THE COMMUNITY AT WAT PAH NANACHAT
MAY–JUNE 1985
SENIOR MONKS
| The Ajahn | head monk of Wat Pah Nanachat (ex-jazz guitar player from Australia) | |
| Tan Bodhipalo | the dour cave monk (ex-gospel singer from England) | |
| Tan Sumeno | Mr. Chicago (ex-real estate millionaire) |
JUNIOR MONKS
| Ruk | the industrious German monk whose Thai nickname means “laughter.” | |
| Sun Tin | the ex-Thai farmer with the crooked grin. | |
| Tan Casipo | the helpful junior monk from New Zealand in charge of taking care of newcomers. | |
| Tan Wee | the tiny Thai monk. | |
| Yenaviro | the timid Chinese ex-accountant from Malaysia. |
NOVICES
| Edward | the Brit who disappeared (possibly a peebah?) | |
| Mark | the “wat doctor” from New Zealand. | |
| Meow | Thai teenager and Cheshire cat. | |
| Nimalo | the “professional novice” from Australia. | |
| Richard | the talkative Texan |
PAKHAOS
| Michael | veteran pakhao from the U.S.A. | |
| Tim, Jim | the twins, as far as the community was concerned. |
LAYMEN
(though perhaps a dozen laymen came and went, only those central to the story are listed here):
| Herbie | the teenager from Canada. | |
| Percy | the Brit with the limp and the not-so-stiff upper lip. | |
| Julian | the earnest seeker from Australia | |
| Dukita | the young Thai woman who lived in the woman's section. | |
| Mum | mother of Mark the novice. |
OTHER MONKS OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY
| Ajahn Chah | the reverend forest monk, founder of many monasteries including Pah Nanachat. | |
| Ajahn Sumedo | the farang monk who first headed Pah Nanachat, living at a wat in England at the time of this story. | |
| Tan Sumana | a Bangladeshi Theravada monk and friend of the author, studying in Bangkok. | |
| Tissa | author, studying in Bangkok |