User:Ian426/Aruna Ratanagiri

=Aruna Ratanagiri Buddhist Monastery=



Aruna Ratanagiri, (Harnham Buddhist Monastery) a Theravadin Buddhist monastery of the Thai Forest Tradition in Northumberland, England. The community consists of monks, novices and postulants from a wide range of nationalities, usually numbering around 8 Sangha members and an adjacent lay retreat facility known as Kusala House.

History
The monastery was founded in response to increasing interest, particularly in the NE England, in the Theravadin forest tradition of Thailand. When, in 1980, a group of local yoga students tried to find a suitable cottage which they could offer as a retreat facility to the Sangha, farmer John Wake of Harnham Hall responded, and they agreed to rent one of his farm cottages. In 1981 Ajahn Sucitto became the first bhikkhu to take up residence, and began initial renovations; on the 21st of June 1981 the monastery was officially opened by Ajahn Sumedho; and in that same year the Magga Bhavaka Trust was formed (now it has a new trust: Harnham Buddhist Monastery Trust).

Vision


The primary focus for the Aruna Ratanagiri monastery is to provide and maintain a sanctuary suitable for the training and ongoing practice of Theravadin bhikkhus, in keeping with the Pali vinaya and forest tradition of NE Thailand.

Today, through freely distributed books and Dhamma  talks, regular discussion groups and Sunday evening talks, and also in the context of more than 5 times yearly meditation retreats, Harnham offers spiritual support for practitioners far and wide. Monks from Harnham regularly visit meditation groups in the North East of England and Scotland, in addition to a lot of non-Buddhist  groups and individual visitors, including school and university groups, are coming to the monastery to learn about Buddhism .

Abbots
·	Ajahn Sucitto (1981 – 1981)

·	Ajahn Viradhammo (1981 – 1983)

·	Ajahn Anando (1983 – 1984)

·	Ajahn Thiradhammo (1984 – 1987)

·	Ajahn Pabhakaro (1987 – 1990)

·	Ajahn Munindo (1991 – present)