Ajahn Santacitta

Ajahn Santacitta was born in Austria in 1958. After graduating in hotel management she studied cultural anthropology at Vienna University and worked in avant- garde dance theatre as a performer and costume designer. From 1981-85 she was part of the ‘Serapions Theater’ ensemble based in Vienna and toured mainly in Europe.

Beginning in the 1980’s, she was a founding member of a community of ecologists, artists and social workers near Vienna, which is still thriving today.

In 1988 she met her first teacher, Ajahn Buddhadasa, and spent several years in Thailand before coming to Amaravati in 1992. After becoming an anagārikā in 1993 she spent part of her training (1996-97) with the mae chi (nuns) of Wat Pah Pong and other branch monasteries in Thailand.

In 1998 she received Siladhara ordination with Ajahn Sumedho as her preceptor. Currently she is the guest nun, looks after school visits and teaches meditation classes and retreats.