which is his current understanding of Buddhism, as much as possible and therefore decided to come from Slovakia to Thailand to become a monk.
Currently, he is at the beginning of his training, trying to follow guidance of his mentor monks and striving to cultivate perfections wherever possible. Marian likes minimalism.
Monk Adisak Atibhalo
Mentor Monk
Ordination Date: July 2025
Languages: Thai, English
Education: PhD in Chemical Engineering
LP Adisak is a former global executive who transitioned from the pinnacle of the corporate world to a life of monastic simplicity. Born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, he is a father of two daughters who now reside abroad with their families.
His professional journey was defined by excellence and global leadership. After earning his PhD in Chemical Engineering, he spent a distinguished career in the oil and gas industry, working in six different countries. He concluded his corporate tenure as the Chairman and Managing Director of a major global affiliate in Thailand.
