Vipassana Gastlehrer
Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani has been studying Buddhism since 1997 and practising Vipassana since 2006.
She ordained in Thailand in January 2010 as an aspirant (Maechee) with the Most Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo as mentor. This was followed by ordination as a novice (Samaneri) in Sri Lanka in 2012 and to a fully ordained nun (Bhikkhuni) with Venerable Rahatungoda Saddha Sumana Bhikkhuni as mentor.
Since 2009 she practiced regularly at Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara and was guided by Khun Thanat and Khun Kathryn Chindaporn, as well as trained as a meditation teacher.
In October 2014, she was authorised by the Most Venerable Phra Prom Mongkol Vi (Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo) as a meditation teacher. In the summer of 2015, she was entrusted by this teacher to establish and lead another Vipassana meditation centre in Germany. Since 2018 she now lives and teaches at the Dhammanikhom Vipassana Meditation Centre in Heinersbrück near Cottbus.
Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani speaks German, English and has a basic knowledge of Thai.
Venerable Phrakhrubhāvanābidhān (Phra Ajarn Ofer Thiracitto) has been practising Vipassana since 1989. He first practised at Wat Rampoeng in Chiang Mai and then at Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara with the Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo and Luang Poh Banyat Akkayano, under the guidance of Khun Thanat and Khun Kathryn Chindaporn. In 1998 he was authorised by the Venerable Phra Ajarn Tong Sirimangalo as a meditation teacher.
For several years Phra Ajarn Ofer taught meditation in Israel before ordaining as a monk in Thailand in 2002. Several years followed as a monk and meditation teacher in Götzenhain. In 2006 he followed the invitation of the students in his home country Israel. Phra Ajarn Ofer received several awards in Thailand for the international teaching of Vipassana meditation and Buddhism. Most recently, he was promoted in the Thai monastic hierarchy in 2013. Phra Ajarn Ofer lives in Israel and teaches courses in various places around the world.
Phra Ajarn Ofer speaks English, Hebrew and Thai.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Abbot of the tempel: Phrakhrubhāvanābuddhivides (Venerable Phra Ajarn Od)
Since November 1998, almost since the beginning of the temple at the Götzenhain site, Venerable Phrakhrubhāvanābuddhivides (Phrakhrusangkharat Chanet Jutindharo, Phra Ajarn Od) has been the abbot of the temple and Vipassana meditation teacher.
With his very friendly and open charisma, he welcomes not only Thai visitors but also interested people from Germany and other countries. Because of this, there is a growing community of western visitors and meditators here in the temple, alongside the Thai community, who benefit from the Buddhist teachings and Vipassana meditation.
Phra Ajarn Od speaks Thai.
Information on dealing with monks and nuns
The title "Venerable" should be placed before the Pali name of the ordained. A salutation using only the Pali name is considered impolite for lay people and is only customary and appropriate among ordained persons themselves.
In the Thai tradition, the Pali name is used less frequently. Usually a title is placed in front of the (nickname): Phra (= monk), Luangpi (= venerable brother/sister), Samaneri (= novice), Tan (= venerable), Ajahn (= teacher). Luangpi, Tan and Ajahn can be used for both monks and nuns. Ajahn is actually only used when someone has ten or more years of religious service or is a trained teacher.
Monks and nuns are not allowed to have direct contact (e.g. shake hands) with persons of the opposite sex. The rules of Buddhist monks and nuns also include that they must have their last meal of the day before 12 o'clock.
In Thailand, the ordained go from house to house every morning to receive the food donation through which the donor earns merit.
In Germany, Thais come to the monastery every day to celebrate the food ceremony and then eat together.