The Eagle has landed.

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
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Sam Vara
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The Eagle has landed.

Post by Sam Vara »

Ajahn Sumedho is now in the UK at Amaravati monastery. The expectation is that he will stay there for good - at least in the UK, as there is also a new kuti and care facility for him at Cittaviveka. Apparently the reasoning behind the move from Thailand was that he felt he could do more effective teaching in the UK, as his understanding of the language and culture is superior to his very good Thai.

He's certainly eligible for the Covid vaccination, so let's hope he gets one as soon as he is recovered from the journey!
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Ceisiwr
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by Ceisiwr »

Thanks for the update :thumbsup:
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
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DNS
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by DNS »

"Eagle" is a good term; he's a Yank and served in the military. Interesting bio (for those that don't know):
Ajahn Sumedho was born Robert Karr Jackman in Seattle, Washington, in 1934.[1][2] During the Korean War he served for four years from the age of 18 as a United States navy medic. He then did a BA in Far Eastern studies and graduated in 1963 with an MA in South Asian studies at the University of California, Berkeley. After a year as a Red Cross social worker, Jackman served with the Peace Corps in Borneo from 1964 to 1966 as an English teacher. On break in Singapore, sitting one morning in a sidewalk café, he watched a Buddhist monk walk by and thought to himself, "That looks interesting." In 1966, he became a novice or samanera at Wat Sri Saket in Nong Khai, northeast Thailand. He ordained as a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk) in May the following year.
more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajahn_Sumedho
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by coconut »

Is there a reason he is popular? Does he hold any unique views?
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by DNS »

coconut wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:44 pm Is there a reason he is popular? Does he hold any unique views?
He's one of the first Western born Buddhist monks (became a samanera in 1966) so that could be part of the popularity. He has also written some books.

He has also been an abbot at more than one monastery.
From 1967 to 1977 at Wat Nong Pah Pong, he trained under Ajahn Chah. He has come to be regarded as the latter's most influential Western disciple. In 1975, he helped to establish and became the first abbot of the International Forest Monastery, Wat Pa Nanachat in northeast Thailand founded by Ajahn Chah for training his non-Thai students. In 1977, Ajahn Sumedho accompanied Ajahn Chah on a visit to England. After observing a keen interest in Buddhism among Westerners, Ajahn Chah encouraged Ajahn Sumedho to remain in England for the purpose of establishing a branch monastery in the UK. This became Cittaviveka Forest Monastery in West Sussex.
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by coconut »

DNS wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:52 pm
coconut wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:44 pm Is there a reason he is popular? Does he hold any unique views?
He's one of the first Western born Buddhist monks (became a samanera in 1966) so that could be part of the popularity. He has also written some books.
Ah ok thanks. I'm not too familiar with him, just his name. I'm more familiar with the early british and german monks like nyaynaponika, nanamoli, nyanadipa, nanavimala, nyanatiloka, etc..
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by mikenz66 »

coconut wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:56 pm
DNS wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:52 pm
coconut wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:44 pm Is there a reason he is popular? Does he hold any unique views?
He's one of the first Western born Buddhist monks (became a samanera in 1966) so that could be part of the popularity. He has also written some books.
Ah ok thanks. I'm not too familiar with him, just his name. I'm more familiar with the early british and german monks like nyaynaponika, nanamoli, nyanadipa, nanavimala, nyanatiloka, etc..
Yes, those are certainly much earlier generations. Ven Nyanatiloka was ordained in 1904, and the others you mention in the 1930s and 1940s.

Perhaps it would be reasonably accurate to say that Ajahn Sumedho was among the earliest to come back to the West and help establish monasteries.

:heart:
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by dharmacorps »

We owe an awful lot in the west to Luang Por-- UK and USA. A very inspiring man. I read and re-read his talks often.
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Post by sunnat »

Indeed. Here in OZ too.

https://archive.org/details/StillnessFl ... KAMOUNTAIN a biography in audio
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by Mr Man »

mikenz66 wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:03 am
coconut wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:56 pm
DNS wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:52 pm He's one of the first Western born Buddhist monks (became a samanera in 1966) so that could be part of the popularity. He has also written some books.
Ah ok thanks. I'm not too familiar with him, just his name. I'm more familiar with the early british and german monks like nyaynaponika, nanamoli, nyanadipa, nanavimala, nyanatiloka, etc..
Yes, those are certainly much earlier generations. Ven Nyanatiloka was ordained in 1904, and the others you mention in the 1930s and 1940s.

Perhaps it would be reasonably accurate to say that Ajahn Sumedho was among the earliest to come back to the West and help establish monasteries.
And the first western monk disciple of Ajahn Chah

coconut you may find this interesting

Twain Shall Meet

A Short History of how Western Monks came to Ajahn Chah

https://www.amaravati.org/dhamma-books/ ... hall-meet/
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by Aloka »

.

I recommend reading Ajahn Sumedho's 5 volume Anthology, which is available on Amaravati Monastery website.

https://www.amaravati.org/dhamma-books/ ... mple-step/

Videos of his talks can also be found there and also on YouTube and the Buddhism Now website.


:anjali:
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by gavesako »

Video of Ajahn Sumedho arriving at Amaravati after a long flight:



He will no doubt be shielded now in the nursing kuti building where only his attendant monk will have direct access to him. Beware of the UK covid variant!
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Sam Vara
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by Sam Vara »

gavesako wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 4:02 pm Video of Ajahn Sumedho arriving at Amaravati after a long flight:
Balmy weather there. He'll hardly notice that he's left Thailand...
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by confusedlayman »

Sam Vara wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 4:12 pm
gavesako wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 4:02 pm Video of Ajahn Sumedho arriving at Amaravati after a long flight:
Balmy weather there. He'll hardly notice that he's left Thailand...
did he come alone in flight? how many Thai monks came with him?
I may be slow learner but im at least learning...
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Re: The Eagle has landed.

Post by Sam Vara »

confusedlayman wrote: Sat Jan 23, 2021 8:53 am
Sam Vara wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 4:12 pm
gavesako wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 4:02 pm Video of Ajahn Sumedho arriving at Amaravati after a long flight:
Balmy weather there. He'll hardly notice that he's left Thailand...
did he come alone in flight? how many Thai monks came with him?
I believe he has one particular monk as a helper, who would have accompanied him from Thailand.
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