Bhikkhu Sugandha’s extraordinary journey to Thailand’s highest monastic circles

Bhikkhu Sugandha, born Anilman Shakya, is a 66-year-old monk who has risen to prominence within Thailand's highest monastic circles. Clad in saffron robes, he is a familiar figure teaching in diverse settings, from high-security correctional facilities to prestigious academic institutions like the University of Oxford and Santa Clara University.

With a PhD in Social Anthropology from Brunel University of London and educated on a Thai royal scholarship, Bhikkhu Sugandha is one of the few foreigners to attain the highest ranks of Thailand's Sangha, or monastic order. He is deeply devoted to peace, compassion, and loving-kindness, earning widespread respect for his profound understanding of Buddhist principles.

Although born in Nepal, Bhikkhu Sugandha has spent most of his life in Thailand since being ordained as a novice monk at age 14. He has cultivated close ties with Thailand's Supreme Patriarch and Deputy Supreme Patriarch, eventually serving as assistant secretary to the Supreme Patriarch. His dedication and humility paved the way for his current standing.

Now recognized as a leading authority on Theravada Buddhism, Bhikkhu Sugandha also serves as a think-tank expert on sustainable development for the United Nations. He holds the royal religious title of Phra Brahma Shakayavansa Vishuddhi Shahi in Thailand, ranking third in the hierarchy after the Supreme Patriarch and Deputy Supreme Patriarch. He is the first foreign national to reach these upper echelons of the Thai Sangha.

His journey began after a historic meeting in 1972 between senior Buddhist leaders from Thailand and Nepal. The then Deputy Supreme Patriarch of Thailand visited Nepal and met the revered Nepali monk Bhikkhu Amritananda, inquiring how Thailand could support the revival of Buddhist education in Nepal.