ACRD_204 Aj Kusalo - The Gift of Community

Ajahn Kusalo is the current Abbot at Bodhinyanarama. He was born in 1952, grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. A chequered pattern of study and work, mostly in the building industry, eventually resulted in qualification as a Quantity Surveyor. However, a general disinterest in worldly gain led to many years of wandering throughout Australasia. Around 1980 he met Ajahn Jagaro in Perth, Australia and joined retreats led by Ajahn Sumedho who visited there for two conscutive years. Because he was still married, with one son, it was not until 1990 that he was able to join Ajahn Viradhammo in Bodhinyanarama Monastery, Wellington. He took bhikkhu ordination in 1992 and remained there until 1994 when there was an invitation to join Ajahn Sumedho in England. Six years at Amaravati Monastery led to a couple of years in Wales which was a precursor to two years of wandering around Europe. Part of this time was a three week trip to Canada that eventually resulted in his living there for eight years, the last five of those being spent developing Tisarana the new monastery West of Ottawa A short visit to Bodhinyanarama in 2011 resulted in Ajahn moving back to his home monastery in 2012 to follow on from Ajahn Tiradhammo. The plan is to reside there for some years to come. Title of Dhamma Talk - The Gift of Community