Monasteries
Community list
The List of Community Members as of 2012 August, is available for download: [PDF]
Moonday Calendar
Main Monasteries
(listed in alphabetical order)
- Abhayagiri Monastery - U.S.A.
- Amaravati Monastery - U.K.
- Aruna Ratanagiri Monastery - U.K.
- Bodhinyanarama Monastery - New Zealand
- Bodhivana Monastery, no website available - Australia
- Cittaviveka Monastery - U.K.
- Dhammapala Kloster - Switzerland
- Forest Hermitage - U.K.
- Hartridge Monastery - U.K.
- Santacittarama Monastero - Italy
- Vimutti Hermitage - New Zealand
- Wat Marp Jan - Thailand
- Wat Nong Pah Pong - Thailand
- Wat Pah Nanachat - Thailand
- Wat Pah Sunan - Thailand
Associated Monasteries
(listed in alphabetical order)
- Arrow River Center - Canada
- Birken Forest Monastery - Canada
- Dhammagiri Hermitage - Australia
- Vimokkharama Hermitage, no website available - Australia
- Tisarana Monastery - Canada
Description of the Main Monsteries
Abhayagiri Monastery - USA
Abhayagiri Monastery or Fearless Mountain is the first monastery in the United States to be founded by Venerable Luang Por Sumedho; it is situated in Redwood Valley, California, about 13 miles (21 km) north of Ukiah. Senior monks lead meditation retreats and Dhamma workshops at various locations in California. Ajahn Pasanno is the current abbot of the monastery.
Amaravati Monastery - U.K.
Amaravati was founded in 1984 and is situated in rural Hertfordshire, thirty miles from London. Its resident community numbers around 35 members and the monastery hosts retreats, festivals, talks, and workshops for the laity. The current abbot is Ajahn Amaro.
Aruna Ratanagiri Monastery - U.K.
Aruna Ratanagiri (Harnham Buddhist Monastery) with its adjacent lay retreat facility, Kusala House, is located in Northumberland, England. The current abbot is Ajahn Munindo. Harnham is the home of Aruna Publications, and is responsible for the administration of various Dhamma websites. Monks from Harnham regularly visit meditation groups in the North of England and Scotland, and Kusala House holds male, female, and mixed retreats throughout most of the year.
Bodhinyanarama Monastery - New Zealand
Bodhinyanarama is a monastic sanctuary situated in a 51 hectare (126 acre) wooded valley near Wellington, New Zealand. While principally a residence for those wishing to participate or train in the monastic lifestyle, the large public area and meeting hall are used for religious festivals, public meetings and retreats. The forested area, with remote lodgings, provides a suitable environment for seclusion. The senior monks instruct in meditation, teach Buddhist principles, lead retreats, etc., both at the monastery and abroad. The current abbot is Ajahn Kusalo.
Cittaviveka Monastery - UK
Cittaviveka, was the first of Ajahn Chah’s monasteries established in the West. Started by Ajahn Sumedho in 1979, it coincided with Ajahn Chah’s visit to Britain Besides Chithurst House with its adjacent Dhamma Hall, the monastery is comprised of Hammer Wood with many meditation kuṭīs (huts), Rocana Vihāra for nuns and Āloka cottage for their female guests. Ajahn Sucitto is presently the abbot.
Dhammapala Kloster - Switzerland
Located in Kandersteg in Switzerland, this quiet monastery is surrounded by mountains at an altitude of 1200m. In 2005 Ajahn Khemasiri was appointed leader of the community, which normally consists of between 4 and 6 members.
Forest Hermitage - U.K.
Forest Hermitage is a small monastery located in Warwickshire. The senior monk, Ajahn Khemadhammo, resides here with other monks and a lay-attendant. It is the headquarters of the Aṅgulimāla national Buddhist prison chaplaincy service, and hosts several lay retreats throughout the year.
Hartridge Monastery - U.K.
Hartridge Monastery, founded in 1986, is nestled in the Black Down Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in East Devon. The monastery is comprised of an old cottage, adjoining guest accommodation, and twenty acres of fields and newly planted woodland containing a pond and four kuṭīs for the monastic Sangha. Ajahn Jutindharo is the senior incumbent.
Santacittarama Monastero - Italy
Santacittarāma, “The Garden of the Peaceful Heart” was established in 1990. It is located in the Sabina hills of Rieti province, 35 miles north of Rome, in an area of olive groves and vineyards. The monastery consists of several buildings on 10 hectares of woodland and meadow and has a resident community of 7 or 8 Sangha members. The abbot is Ajahn Chandapālo.
Vimutti Hermitage - New Zealand
Vimutti Monastery is a Buddhist community in the lineage of Venerable Ajahn Chah. Vimutti is situated in the midst of 72 acres of native bush, pine forest, streams and rolling hills. The monastery offers seclusion and suitable conditions for those who wish to deepen their meditation, as well as the opportunity for people of all nationalities to join together in harmony and work towards a noble common goal.
Wat Marp Jan - Thailand
Wat Marp Jan was founded by Venerable Ajahn Anan (Akiñcano). The temple is located near Khao Yai Da, a reserved forest area adjacent to the National Forest in Rayong. There are usually at least thirty monks (or fifty during Rains Retreat) of more than seven different nationalities. Many lay people visit and attend festivals, talks, and workshops.
Wat Nong Pah Pong - Thailand
Established by Venerable Ajahn Chah (Bodhiñāṇa Thera) in 1954, Wat Nong Pah Pong is a forest monastery located in the province of Ubon Rachathani, in the North-East of Thailand. The present abbot is Luang Por Liam (Ṭhitadhammo).
Wat Pah Nanachat - Thailand
Wat Pah Nanachat is a monastery in the Forest Tradition near the village of Bahn Bung Wai in Northeast Thailand. It was established by Venerable Ajahn Chah to provide English-speaking people the opportunity to train and practice in the way the Buddha taught his monks in the forests 2600 years ago. The present abbot is Ajahn Kevalī.
Wat Pah Sunan - Thailand
www.watpahsunan.org (Thai), (English)
Ajahn Gavesako (Japanese) was ordained by the late Venerable Ajahn Chah in 1974 and is currently abbot of the monastery. Currently there are approximately 20 monks resident at the monastery. The practice hall can accommodate up to 150 people. There are 35 kuṭīs for monks and enough accommodation to house 150 visitors. Each year there are around 5000 laymen/women who come and stay at the Wat Pah Sunan.