Sansanee Sthirasuta (Thai: ศันสนีย์ เสถียรสุต, in Thai pronounced as /sǎn.sa.nīː sa.tʰǐa.ra.sùt/; 1953 – 7 December 2021), better known as Mae Chee Sansanee, was a Thai Theravada Buddhist spiritual teacher and maechi (non-ordained woman monastic). She was known for teaching meditative practices and encouraging the role of women in Buddhism, and was the founder of Sathira-Dhammasthan, a learning centre and spiritual retreat in Bangkok.[1] [2]
Sansanee was born Sansanee Panyasiri (Thai: ปัญญศิริ). She left her hometown in Ayutthaya province for Bangkok at the age of 15, becoming a model and television personality. She was briefly romantically involved with millionaire socialite Sthira Sthirasuta, but after finding out he was already married eventually decided to abandon worldly life and become a maechi (nun) at the age of 27.[3] She founded Sathira-Dhammasthan in 1987, with Sthira as a benefactor, and initially focused on providing refuge for victimized women.