J.C.J. Horner.
September 1956, England.
Received BSc in Psychology and Physiology with Honours from University of London.
Took up residence at Wat Pah Nanachat, in the lineage of Ven. Ajahn Chah in Ubon Province, North-east Thailand.
April – Ordained as a bhikkhu (Upasampadā), Phra Bodhiyana Thera (Luang Por Chah Subhaddo) was his preceptor.
October – Returned to England to join Ven. Ajahn Sumedho at Wat Pah Cittaviveka, a newly founded forest monastery in Chithurst, West Sussex.
Journeyed 830 miles on foot to the newly opened Harnham Vihāra (now called Aruna Ratanagiri Monastery) in Northumberland and spent 2 years there.
Was invited to Amaravati Buddhist Monastery by Luang Por Sumedho, to help with teaching and administration.
Was invited to start coming to the USA, spending a few months each year teaching there.
June – established Abhayagiri Monastery, California.
Led the community of Abhayagiri Monastery in collaboration with Ven. Ajahn Pasanno, as co-abbots.
Spent one year visiting the Buddhist holy places in India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Returned to England and took up the role of abbot at Amaravati, on the retirement of the founding abbot, Ven. Ajahn Sumedho.
Was granted permission to be an upajjhāya (ordination preceptor).
Along with Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Amaro was honoured by the King of Thailand with the ecclesiastical title ‘Chao Khun’. Together with this honour he was given the name ‘Videsabuddhiguṇa’.
Along with Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Amaro was honoured by the King of Thailand with the ecclesiastical title ‘Chao Khun Rāja’. Together with this honour he was given the name ‘Rājabuddhivaraguṇa’.
Ajahn Amaro has written or edited more than 30 books, including an account of an 830-mile trek from Chithurst to Harnham Vihara called Tudong, other titles include: Small Boat, Great Mountain; Rain on the Nile and The Pilgrim Kamanita; 5 books were co-written with Ajahn Pasanno, one of these is The Island - An Anthology of the Buddhaʼs Teachings on Nibbāna.
His books have been translated to 9 languages; Thai, Sinhala, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Chinese and Vietnamese.