Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

Coordinates: 51°47′30″N 0°31′15″W / 51.79167°N 0.52083°W / 51.79167; -0.52083
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Hertfordshire, England HP1 3BZ
CountryUnited Kingdom
Architecture
Founderdisciples of Luang Por Chah
Completed1984
Website
http://www.amaravati.org

Amaravati is a

Buddha
's teachings.

It is not to be confused with the ancient Amaravati Stupa in India.

Community

The resident community consists of monks (

siladhara, or ten-precept nuns, dates from 1983; there are 10 or so members and a number of female postulants at Amaravati and at Chithurst Buddhist Monastery in West Sussex.[2]

Inside Amravati Buddhist Monastery
Inside Amravati Buddhist Monastery

Origins

Amaravati formally opened in 1985, the site having been purchased from

Princess Galyani Vadhana, sister of the King of Thailand. The monastery's founder and abbot for most of its existence has been Ajahn Sumedho, Ajahn Chah's foremost disciple in the West. In Autumn 2010 he handed over to the English monk Ajahn Amaro, who for the preceding 15 years had been co-abbot of Abhayagiri Monastery in Redwood Valley, California.[3]

  • Beyond all coming and going: the Tathagata
    Beyond all coming and going: the
    Tathagata
  • Temple of Amaravati Monastery UK seen from within cloister
    Temple of Amaravati Monastery UK seen from within cloister
  • Main temple building seen from rear car park
    Main temple building seen from rear car park
  • Amaravati Monastery Cloister outside wall and temple in background
    Amaravati Monastery Cloister outside wall and temple in background
  • Main Stupa and trees in bloom at Amaravati Monastery UK
    Main Stupa and trees in bloom at Amaravati Monastery UK

Outreach

Amaravati has sister monasteries in England – in Devon, Northumberland and West Sussex – as well as monasteries in New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland and North America, which were likewise founded by Ajahn Sumedho. These exist among other Western branches of

vihara in Portugal, called Sumedharama, has been founded north west of Lisbon, near Ericeira.[4]
Amaravati's retreat centre provides meditation courses for lay people from April to December. A meditation workshop for lay visitors happens each Saturday from 2-4pm, and there are family and other practice and teaching events happening at the monastery regularly.

In accordance with the principle of

Dissolution of the Monasteries, was for centuries just 400 yards along the lane. Amaravati in the ancient Buddhist language of Pali
means "deathless realm."

Retreat Centre

The monastery includes a retreat centre offering monastic and lay retreats most of the year.

Long Term Plans

In 2013, plans were unveiled to update the buildings to a more eco-friendly design, replacing some of the old wooden buildings. So far the following have been completed

  • Aroga Kuti: Nursing cottage for elderly monks, completed in Nov 2017.
  • Heartwood House: Increased accommodation for the nuns' community.
  • Re-building of the nuns' residence at Amaravati.

See also

References

  1. ^ Amaravati website Archived 19 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Amaravati website Archived 11 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Amaravati website Archived 26 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Sumedharama Website

External links

51°47′30″N 0°31′15″W / 51.79167°N 0.52083°W / 51.79167; -0.52083

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