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Monastics

Ven. Bhikkhu Sona - Abbot

Born in Canada, Ven. Sona's background as a layperson is in classical guitar performance. His encounter with Buddhist wisdom as a young man initiated a spiritual journey that led him to become a lay hermit for several years. He subsequently ordained as a Theravada monk under Ven. Gunaratana, at the Bhavana Society in West Virginia, where his first years of training took place. Ven. Sona further trained for over three years at monasteries following Ajahn Chah in northeast Thailand, especially Wat Pah Nanachat. Upon his return to Canada in 1994 he helped found Birken Forest Monastery near Pemberton, BC. As its spiritual guide, Ajahn ("teacher") Sona has led the monastery through each stage of its growth. He established Birken (or, Sītavana, 'cool forest') in its final location south of Kamloops BC in 2001.


Ven. Sona has ample experience leading meditation retreats and lecturing on Buddhist meditation and practice, both in Canada and abroad. His teachings combine tried-and-true Buddhist wisdom with modern commonsense.
   
Ven Pavaro

Ven. Bhikkhu Pavaro

Ven. Pavaro began his monastic training at Birken in 2001. He arrived at the beginning of the construction phase of the monastery from a career as an academic in Calgary, with chainsaws and 2x6s replacing lecture preparation. Over this time he has continued to deepen his understanding of the Dhamma and monastic life. Ven. Pavaro received his full ordination in November 2003, with Ajahn Pasanno, co-abbot of Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, as preceptor (upajjhaya), and Ajahn Sona as his teacher (acariya).

Note: Ven. Pavaro is currently away, training at Wat Pah Nanachat, in Thailand.
 Ven. Subharo  Ven. Bhikkhu Subharo

My interest in Buddhism began in 1996 with Goldstein & Kornfield's 'Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation'. I gravitated to Theravada via Religious Studies courses on Buddhism in university. I went on my first of several ten-day 'Goenka retreats' in 2000. It was then that I knew I had to become a monk so my life could centre around meditation. Before ordaining, I worked mainly as a Systems Administrator for various software corporations. My formal education is a four-year B.Sc of Computational Science from the University of Saskatchewan.
 Ven. Suvaco

Ven. Bhikkhu Suvaco

Born in 1979, Bhikkhu Suvaco was raised near Biloxi, Mississippi. His interest in contemplative spirituality began in his early teens after coming across a book on Zen in the local library. Setting aside this interest for some years, he pursued a degree in Computer Science at Mississippi State University. Near the end of his time at university, his interest in meditation resurfaced and he took up a regular practice. Coming across the excellent monastic teachers from the Thai Forest tradition on the web, he was inspiried to undertake the holy life proclaimed by the Buddha. After completing his degree, he proceeded directly to a Buddhist monastery and hasn't looked back since.

Note: Ven. Suvaco is currently away, training at Abhayagiri Monastery, in California.
  Maechee Naruemon ("Sister Mon")

Sister Mon is an Eight-Precept Maechee (Thai nun). She undertook monastic training under Ajahn Sona in 2001. After training at Birken for a number of years, she returned to her native Thailand where she has been practicing for the last two years. Sister Mon has returned to Birken in the spring of 2011.