community in the Thai forest tradition of Ajahn Chah
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Paññananda Bhikkhu
1911 – 2007
Tan Chao Khun Paññananda bhikkhu,
born May 11, 1911, passed away on October 10th.
Revered throughout Thailand, he was also a key
figure in the evolution of our community in the UK.
Luang Por Sumedho offers a few memories…
Monasteries
Checking-in with some of the monasteries
at the end of another year
Amaravati monks
The good-natured rhythms of life in the male monastic community at Amaravati have continued in 2007.
There has been much movement, in the nuns’ community this year, with Ajahn Upekkha leaving for India in July, Ajahn Sundara spending the vassa in the US and Ajahn Candasiri taking care of her father in Edinburgh up to the time of his death in August. Also, several of the sisters have been travelling and teaching in different parts of Europe as well as the US: Ajahn Candasiri in the Czech Republic, Ajahn Anandabodhi with Sister Sumedha in Norway, Ajahn Metta with Sister Chandasara in Switzerland and Ajahns Sundara and Metta in the US…. .
Sharing the goodies around
At the time of writing this article Kathina season 2007 is drawing to a close. Somehow this year’s festivals seemed lovelier than ever. Maybe it is the time of year – bright skies and sunny days; maybe it is the extra-rich golden leaves on the trees. Or perhaps it was noticing more clearly how rewarding it is when we meet as spiritual community …
The lovely golden brown and russet reds of autumn foliage at Chithurst make you think that getting old can be beautiful.
An advantage of living in a monastery that has sizeable woodland, is to get a sense that along with sudden events, there is steady growth. Over the last 28 years we have been replanting and increasing the amount of tree cover present over the 170 acres of Cittaviveka. This year is no exception and as usual, we have set aside a period of up to a month during which volunteers and residents commit to five days a week of a regular day’s work in the woods. It takes a while, but we get to see …
The past twelve months at Hartridge Monastery has been a period of transition with the arrival of a new abbot. At the end of November 2006 Ajahn Suriyo, who had been abbot for three years, left to live in a hermitage. He had been very popular at Hartridge, but poor health was a steady drain, and sadly, late this year, he decided to disrobe. Ajahn Dhiravamso, originally only in Devon for a few months, extended his stay to take the helm as acting senior monk for an interim period, until in May 2007 Ajahn Jutindharo arrived …
Belated new year’s celebrations at Dhammapala were kick-started in early 2007, when the chairman of the monastery trust informed us that the ‘old Dhammapala’ – the monastery’s former property in the town of Konolfingen near Bern – had finally been sold. This was the place where Ajahn Tiradhammo and a couple of other pioneers started the monastic project in Switzerland in 1988. Since moving the monastery to Kandersteg in 1991 there had been continuing attempts to sell the old property, but without much success. What a relief to know …
The year 2007 seems to have been a particularly busy one, with lots of coming and going, plus teaching visits to various parts of Italy – Bari, Cagliari, Milan, Padua, Piacenza, Rieti, Verona - and to Slovenia. Guests come from all over Europe, and beyond, and at present there are several young men, Italian as well as Spanish and Slovenian, interested in undertaking a monastic training...
This year at Bodhinyanarama has been one of many changes.
At the beginning of the year we were four resident ajahns, and during the summer we were pleased to have visits by four senior ajahns from further afield: Ajahn Munindo, Ajahn Guttasilo, Ajahn Vajiro and Ajahn Chandako.
However, by the end of May I was the only ajahn left …
Abhayagiri enjoyed a spacious and joyous year blessed with many distinguished visitors and ample opportunity for cultivation. Over the three-month winter retreat, Ajahn Amaro read out the entire English language collection of Luang Por Chah’s teachings, ending with selected readings of Ajahn Sumedho. This set the tone for the year to come...