Complex sentence: Beginning in the 1950s the tradition would gain respect among the urbanities in Central Thailand, and many of the Ajahns were nationally recognized by Thai Buddhists, who regarded them as "arahants"--living Buddhist saints in Theravada Buddhism.
Split into simpler sentences: Beginning in the 1950s the tradition would gain respect among the urbanities in Central Thailand. Many of the Ajahns were nationally recognized by Thai Buddhists, who regarded them as "arahants"--living Buddhist saints in Theravada Buddhism.