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Venerable Ajahn Amaro - The Biography

Ajahn Amaro (Jeremy Horner) was born in Kent England in 1956. He studied Psychology and Physiology at Bedford College University of London. His first spiritual interest arose on reading the works of Rudolph Steiner. Upon completing his degree he had the chance to travel to Asia - a friend offered him work as a groom on a cargo plane transporting racehorses to Malaysia.

He visited Northeast Thailand on the recommendation of some people he met while traveling. Looking for a place to stay a few nights (before going on to Japan) he heard about Wat Pah Nanachat and its Western monks. The visit was eventful - he took an instant liking to the monks, felt immediately at home, and decided to stay. He became an anagarika and then a samanera four months later (in 1978). The following year he received upasampada from Ajahn Chah. 

Venerable Amaro stayed in Thailand for two years before family illness called him back to England. He then joined Ajahn Sumedho at the newly established Chithurst Monastery. Once while in London he decided to look up a cousin of his whom he had never met; the illustrious scholar, translator and president of the Pali Text Society, I.B. Horner. Unfortunately, she died before a meeting between them could be arranged.

In 1983 Ajahn Sumedho asked him to take up residence at Harnham Vihara and he requested to make his way there on foot. He wrote a book about the 830-mile walk; Tudong - the Long Road North, in 1984. 

After several years of short visits to USA in 1997 he was invited to take up residence and lead the establishment of Abhayagiri Monastery in California. Along with Ajahn Pasanno this is where he currently resides.

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