Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

A stupa amid the frost of late dawn
Basic information
Location St Margarets Lane, Great Gaddesden, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England HP1 3BZ
Affiliation Thai Forest Tradition
Country United Kingdom
Website http://www.amaravati.org
Architectural description
Founder disciples of Luang Por Chah
Completed 1984

Amaravati is a Theravada Buddhist monastery at the eastern end of the Chiltern Hills in south east England. Established in 1984 by Ajahn Sumedho as an extension of Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, the monastery has its roots in the Thai forest tradition. It takes inspiration from the teachings of the community's founder, the late Ajahn Chah. Its chief priorities are the training and support of a resident monastic community, and the facilitation for monastic and lay people alike of the practice of the Buddha's teachings.

Community

The resident community consists of monks (bhikkhus), nuns (siladhara), and male and female postulants who live in accordance with strict traditional codes of celibacy, together with a volunteer support staff and visitors. According to the monastery website, regarding the male monastic community, "Usually, there are between 15 and 25 bhikkhus and samaneras in residence, living a contemplative, celibate, mendicant life according to the Vinaya and Dhamma. [...] The community also consists of anagārikas, or white-robed postulants on the eight precepts, who after a year or two may be given samanera ordination." [1] The monastery's order of 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]

Origins

Amaravati formally opened in 1985, the site having been purchased from Buckinghamshire County Council by the English Sangha Trust the year before. Its configuration of several large huts of Canadian cedar, built in extensive grounds for military purposes during World War II, had formerly been a residential school. A purpose-built temple was officially opened on 4 July 1999 by 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]

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 Ajahn Chah's community, in addition to those in Thailand (see list below). A new 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 dāna established by the Buddha, the monastery and the retreat centre are run entirely on donations. Amaravati is near the Hertfordshire village of Great Gaddesden. The nearest towns are Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted. The mediaeval convent of St Margaret's, abolished by Henry VIII during the 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.

Dhyana Buddha statue

The tallest Dhyana Buddha Statue measuring 125 ft high has been unveiled at Amaravati, Guntur District. Situated on the banks if the river Krishna the magnificent statue will bring in more visitors to the already famous region of Amaravati. The essence of the Buddhist teachings found in 24 chapters and 424 stanzas have also been carved on 200 panels in the main hall of the Dhayana Mandiram.

Amaravathi Maya Stupa

Amaravati, was once considered the most sacred pilgrim centre of Buddhists in India. The town is 35 km from Guntur and was the capital of the Satavahanas called Dhanyakataka. It is the site where one of the largest Buddhist Stupas was once built. The Amaravati Stupa an imposing structure adorned with marble sculpture, stood 38 metres tall and was profusely carved with scenes from the life of Lord Buddha. In the year 2006, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, performed the "Kalachakra" [5] empowerment at Amaravati, where a world congregation of Buddhists gathered. Amaravati Museum and Buddhist Interpretation Centre are other attractions.

See also

External links

References

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

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