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Bhikkhu Vinita | |
| Ven. Vinita was born in Embilipitiya, Sri Lanka in January of 1977. He received Samanera (novice) ordination in 1994 under the guidance of Venerable Piyananda Mahanayaka Thera, the abbot of the meditation Centre at Lellopitiya, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. In 1996 he had the opportunity to read the teachings of Ven. Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho, which inspired him to learn more about the Thai Forest Tradition lineages. Soon afterwards Ven. Vinita started to look for a monastic community that followed the Ajahn Chah tradition. |
In the same year, Ven. Vinita met Ajahn Vimalo (a disciple of Ajahn Sumedho) during his stay at Lanka Vipassana Centre in Colombo with Ven. Pemasiri Thero. The time spent with Ajahn Vimalo (the first western monk that he had ever seen) further increased Ven. Vinita’s interest in the Ajahn Chah communities. In 2003, with the kind invitation of Ajahn Vimalo and the English Sangha Trust, Ven. Vinita accompanied Bhikkhu Kiribathgoda Nyananananda on a visit to Amaravati. In 2005 Ven. Vinita stayed at Chithurst Buddhist Monastery during the rains retreat (Vassa). Ven. Vinita returned to Amaravati in 2006 in order to receive Upasampada (bhikkhu ordination) and to train under the guidance of Luang Por Sumedho, whose presence filled him with faith and helped him gain confidence in his life. From December 2009 to June 2011 Ven. Vinita lived at Hartridge Buddhist Monastery in Devon, after which he returned to Amaravati. | |
