Ajahn Brahmavamso now in Sri Lanka

Ajahn Brahmavamso makes us feel he prefers we use this shortened name - Ajahn Brahm, so that's the name I use in this article.

- By NAN

The abbreviated second name is extra meaningful since the five letters in it are the first letters of the major religions of the world - Buddhism, Roman Catholicism and A for Anglican, Hinduism and Muslim. (I hope I am right).

Ajahn Brahm is now in Sri Lanka to give of himself to a crowded agenda planned by the Ajahn Brahm Society of Sri Lanka, given leadership by Ven Metthavihari Thera. This is a short visit but Ajahn Brahm will be going through a rigorous program of helping people mentally and emotionally, which help promotes physical well-being too.

Ajahn Brahm (British) and one of his pupils - Ajahn Brahmali (Norwegian) who reside in Bodhinyana Monastery in Serpentine, Perth, have been on several teaching visits to our country. The monastery was built by Ajahn Jagaro and Ajahn Brahm after they left Thailand and decided to live in Australia, invited to do so by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia. The monastery was completed in 1983 and named Bodhinyana in remembrance and to honour Ajahn Cha whose monastic title was Phra Bodhinana Thera.

An aside is that all building of extensions and renovations to the monastery are undertaken by the resident monks themselves. Thus an anecdote related by Ajahn Brahm is relevant here. He was all dusty and dirty from building when a well dressed Lankan woman came to the monastery and asked him whether she could meet Ajahn Brahm. He directed her to a waiting room and said that Ajahn Brahm would be with her in 15 minutes. Bathed and in a fresh set of robes he came and spoke with her. At the end of the interview she conspiratorially asked him as Head Abbot to control the monks better as she met a very untidy, very dirty monk when she entered the monastery. Bad image, she said.