Venerable Vimokkha Mendhino, Ph.D is the abbot of the Thai Forest Monastery Pipphalivanaram in the countryside of Rayong Province. He received training from some of Thailand's most renowned Buddhist masters and has developed his own techniques through years of practice and exploration.
About Venerable Vimokkha, PhD
Venerable Vimokkha, PhD (Medhino Bhikkhu), is a Thai forest monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of AwareInsight. He serves as abbot of Wat Pipphalivanaram, a Thai forest monastery in Rayong Province, Thailand.
His life and teaching are temple-rooted in the Thai forest monastic tradition, while actively engaging international communities through meditation retreats, contemplative education, and public programs worldwide.
Deeply committed to building sustainable peace, his work cultivates loving-kindness (mettā), compassion (karuṇā), and mindful awareness as foundations for individual and collective transformation.
Early Life and Spiritual Awakening
Born in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, in 1957, Venerable Vimokkha developed an early inclination toward meditation and contemplative inquiry. Inspired in his youth by the writings of Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu, he began traveling to study with respected meditation masters and later pursued formal study in Buddhist philosophy at Wat Mahathat in Bangkok.
He studied horticulture at Kasetsart University while remaining actively engaged in Buddhist leadership and dialogue.
Ordained initially under the guidance of Luang Pu Kassapamuni, he received foundational training in the Thai forest lineage before temporarily returning to lay life with a firm aspiration to re-enter monastic life permanently.
Professional and Academic Formation
Before returning fully to monastic life, Venerable Vimokkha accumulated over two decades of professional leadership experience in banking, telecommunications management, gemstone mining operations in Australia, and executive leadership within the international precious gem and jewelry export industry. This real-world experience deepened his understanding of organizational systems, economic responsibility, and human behavior in high-accountability environments.
During this period, he pursued advanced academic study at Mahachulalongkorn University, earning both a Master’s degree and a PhD in Buddhist Studies. His doctoral research examined the concept of suññatā (emptiness) in the thought of Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu.
His formation uniquely integrates traditional monastic discipline, scholarly rigor, and real-world leadership experience.
Return to Monastic Life
At age 47, fulfilling his long-held vow, he re-ordained and deepened his training in vipassanā meditation under respected masters including Ven. Suthat Kosalo and Luangpo Tien.
Soon after, he was invited to teach at Wat Pipphalivanaram. His presence revitalized the monastery, and he was subsequently appointed abbot.
As abbot, he expanded the monastery’s educational outreach while preserving its contemplative integrity — strengthening its role as both a sanctuary of traditional practice and a center for contemporary engagement.
Connect Body, Mind and Breath Guided by Ven. Vimokkha
International Teaching and Vision
Temple-rooted yet globally engaged, Venerable Vimokkha now teaches across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. His approach is widely described as accessible, pragmatic, and experientially grounded.
He emphasizes:
• Direct insight into the nature of mind
• Systematic cultivation of loving-kindness and compassion
• Ethical clarity in personal and social life
As his international teaching expanded, he established AwareInsight as an institutional platform to advance contemplative education and sustainable peace initiatives globally.
The Vision of AwareInsight
AwareInsight was founded to advance mindful awareness and ethical development as foundations for sustainable peace.
Its mission is to cultivate loving-kindness (mettā) and compassion (karuṇā) as transformative forces within families, communities, and institutions.
Through structured training, retreats, and community dialogue, AwareInsight supports:
• Personal transformation grounded in awareness
• Emotional resilience and clarity
• Compassionate relationships
• Ethical leadership and social responsibility
Sustainable peace, in this vision, begins within the human heart and extends outward into collective life.
Building Sustainable Peace through Loving-Kindness and Compassion in Individuals and Communities Worldwide.
Venerable Vimokkha, PhD (Medhino Bhikkhu), is a Thai forest monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of AwareInsight. With decades of monastic training and doctoral scholarship in Buddhist Studies, he teaches internationally, guiding individuals and communities in the cultivation of loving-kindness, compassion, and sustainable peace.
In Odesa, Ukraine, cultivating loving-kindness and mindful awareness as foundations for sustainable peace in individuals and communities.