14/12/2022
Ajahn Chandako Retires
After 18 years of service to Vimutti Buddhist Monastery and the Auckland Theravada Buddhist Association, Ajahn Chandako has retired as abbot. He will be looking towards simplifying his life, moving in the direction of peace, reducing burdens, and a period of sustained Dhamma practice in solitude. We wish him well in his new endeavours and will remember his years of hard work with gratitude.
Ajahn Chandako was the first monk to live at Vimutti and was invited to be abbot in 2004. He gave the monastery its name, and through his teachings the monastery thrived. Ajahn regularly led retreats, meditation workshops, and he gave teachings nearly every day after the meal. During the time Ajahn was at the Vimutti, the mailing list increased from a few dozen to over 2500.
Ajahn Chandako designed and developed most of the infrastructure for the monastery, including a stunning stupa, enshrined with Relics of the Buddha and Arahants that had been offered to him. Ajahn also organised building 15 kutis, a major upgrade to the sala, a meditation hall, a large workshop and shower room, a garage and a library. He designed the landscaping, including 10 large ponds and planted over 10,000 trees. Ajahn also personally designed the Vimutti website, a beautiful and useful Dhamma resource and source of information. Ajahn put all his heart and physical energy into creating Vimutti Monastery, working 7 days a week, and we all owe him a great debt of gratitude.
A long-time supporter writes:
“It is under Ajahn's skillful spiritual and practical guidance that Vimutti has evolved into a preeminent place for meditation and deep practice of the Dhamma. I can speak of Ajahn's leadership as someone who has known him across the last ten years. Those experiences and others have given me the good fortune of regular communication with Ajahn. I hold him in particularly high esteem.
Ajahn is someone who can give clear guidance even to advanced practitioners. Thai colleagues inform me that his guidance when given in Thai is similarly effective. He communicates the Dhamma in plain terms and is patient with questions from both beginners and veteran meditators.
I have found Ajahn's approach consistently helpful to my practice and understanding. His guidance, spirit of inquiry, and the high standards he holds himself to, all create an excellent context. The combination and relative proximity of the monastery and Auckland Vihara creates a wonderful opportunity for New Zealanders. He has done much to develop the monastery, as well as to maintain teachings at both venues, and continues to do that very well.
In the time I have known him, Ajahn has always shown warmth and wisdom. We are very fortunate to have Ajahn Chandako as Abbot at the calm, well-established practice environment of Vimutti Buddhist Monastery.”
