Ajahn Chah, also known as Luang Por Chah, was born on June 17, 1918, in a small village in the province of Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. He was the youngest of five siblings and grew up in a poor farming family. As a child, Ajahn Chah showed a strong interest in spiritual matters and would often ask his parents about the purpose of life and death.

At the age of nine, Ajahn Chah's father passed away, leaving his mother to raise the children on her own. Despite the financial struggles, his mother ensured that Ajahn Chah received a basic education. However, due to the family's financial situation, he had to leave school at the age of 11 and help his mother with the farm work.

At the age of 17, Ajahn Chah's spiritual yearning led him to leave his village and travel to a nearby town to become a novice monk. However, due to his young age, he was not accepted into the monastery. Undeterred, he continued to travel to different monasteries, seeking ordination. Finally, at the age of 20, he was ordained as a novice monk at Wat Bupharam in Ubon Ratchathani.

Ajahn Chah spent the next seven years studying and practicing under various teachers in different monasteries. In 1946, he received higher ordination as a bhikkhu (fully ordained monk) at Wat Pah Pong in Ubon Ratchathani. It was during this time that he met Ajahn Mun, a renowned meditation master, who had a profound impact on Ajahn Chah's spiritual development.

In 1954, Ajahn Chah left Wat Pah Pong to establish a small monastery in a remote forest in Ubon Ratchathani province. This marked the beginning of the Thai Forest Tradition, a branch of Theravada Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and strict adherence to monastic rules. Ajahn Chah's simple and direct teachings attracted many students, both Thai and Western, who came to live and train with him in the forest.

Over the next few decades, Ajahn Chah's teachings spread throughout Thailand and beyond, inspiring many to lead a more mindful and compassionate life. He established over 100 monasteries and trained numerous monks and nuns, who continue to spread his teachings today.

Ajahn Chah's journey to becoming a Buddhist monk was not an easy one, but his determination and unwavering faith led him to become one of the most revered and influential spiritual teachers of modern times. His teachings continue to inspire people from all walks of life to find inner peace and happiness through the practice of mindfulness and compassion.