Monks in Residence

BHIKKHU DHAMMASIHA (Abbot of Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage)
Bhikkhu Dhammasiha was born in West Germany in 1966. He ordained as a Theravāda Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka in June 1995, with most Ven. Pandita K. Sri Jinavamsa as preceptor. For three years he trained at Nissarana Vana, Meetirigala in Sri Lanka, a forest monastery dedicated to solitary practice of meditation, and meticulous observance of the Theravāda Vinaya. His approach to practice was guided by the Suttas of the Pāli Canon, and by the examples of senior monks. 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. Bhikkhu Dhammasiha arrived in Brisbane in 2007 and helped in establishing a forest monastery in South East Queensland, where he remains as abbot. 

AJAHN CUNDA
Ajahn Cunda was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and moved to California in 1996.
​After graduating from college, working and living abroad, he began practicing Buddhist meditation.
Seeking a quiet, uncomplicated and peaceful life, he began living at Abhayagiri in late 2005.
Ajahn Cunda trained for one year as an Anāgārika and one year as a Sāmaṇera before ordaining
as a Bhikkhu on May 22nd, 2008 with Ajahn Pasanno as his preceptor and has lived primarily at
Abhayagiri since his ordination. He will be in residence at Dhammagiri from July 4 until the end of
the Rains Retreat this year.

VEN. AKINCANO
Ven. Akiñcano is a British monk of 3 vassa, who has trained at Cittaviveka Monastery, Chithurst near London, with Ajahn Kāruniko as his teacher.