Aruna Ratanagiri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aruna Ratanagiri Buddhist Monastery |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Thai Forest Tradition |
| Location | |
| Location | Aruna Ratanagiri,
Harnham, Belsay, Northumberland, NE20 0HF |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Venerable Ajahn Sumedho Mahathera |
| Website | |
| ratanagiri.org.uk | |
The Aruna Ratanagiri Buddhist Monastery, also known as Harnham Buddhist Monastery, is a special place for Theravada Buddhism in Northumberland, England. It follows the Thai Forest Tradition, which is a way of practicing Buddhism.
This monastery is home to a community of around eight Sangha members. These include monks, novices, and postulants. They come from many different countries. The monastery also has a nearby building called Kusala House. This house is a quiet place for visitors to stay and learn.
Contents
A Look at the Monastery's History
People in northeast England became very interested in the Thai Forest Tradition. This tradition was being set up in England by Ajahn Sumedho and his students in the late 1970s. Because of this interest, a group of local yoga students wanted to find a place for a retreat. They hoped to offer this place to the Buddhist community.
In 1980, a farmer named John Wake helped them. He lived at Harnham Hall, near Belsay. He agreed to rent one of his farm cottages. In 1981, Ajahn Sucitto became the first bhikkhu (monk) to live there. He started to fix up the cottage.
On June 21, 1981, the monastery officially opened. Ajahn Sumedho led the opening ceremony. In the same year, a charity called the Magga Bhavaka Trust was created. This trust helped manage money for the new monastery. Today, the monastery has a new trust called the Harnham Buddhist Monastery Trust.
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Basic terms |
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People |
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Schools |
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Practices |
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study Dharma |
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What the Monastery Aims to Do
The main goal of Aruna Ratanagiri monastery is to be a peaceful place. It helps Buddhist monks train and practice their faith. They follow the ancient rules of the Pali Vinaya and the forest tradition from Northeast Thailand.
Helping People Learn and Grow
Today, Harnham monastery helps many people. They offer free books and Dhamma talks (teachings). They also have regular group discussions and Sunday evening talks. More than five times a year, they hold meditation retreats. These events help people who want to learn about Buddhism.
Monks from Harnham often visit other Buddhist groups. These groups are in the north east of England and Scotland. Many other groups also visit the monastery. These include school and university groups. They come to learn about Buddhism and its practices.
Leaders of the Monastery
The monastery has been led by several abbots over the years. An abbot is the head monk of a monastery.
- Ajahn Sucitto (1981)
- Ajahn Viradhammo (1981–1983)
- Ajahn Anando (1983–1984)
- Ajahn Thiradhammo (1984–1987)
- Ajahn Pabhakaro (1987–1990)
- Ajahn Munindo (1991 – present)
Images for kids
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A view of Harnham Hill, where the monastery is located.
