Ajahn Sundarā

Ajahn Sundarā was born in France in 1946. She studied dance in England and France. After working for a few years as a dancer and teacher of contemporary dance, she had the opportunity, while living and studying in England, to attend a talk and later a retreat led by Ajahn Sumedho. His teachings and experience of the monastic way of life in the Forest tradition impressed her deeply. Before long, this led her to visit Chithurst Monastery, where, in 1979, she asked to join the monastic community as one of the first four women novices. In 1983, she received ordination as a sīladhāra, with Ajahn Sumedho as her preceptor. After spending five years at Chithurst Monastery, she went to live at Amaravati Monastery, where she took part in establishing the nuns' community.