Luang Por Sumedho to Visit Abhayagiri (UPDATED July 7th, 2014)

Luang Por Sumedho to Visit Abhayagiri (UPDATED July 7th, 2014)

Please note: the most reliable and up-to-date information is on our web calendar.

Luang Por Sumedho, the most senior Western disciple of Ajahn Chah, will be visiting the [Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery]() from July 8th to July 18th.

Here are a list of events involving Luang Por Sumedho:

  • The community will assemble to welcome Luang Por Sumedho at Abhayagiri on the evening of July 8th.

  • Luang Por Sumedho has agreed to offer a Dhamma reflection during Abhayagiri’s Asalha Puja, July 11th. Please be at the cloister area by 7 pm if you wish to attend the ceremony. Vehicles will be be shuttling people up to the ordination platform. Asalha Puja starts at 7:30 pm on the ordination platform. Consider bringing clothing for colder weather and repellent for mosquitoes

    Please note: Anagarika J.R.’s novice ordination, happening on the same day, will begin at 4:30 pm in the Dhamma Hall in the Cloister Area. If you wish to attend his ordination, please show up at the cloister area and be seated in the Dhamma Hall before 4:30 pm.

  • Luang Por Sumedho has also agreed to offer a Dhamma reflection at the nearby City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB) at 5 pm on Sunday, July 13th in the Buddha Hall. This talk will also be webcasted live on the Dharma Realm YouTube Channel.

    Luang Por Sumedho had a strong connection with the founder of CTTB, Rev. Master Hsun Hua. Master Hua, also offered the original land for Abhayagiri and is thus responsible for Abhayagiri’s location in Redwood Valley.

All are welcome to visit during the day and attend the various events at Abhayagiri including Asalha Puja. All events at Abhayagiri and the talk at CTTB are freely offered, with no reservation required.

A brief biography of Luang Por Sumedho is included below:

Luang 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.

A year of solitary practice followed. Although fruitful, it showed him the need for a teacher who could more actively guide him. A fortuitous encounter with a visiting monk led him to Ubon province to practice with Luang Por Chah. He took dependence from Luang Por Chah and remained under his close guidance for ten years.

In 1975, Luang Por Sumedho, established Wat Pah Nanachat, International Forest Monastery where Westerners could be trained in English. In 1977, he accompanied Luang Por Chah to England and took up residence at the Hampstead Vihara, with three other monks.

Luang Por Sumedho was made an Upachaya (ordination preceptor) in 1981. Since then he has given upasampada (Bhikkhu precepts) to more than a hundred aspirants of many nationalities. Luang Por Sumedho was integral in establishing the Forest Sangha tradition in the United Kingdom. He was central in establishing Amaravati Buddhist Monastery and Chithurst Buddhist Monastery. He remained as senior incumbent at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Hertfordshire until November 2010, at which time he handed over the duties of abbot to Ajahn Amaro. Luang Por Sumedho is now based in Thailand where his monastic life began in 1966.

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