International Elders meeting at Amaravati

From May 22nd until 26th Ajahn Khemasiri attended an International Elders’ Meeting at Amaravati Monastery in England. Such gatherings of the disciples of Ajahn Chah take place approximately every three years. This year it was organized in such a way to also include an additional number of younger monks and nuns. One of the highlights of the meeting occured on the New Moon day of May 25th, when 83 bhikkhus participated in the fortnightly recitation of their monastic rule. This recitation was followed by a Dhamma teaching offered by Luang Por Liem, the abbot of Wat Nong Pah Pong, Ajahn Chah’s original monastery in Thailand. The entire gathering of bhikkhus, siladhara, samaneras and anagarikas altogether numbered 120 with participants from 32 nationalities and from 33 monasteries worldwide.

The meeting closed harmoniously on the morning of May 26th with extended blessing and protective chants, a Dhamma discourse by Luang Por Sumedho and everyone asking forgiveness from the four most senior Sangha members.