
Sometimes real life can be stranger than fiction, and rightly so. Meet Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, a monk who gave up his life of luxury and gave up his $5 billion (approx. 40,000 crores of Indian rupees) to embrace a life of simplicity and service to others. His life story seems very similar to that of a bestselling author Robin Sharmanovel “The The monk who sold his Ferrari” where wealthy lawyer Julian Mantle gives away his material wealth spiritual enlightenment. But what is there Ven Ajan Siripanyoheritage and what made him accept monasticism? Read all about him here:
Ven Ajan Siripagno: “The monk who sold his Ferrari” in real life
Born into a wealthy family, Wen Ajan Siripanyo is the only son of a Malaysian tycoon Anand Krishnan (popularly known as AK) is one of the richest men in Malaysia with a net worth of $5 billion (approx. 40,000 crores). For those who are not in the know, Anand Krishnan’s business empire includes various industries like telecom, media, real estate, etc. d. He was also the former owner of Aircel, the telecommunications company that sponsored the IPL team Chennai Super Kings.
However, despite living a life of luxury, at the age of just 18, Ven Ajan Siripanyo took the bold decision to give up his father’s 40,000 crore empire and become a Buddhist monk!
How did Ven Ajan Siripanyo become a monk?
While father Wen Ajan Siripanyo is a prominent billionaire in Malaysia, his mother Momwajaronse Suprinda Chakraban is reported to have ties to the Thai royal family. He spent his formative years in London, where he was raised with his two sisters. According to reports, Ven Ajan Siripanyo even knows eight languages.
When Ven Ajan Siripanyo was 18 years old, he visited Thailand to meet family members on his mother’s side. It was during this journey that he decided to try the life and style of a monk. However, what started as a simple experience soon changed the life of Ven Ajan Siripanyo forever, and he soon decided to renounce worldly wealth and become a monk for life. For more than 20 years, Ven Ajan Siripanyo has been living as a forest monk. He also serves as the abbot of the Dtao Dum Monasterywhich is near the border of Thailand and Myanmar.
But even though Ven Ajan Siripanyo has become a monk, he has not completely given up his material wealth when it comes to his family affairs. He also keeps in touch with his family, which is one of the main tenets of Buddhism. For example, he was once seen flying on a private plane to meet his father in Italy.
However, the life story of Ven Ajana Siripanyo is not only entertaining, but also makes you think about real wealth in life.
5 Bhagavad Gita Secrets to Achieve Spiritual Freedom in 2024: Chapter 4, Verse 23