The Forest Hermitage (วัดป่าสันติธรรม) is a branch of Wat Nong Pah Pong (วัดหนองป่าพง), the late Luang Por Chah’s principal monastery in N. E. Thailand. It is a small peaceful Buddhist forest monastery and comprises Santidhamma, the original property where the monks live and where events open to the public are held, and Bhavanadhamma, which is for nuns, female devotees and guests and where the weekend retreats are held.  The Buddha-Dhamma Fellowship is the trust responsible for both. The community is led by Ven. Chao Khun Bhavanaviteht (Luang Por Khemadhammo) OBE, whose blog, News & Musings, with our most recent news can be found here.

News

MAGHA PUJA

We celebrated Magha Puja on Sunday, February 28th with a very impressive turnout on such a cold day.  As usual those who wished to began by taking the Refuges and Precepts and then after various expressions of generosity that included the offering of food, requisites and money everyone had the chance to listen to Luangpor tell some stories of his and Tahn Manapo’s recent trip to Thailand and explain the story of Magha Puja, when the Buddha recited to an assembly of his personal and Arahant disciples the Ovada Patimokkha, containing the verse, ‘To avoid all evil, cultivate the good and purify the mind, this is the teaching of all the Buddhas!’

The total for the day’s donations was £1,400, so £700 went into the Forest Hermitage account and £700 towards the paying off of the outstanding debt on Bhavana Dhamma (see below).

Luangpor in London

On the first Sunday of every month Luangpor will be at a Thai Restaurant at 26 Crawford St, Marylebone, W1H 1LL to eat and afterwards, at around midday, to give a talk. Next:  Sunday, April 4th.

2010 Bhavana Dhamma Retreat Program now online.