Ajahn P. Prayad Suwanchatri was born in Songkhla provice of Thailand. When he was ten years old he moved to the Patthalung province. He became a novice after finishing secondary school. He graduated from Mahachula Buddhist University. Ajahn Prayad has also lived in India and Malaysia before coming to the United States and Wat Atammayatarama. He is of the Overseas Missionary Class XII.