Born into a poor farming family in Ubon Ratchathani province
Formal education ended after the 1st grade. Spent three years as a novice, disrobed, then re-ordained at 20.
In 1946, he left settled monastic life to go on a walking pilgrimage to sacred sites in Central Thailand. After re-entering settled monastic life to study Vinaya, he encountered Ajahn Mun and began to devote himself to meditation as a wandering forest monk.