BHIKKHU DHAMMASIHA 

Aahn Dhammasiha
(Abbot of Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, Spiritual Director of Brisbane Buddhist Vihara Inc)

Ajahn Dhammasīha has served as the founding abbot of Dhammagiri since it was established in 2007 as the first forest monastery in the tradition of Ajahn Chah in Queensland.

Born in West Germany in 1966, he ordained as a Theravāda Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka in June 1996, with most Ven. Paṇḍita K. Sri Jinavaṃsa as preceptor. For three years he trained at Nissaraṇa Vana, a forest monastery dedicated to solitary practice of meditation, and meticulous observance of the Theravāda Vinaya. His early approach to practice was guided by the Suttas of the Pāli Canon, and by the examples of senior monks like Ven. Ñāṇavimala Thera and Ven. Ñāṇadīpa Thera.

In 1998 he came to Australia and started training in the tradition of Ajahn Chah, first at Bodhinyana Monastery in Perth, and later at Vimokkharam, a quiet Forest Hermitage in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges. During that period he was fortunate to receive teachings from some of the most outstanding meditation masters in the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Mun and Ajahn Chah, like Luang Por Plien, Luang Por Tui & Luang Por Anan.

In 2006 he was invited to establish a Forest Monastery in the tradition of Ajahn Chah near Brisbane. Since 2007 he has been resident at Dhammagiri, doing most of the regular teaching programs, looking after the development of the hermitage and resident & visiting Sangha, and continuing his meditative practice and Dhamma studies in the quiet, solitary environment the hermitage provides.
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