Ajahn Candasiri
Encyclopedia
Ajahn
Candasiri is a senior nun (Siladhara
) in the Thai Forest Tradition
of Thai Theravada Buddhism.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947, she became an occupational therapist
in the mental health field after graduating from a university. Having been raised as a Christian she later as an adult began to take an interest in the teaching of the Buddha
. In 1977, after exploring several meditation traditions, she met Ajahn Sumedho
in the United Kingdom
and was introduced to the Dhamma. She ordained in 1979, at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
, England
.http://www.forestsangha.org/canda5.htm She was one of four women anagarika
s who founded Chithurst Buddhist Monastery
's community of nuns in West Sussex, England. In 1983, she took Siladhara
vows. Ajahn Candasiri resided at Cittaviveka, Chithurst
until 1999 when she moved to Amaravati monastery.
Ajahn Candasiri takes a special interest in Christian-Buddhist understanding. She has taught and led retreats in many places and enjoys teaching young people. Ajahn Candasiri is well known for her work in advancing vinaya
training for women. She has written and contributed to many articles.
Ajahn
Ajahn is a Thai language term which translates as teacher. It is derived from the Pali word , and is a term of respect, similar in meaning to the Japanese sensei, and is used as a title of address for high-school and university teachers, and for Buddhist monks who have passed ten vassa.This...
Candasiri is a senior nun (Siladhara
Siladhara
Siladharas are an order of Theravadin Buddhist nuns in the Thai Forest Tradition. The order, in modern times, exists at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery and Chithurst Buddhist Monastery in England, but originated centuries ago, in India and Sri Lanka...
) in the Thai Forest Tradition
Thai Forest Tradition
The Thai Forest Tradition is a tradition of Buddhist monasticism within Thai Theravada Buddhism. Practitioners inhabit remote wilderness and forest dwellings as spiritual practice training grounds. Maha Nikaya and Dhammayuttika Nikaya are the two major monastic orders in Thailand that have forest...
of Thai Theravada Buddhism.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947, she became an occupational therapist
Occupational therapist
An occupational therapist is trained in the practice of occupational therapy. The role of an occupational therapist is to work with a client to help them achieve a fulfilled and satisfied state in life through the use of "purposeful activity or interventions designed to achieve functional...
in the mental health field after graduating from a university. Having been raised as a Christian she later as an adult began to take an interest in the teaching of the Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
. In 1977, after exploring several meditation traditions, she met Ajahn Sumedho
Ajahn Sumedho
Luang Por Ajahn Sumedho is the senior Western representative of the Thai forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism. He was abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery just north of London from its consecration in 1984 until his retirement in 2010...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and was introduced to the Dhamma. She ordained in 1979, at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Amaravati is a Theravadin Buddhist monastery at the eastern end of the Chiltern Hills in south east England. The centre, in practice as much for ordinary people as for monastics, is inspired by the Thai forest tradition and the teachings of the late Ajahn Chah....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.http://www.forestsangha.org/canda5.htm She was one of four women anagarika
Anagarika
In Theravada Buddhism, an anagarika is a person who has given up most or all of his worldly possessions and responsibilities to commit fulltime to Buddhist practice. It is a midway status between monk and layperson where one takes on the Eight Precepts for the entire anagarika period, which could...
s who founded Chithurst Buddhist Monastery
Chithurst Buddhist Monastery
Cittaviveka, popularly known as Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, is a Theravada Buddhist Monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition. It is situated in West Sussex, England in the hamlet of Chithurst between Midhurst and Petersfield...
's community of nuns in West Sussex, England. In 1983, she took Siladhara
Siladhara
Siladharas are an order of Theravadin Buddhist nuns in the Thai Forest Tradition. The order, in modern times, exists at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery and Chithurst Buddhist Monastery in England, but originated centuries ago, in India and Sri Lanka...
vows. Ajahn Candasiri resided at Cittaviveka, Chithurst
Chithurst
Chithurst is a village in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It lies within the civil parish of Trotton with Chithurst, just off the A272 road 3 miles west of Midhurst....
until 1999 when she moved to Amaravati monastery.
Ajahn Candasiri takes a special interest in Christian-Buddhist understanding. She has taught and led retreats in many places and enjoys teaching young people. Ajahn Candasiri is well known for her work in advancing vinaya
Vinaya
The Vinaya is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha, based in the canonical texts called Vinaya Pitaka. The teachings of the Buddha, or Buddhadharma can be divided into two broad categories: 'Dharma' or doctrine, and 'Vinaya', or discipline...
training for women. She has written and contributed to many articles.