Ajahn Munindo (Keith Morgan) was born in 1951, in the town Te Awamutu, New Zealand. He first encountered Buddhism at the age of 19 years. It had a profound impact and on a visit to Australia in 1972, he had an opportunity to attend a meditation retreat led by Ajahn Khantipalo.

After a period living on a community at Mullumbimby he left Australia in 1973 with the intention of traveling to Japan. He taught English for a while in Bangkok and there met some Western monks from Wat Bovoronives, where he eventually requested initial ordination as a samanera. He later received upasampada there from Phra Somdet Nanasamvara in 1974, and spent his first Vassa with Ajahn Thate at Wat Hin Mark Peng, on the Laotian border.

After a period in a Bangkok hospital with serious health problems, he met Ajahn Sumedho, and went to Wat Pah Nanachat, which had begun a few months earlier. He was re-ordained at Wat Nong Pah Pong by Ajahn Chah in 1975.

Ill health caused a return to New Zealand for six months in 1979. During his time there, interest grew in having monks living locally on a more permanent basis.

In 1980 he travelled to England to join the community at Chithurst; three years later, he was given the responsibility of establishing a vihara in Devon, in the southwest of England. In 1987 he returned for another two years at Chithurst Monastery before moving in 1991 to Harnham - Aruna Ratanagiri Monastery in Northumberland where he is presently abbot.

External Links:
www.ratanagiri.org.uk - Aruna Ratanagiri Monastery, UK.
www.aruno.org | Ajahn Munindo - Aruno - Teachings from Ratanagiri.