Chithurst Buddhist Monastery

Cittaviveka (Chithurst Buddhist Monastery)

Cittaviveka, more commonly known as Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, is a significant Theravada Buddhist monastery located in the hamlet of Chithurst, West Sussex, England. Established in 1979, it holds the distinction of being the first branch monastery of the renowned Thai Forest Tradition, specifically of Wat Pah Pong in Ubon, Thailand, to be established outside of Thailand. The monastery was founded by Ajahn Sumedho, a prominent disciple of Ajahn Chah, in alignment with the objectives of the English Sangha Trust, established in 1956 to support the ordination and training of Buddhist monks in the West.

Foundation and Early Development

The monastery's establishment was precipitated by the acquisition of Hammer Wood, a significant area of woodland and heath, in 1978-79, followed by the purchase of the semi-derelict Chithurst House. Āloka Cottage, another nearby property, was acquired and renamed, providing accommodation for women. A community of monks, novices, and lay practitioners took up residence in June 1979, soon joined by women who began training as eight-precept nuns and later became the first sīladharā, ten-precept nuns, in 1983. The initial years were dedicated to the extensive repair of Chithurst House and the ongoing project of reafforestation of Hammer Wood.

A crucial development in the monastery's monastic infrastructure was the establishment of a formal ordination precinct, or sīma, on June 3, 1981. This event coincided with Ajahn Sumedho receiving the authority to grant bhikkhu ordination, leading to the first ordinations taking place on July 16, 1981. Cittaviveka thus became the site of the first established sīma in Britain, though later, more weather-proof indoor sīmas were established at other monasteries.

Evolution and Current Status

In 1984, Ajahn Sumedho departed Cittaviveka to establish Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, taking a portion of the monastic community with him to accommodate the growing numbers of monastics and lay followers. Ajahn Ānando then assumed the role of Abbot, focusing on continuing the monastery's rebuilding efforts and training junior monks, alongside a renewed emphasis on reafforestation. The monastery continued to integrate into the local landscape, with monastics undertaking daily alms-rounds (pindapāda).

Subsequent abbots have guided the monastery through further development. Ajahn Sucitto, who became abbot in 1992, oversaw continued construction, including a large meditation hall, the Dhamma Hall, between 1998 and 2004. The monastery also acquired an additional house for nuns, Rocana Vihāra, in 2006, allowing the nuns to live with greater autonomy. The current abbot, Ajahn Ahimsako, assumed leadership in 2019. Cittaviveka remains an active monastic center, offering teachings to the public and continuing its tradition of communal living and spiritual practice within the Thai Forest Tradition.