P. A. Payutto

P. A. Payutto
ป.อ. ปยุตฺโต
Personal life
Born
Prayudh Aryankura
ประยุทธ์ อารยางกูร

(1938-01-12) 12 January 1938
Si Prachan district, Suphan Buri province, Thailand
Religious life
ReligionBuddhism
OrderMahā Nikāya
SchoolTheravāda
Dharma namesPayutto
ปยุตฺโต
Monastic nameSomdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya
สมเด็จพระพุทธโฆษาจารย์
Ordination
Senior posting
PostAbbot of Wat Nyanavesakavan
(since 1994)

P. A. Payutto (Thai: ป.อ. ปยุตฺโต; born 12 January 1938), also known by his current monastic title, Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya (Thai: สมเด็จพระพุทธโฆษาจารย์), is a well-known Thai Buddhist monk, an intellectual, and a prolific writer.

Payutto has lectured and written extensively about a variety of topics related to Buddhism, including the position of women in Buddhism and the relationship between Buddhism and the environment. He was awarded the 1994 UNESCO Prize for Peace Education.

Because changes in Thai monastic title involve adding or changing monastic names, Payutto has been known by, and published under, a variety of different names over his career. Previously, he was known as Phra Rajavaramuni, Phra Debvedhi, Phra Dhammapitaka, and Phra Bhramagunabhorn. Upon his appointment to the Sangha Supreme Council in 2016, his current title is Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya.