Introduction
Ajahn Jutindharo is a highly respected senior monk within the Western Forest Sangha. Having ordained in the late 1980s, he belongs to the influential generation of monastics who helped solidify the Forest Tradition in the United Kingdom under the guidance of Luang Por Sumedho. Currently serving as the Abbot of Hartridge Buddhist Monastery, he is known for his calm, reflective teaching style and his ability to make the ancient wisdom of the Thai masters accessible to a modern, Western audience.
Early Life and Spiritual Search
Born and raised in Leeds, England, Ajahn Jutindharo’s spiritual path began during his university years. It was here that he first encountered the Buddha’s teachings and began exploring meditation as a tool for understanding the mind. This intellectual and practical curiosity eventually evolved into a profound life-calling.
In 1987, he made the life-altering decision to join the monastic community. He entered the Sangha during a pivotal time when the Forest Tradition was beginning to take deep root in British soil through monasteries like Amaravati and Cittaviveka (Chithurst).
Training and Development
Ajahn Jutindharo’s monastic training was primarily based in Britain, where he benefitted from the direct mentorship of the first-generation Western elders. His practice has been marked by:
The British Forest Way: Mastering the art of maintaining forest standards within a Western cultural context.
Asian Pilgrimage: Spending formative periods in Asia to connect with the roots of the tradition, visiting the great forest monasteries of Thailand to strengthen his link to the lineage of Ajahn Chah.
Internal Reflection: Developing a teaching style that emphasizes the "Internal Monastery"—the cultivation of a peaceful heart regardless of one's external environment.
Leadership at Hartridge Monastery
In 2007, Ajahn Jutindharo assumed the abbotship of Hartridge Buddhist Monastery in Devon. Nestled in the quiet countryside of Southwest England, Hartridge is a sanctuary dedicated to the practice of the Dhamma-Vinaya. Under his guidance, the monastery has flourished as a center for both monastic training and lay retreats.