Achan Da Nilpant has been teaching meditation since 1976 and is the abbot of the Redding Meditation Society. He was one of enlightened monk, Luangpor Teean Jittasubho’s, closest students.
On August 16, 1951, he was born at Nonsawang village, Roiet Province, in Northeast Thailand. After finishing elementary school, he became a novice monk for five years. He disrobed at 17 when his parents moved from Roiet to Nakonpanom. He worked on their farm planting rice and other crops, but they struggled to survive. He was always innocent, friendly, generous, patient, and sincere. He didn’t like to fight and was always polite and respectful to other people.
After three years of working on the farm with his parents, he returned to the monkhood. His parents approved his decision, and he was ordained at Supararam Forest Monastery in 1971. After hearing many recommendations from practitioners, Achan Da pursued Luangpor Teean but didn’t find and meet him for two years. He studied under Luangpor Teean’s guidance for three years and practiced patiently and diligently, step by step, through the stages of the practice until he reached the end of suffering.
Luangpor Teean encouraged Achan Da to teach throughout Thailand, and they worked together until Teean died in 1988. Achan Da made his first visit to America in 1993 and continues to teach here.