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Ajahn Sundara
Monday 23th and Thursday 26th March
Special guest for our regular sessions
in Ekkamai (Monday) and Ariyasom (Thursday)
Overview:
Ajahn Sundara, one of the longest serving Western Buddhist nuns in the world, will be joining our regular sessions on Monday and Thursday. She is at the end of several months sabbatical in Thailand and is staying with us before returning to work in the UK monastery.
- There is no charge for these events. Donations will go towards supporting the centre and the teacher.
- There is no need to book in advance – there is plenty of space.
- Refreshments are available on arrival
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Monday 23rd March 2015
‘What you learn from almost 40 years as a meditator’
7-8:30pm at our meditation centre in Ekkamai (map below)
Thursday 26th March 2015
‘Don’t be afraid when the ‘self’ disappears’
6:30-8:15pm at Ariyasom Villa, Sukhumvit Soi 1 (map below)
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About the Topics:
Monday 23rd : Ajahn Sundara has been ordained in the UK monastery for 30+ years. That’s a long time. And it wasn’t easy, especially in the early years when the UK monasteries were still very rough, and there was no place for women in a monks dwelling.
Why spend a life dedicated to meditation and spiritual development, forgoing all the worldly freedoms that most people crave? And what are the effects of so many years on the cushion – the outer effects of behaviour and character, and the hidden inner differences? We’ll put this question to Ajahn Sundara, and also leave time for other questions people may have.
Note that this special session replaces our regular weekly Monday meeting, and will run slightly later than usual. We will finish by 8:30pm though.
It is super easy to find from Ekkamai BTS. Walk down Ekkamai for approx 3 minutes. Turn left when you see Bourbon St. Restaurant. We’re in the ‘Apartments’ building next door.
Thursday 26th : Beginners to meditation always try to control things in their mind. But after a while, you surrender, and start to see raw experience that is without the EGO talking, controlling and trying to manage things. Actually it can be a little scary when the self disappears – it takes time to adjust to a new stance, a new way of just being with the silent mind. Why is it a good thing to experience the (non) self in this way? And what to expect as you train in just being?
Note that this session replaces our usual Thursday meeting and will run slightly later than usual. We’ll finish by 8:15pm
Ariyasom is a fabulous little Boutique Hotel with 24 rooms and a great vegetarian and seafood restaurant, situated at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 1, next to the canal. It’s an 8 minute walk from Phloen Chit BTS
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When I first joined the monastic community in England, Ajahn Sundara was the senior nun. She’d been there for over 20 years, and had established the nuns community there. It took some bravery to forge the way, but thanks to her (and a couple of other’s) efforts Buddhism has been moving into the modern world.
Ajahn Sundara is French and was born in a liberal non-religious family. After studying dance, she worked and taught for a few years in that field. In her early thirties she encountered the Dhamma through Ajahn Sumedho’s teachings and a ten day retreat that he led in England. Her interest in Buddhist teachings grew, and in 1979 she joined monastic community of Chithurst Monastery where she was ordained as one of the first four women novices.
In 1983 she was given the Going Forth as a sīladhāra (ten precept nun) by Ajahn Sumedho. Since then she has participated in the establishment of the nuns’ community, and for the last twenty years has taught and led meditation retreats in Europe and North America. As of 2011, she lives at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery.
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Our little Bangkok Sangha is the Bangkok resource for dharma, meditation, retreats and mindfulness workshops in Bangkok.