Two figures really set the Thai Forest Tradition in motion. The first, Phra Ajaan Sao Kantasīlo (1859–1942), wandered remote jungles in search of unbroken Vinaya practice and deep concentration. His insistence on living right at forest’s edge—literally under the trees—sparked a revival of truly wilderness-based meditation. His star pupil, Phra Ajaan Mun Bhuridatto (1870–1949), took that spark and fanned it into a flame. Ajaan Mun refined the “forest code,” pairing rigorous ethical conduct with systematic insight techniques. His name still rings out at retreat centers from Chiang Mai to California.

A handful of other masters—Ajaan Thate, Ajaan Maha Boowa, and later Ajaan Chah—helped spread the lineage worldwide. These teachers kept the forest heart beating even as mindfulness apps and urban wellness studios boomed. Lately, interest in eco-mindfulness and mental-health awareness (spurred by post-pandemic burnout) has brought a fresh wave of seekers back to those original tree-shaded huts. The legacy of Sao and Mun remains as vital as ever, proving that sometimes the oldest paths through the woods lead to the clearest view.