'Monk Who Sold His Ferrari' Comes to Life: Reel To Real

Sometimes real life takes unexpected turns. A similar thing happened in Thailand when Ananda Krishnan's son gave up his claim to the family's $5 billion business to live a modest life as a Buddhist monk in Thailand.

Ananda Krishnan: Malaysia Billionaire

Ananda Krishnan (popularly known as AK) is one of Thailand's wealthiest individuals, with a corporate empire that includes telecom, satellites, oil, real estate, and media. He was also the former owner of Aircel, a telecom company that has sponsored the IPL team Chennai Super Kings.

Who is Ven Ajahn Siripanyo and how did he become a monk?

Born into privilege, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, the only son of Ananda Krishnan, has been ordained as a monk under the guidance of Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, a renowned Buddhist monk in Thailand.

However, despite having a luxurious and easygoing life, at the age of 18, Ven Ajahn took a bold decision to renounce his father's ₹40,000 crore empire to embrace a life of simplicity and service to others.

According to sources, when Ven was 18, he travelled to Thailand to meet his mother, Momwajarongse Suprinda Chakraban, family. During the trip, he opted to live the monastic lifestyle. However, what began as a one-time experience suddenly transformed Ven Ajahn Siripanyo's life forever, and he decided to give up his worldly possessions and become a monk for life.

Ven Ajahn Siripanyo has spent nearly 20 years as a forest monk. He also serves as the abbot of Dtao Dum Monastery, which is located near Thailand and Myanmar's border. However, despite becoming a monk, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo has not totally abandoned his materialistic wealth in terms of family relations. He also communicates with his family, which is one of Buddhism's major principles.

Therefore, Ajahn Siripanyo's life story stands out as a unique real-world example of choosing spiritual life over material life.