Amaravati Buddhist Monastery — Local services in Dacorum

I stayed at Amaravati on two occasions in 2015 for a few days each, as an eight precept lay resident. Truly deserving of its fine reputation, Amaravati proved to be a monastery that is very beneficial and supportive of one's Buddhist practice.

The abbot, Ven. Ajahn Amaro, is a profound and wise teacher whose talks I immensely enjoyed. The monks and nuns are highly advanced practitioners and I found it very rewarding to speak with them and discuss Dhamma. Their positive vibes rub off on every guest and visitor and one is bound to leave with feelings of inspiration and gratitude knowing in one's heart that the Dhamma of the Lord Buddha does indeed bring the benefits that it promises, if put correctly into practice, simply by observing the pure moral conduct of the monastics (and the lay people as well), and even more so, by seeing how happy and genuinely joyful human beings they are!

I was fascinated with the main temple hall and the Buddha statue, the peace and the tranquility, and how silent it was even when more than 60 people were meditating together! I also liked the beautiful Stupa in the temple garden, which also contained paths for one to practice walking meditation or just enjoy time cultivating seclusion.

Since staying at the monastery is completely free of charge, I also liked the fact that I could give something back to the monastery by helping out and doing some work to help maintain the monastery premises, thus becoming a mutually beneficial endeavour aiming to find growth in the Dhamma and thus be of benefit to people at large looking for inner peace and the development of their own human...

A rare sanctuary of peace and depth.

Amaravati is the largest Theravāda Buddhist monastery in Europe, rooted in the Thai Forest tradition. It draws spiritual seekers, supporters, and the simply curious from all over the world.

🧘‍♂️ Saturday afternoons feature a free meditation workshop for newcomers, led by an experienced monk or nun, with time for Q&A afterwards.

🍚 Daily at around 11:00 AM, there’s a communal food offering to the monastic community. Visitors are welcome to bring food beforehand and share in the meal with others. After lunch, monks are often available for conversation or Dhamma questions.

📿 Evening chanting and meditation begins at 7:30 PM and is open to all.

🌕 On observance days (new moon, full moon, and quarter moons), there's an extended evening session with a Dhamma talk, an opportunity to take the precepts, and open-ended meditation until midnight. The following day is kept quiet and reflective, with no evening program.

🏡 Guests can stay for short periods to live alongside the community, contributing through simple daily tasks. It’s a rare chance to integrate mindfulness with communal living.

📚 The monastery offers a wide range of free books and teachings, generously funded by supporters in the UK and Thailand.

This tradition is known for its strong vinaya (ethical discipline), quiet integrity, and deep commitment to mindfulness in daily life. Check the official website for up-to-date calendars, visiting details, and...

I've visited this monastery since its inception, when it was but a muddy field. Over the years its deteriorated in the spiritual dimension. It is now quite a vast complex. The woods opposite are quite lovely. However, the community lacks any warmth or welcome. There is a sense of dissatisfaction among the ordained sangha. The Saturday talks are often utter jibberish. And the lay community affiliated with it wander around like petty admin guards. During a group meeting, the chairman called Martin ran a discussion group like an AA meeting. Where people speak but no one can respond. So it is that they will only talk at you, not with you. That is not a sangha. It's a cult. In his mind Martin is the only true Buddha. A minor bureacrat is more like it. In the 21st century it is very patriarcal, the monks can eat first, from senior to novice, before any nun! The head monk Amaro, is rather camp and speaks or hums in a strange tone, looking always lost and bemused. He loves talking though and drones on. Many monks have been passive aggressive, when asked anything. I have never met a nice monk or nun there. The library is very nice indeed, old with tonnes of books. However, there is no help available, much like the rest of the place. Where they try their best to avoid you. Western superiority complex doesn't mix with an ancient...