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January to March 2027
Exploring the possibility of a monastic sangha in Mexico
Bhante Niddaro, a Mexican and German monk of the Ajahn Chah forest tradition, will spend the first quarter of 2027 in Mexico, meeting those who practise there and exploring with them whether the conditions exist for a lasting monastic presence.
- January
- February
- March
2027
About the visit
A monastery is not founded, it grows
In the Theravada tradition a monastery is not established by decision, nor built before it is needed. It grows where there is already a community willing to support monks, and monks willing to live alongside it. Both have to appear at the same time.
This visit is the beginning of that conversation. Over three months Bhante Niddaro will travel through Mexico to meet those already practising, offer teachings and meditation, and see at first hand what conditions actually exist: interested people, possible places, and enough support to sustain monastic life in the country.
There is no settled plan yet and no chosen location. There is an intention, and three months set aside for listening.
Who he is
Bhante Niddaro
Bhante Niddaro is Mexican and German. He received full ordination, upasampadā, in 2018 at Amaravati Monastery in England, with Ajahn Amaro as his preceptor. The ceremony fell on the July full moon, Āsāḷhā Pūjā, which commemorates the Buddha’s first discourse.
His training years were spent in monasteries of the Ajahn Chah tradition in England. He then lived for a year in Australia with Ajahn Dhammasiha, and later in various forest monasteries in Thailand. Since June 2026 he has lived at Muttodaya, a forest monastery in Stammbach, Germany.
Activities and calendar
Three months in Mexico
The programme is being put together with the communities hosting Bhante. This page will be updated as dates and places are confirmed.
To be confirmed Dates, cities and venues. If your group would like to host Bhante during the visit, please get in touch.
Alms round
Offering food
Monks of the forest tradition do not cook, buy food, or store it from one day to the next. They live entirely on what is offered to them. They eat once a day, always before noon, and only what someone has placed that morning in their hands or in the bowl.
Each day they walk out in silence with the bowl. This practice is called piṇḍapāta and is as old as the tradition itself. It is not begging: the monk does not ask, does not speak, does not point, and does not thank in words. He stops and waits. Whoever wishes to offer, offers.
What happens there sustains both sides. The monk depends entirely on the generosity of others, and the person offering receives the occasion to practise dāna, giving without calculation. Neither side stands above the other.
If you would like to offer food
- Food is always offered before midday. After that hour monks can no longer receive it.
- Any food is fine. It need not be vegetarian, elaborate, or plentiful.
- You need not be Buddhist, know any formula, or have given notice beforehand.
- Simply approach and place the food in the bowl or in the monk’s hands.
- Money is not offered to monks. To help in other ways, please speak to those organising the visit.
The tradition
The forest tradition of Ajahn Chah
Ajahn Chah (1918-1992) was a Thai teacher from the north-east of the country. At his monastery, Wat Nong Pah Pong, he trained Thai and Western monks with a direct, unadorned teaching grounded in the Vinaya: the monastic discipline the Buddha laid down, which this tradition keeps unaltered.
From that root descend monasteries today in England, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Thailand. All share the same way of life: monks handle no money, live on what is offered, and never charge for teaching. Retreats, teachings and stays are always free of charge.
There is as yet no monastery of the Ajahn Chah lineage in Mexico. Finding out whether there could be is the reason for this visit.
Resources
Getting to know the tradition
All of this material is offered free of charge, as is the custom in the tradition.
Monasteries of the tradition in the West
- Muttodaya DE
- Amaravati UK
- Cittaviveka UK
- Aruna Ratanagiri UK
- Abhayagiri US
- Tisarana CA
- Santacittarama IT
- Dhammapala CH
- Bodhinyana AU
- Wat Pah Nanachat TH
All of them receive visitors. None charges for stays or for teachings.
Dhamma books
- Ajahn Chah en español Teachings of Ajahn Chah translated into Spanish
- Amaravati Amaravati publications in Spanish
- Abhayagiri Abhayagiri library, with a Spanish section
- Forest Sangha The Forest Sangha portal, in English
Contact
Get in touch
If you would like to host Bhante during the visit, offer food, help with the organising, or simply keep informed, please write to us.
To be confirmed Contact address for the visit.