The Monks Community
The Bhikkhu community at Amaravati began from those that came from Cittaviveka Monastery in 1984. Many had spent some time training in Thailand at Wat Nong Pah Pong.
Usually, there are between 8 and 16 Bhikkhu* and Samanera* in residence, living a contemplative, celibate, mendicant life according to the Vinaya and Dhamma. They provide the living link with the Order founded by the Buddha over two thousand years ago. The community also consists of Anāgārikas, or white robed postulants on the 8 precepts, who after a year or two may be given Samanera ordination.
The community is not static as there are close links with the other branch monasteries both in England and abroad; Bhikkhu and Samanera move between the monasteries.
The community is led by Luang Por Sumedho
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Luang Por ChahVenerable Ajahn Chah (Pra Bhodinyana Thera) was born into a typical farming family in Baan Gor village, in the province of Ubon Rajathani, N.E. Thailand, in 1917. He lived the first part of his life as any other youngster in rural Thailand, and, following the custom, took ordination as a novice in the local village temple for a number of years, where he learned to read and write in addition to some basic Buddhist teachings. |
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Luang Por SumedhoLuang Por Sumedho was born in Seattle, Washington in 1934. After serving four years in the US Navy as a medic, he completed a BA in Far Eastern Studies and a MA in South Asian Studies. In 1966, he went to Thailand to practice meditation at Wat Mahathat in Bangkok. Not long afterwards, he went forth as a novice monk in a remote part of the country, Nong Khai, before receiving full ordination in 1967.
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Ajahn VajiroVenerable Vajiro (Phil Gunton) was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1953. He was educated at Lancing College in England, and went on to study Economics at Bath University. Upon graduating in 1974, he took up a career in accountancy. During this period, a friend encouraged him to go on a ten-day meditation retreat with John Coleman at the Oakenholt Buddhist Centre near Oxford. He attended further retreats there in 1976 and 1977.
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Ajahn NyanaratoAjahn Nyanarato (Shigehito Nakao) was born in 1958, in Nara, Japan. His sincere interest in the meaning of the life began when he was being trained as a medical doctor in Kyoto University. After graduation, he decided to go to India for spiritual pursuit, instead of becoming a doctor. He spent one year there, then moved on to Thailand, where he visited various monasteries, such as Wat Pak Nam, Wat Suan Mokkh, etc. |
