"Sri Lankan Theravada was established as the predominant tradition in Thailand in the fourteenth century. Today Thai Buddhism is highly hierarchic and organized. It also comes under a degree of state supervision and the king is the Supreme Patriarch. Not surprisingly， therefore， the local 'church' has its radicals and reformers as well as its unbending conservatives. Much of its vitality， however， lies away from the towns and cities in rural forest areas where serious practitioners are ordained and get down to the real business of doing Buddhism. One well-known modern master of the forest tradition is Ajahn Chah， who has trained many Western monks， notably Ajahn Sumedho， the American founder of four new Theravada monasteries in Britain and others elsewhere."

For details， See also: "Theravada Buddhism" （Note）