Ajahn J.R.
Ajahn Jhanarato, or Ajahn J.R., as he’s usually known, was born in Sydney in 1977. He grew up in Greenwich before moving to Perth with his family in 1996. There he studied software engineering and upon finishing his degree he spent several years in Melbourne where he worked in software development. Though successful in his career, he found something was lacking. Getting interested in Buddhism, he came across Ajahn Brahm’s ‘Basic Method of Meditation’ and started listening to some of the recorded talks at Dhammaloka. Inspired, he returned to Perth, paid off his debts and was ordained as an Anagarika in 2006. He took higher ordination in 2009. Though most of his monastic life has been spent at Bodhinyana Monastery training with Ajahn Brahm, he has spent time at Wat Buddha Dhamma in New South Wales, Na Uyana in Sri Lanka and Newbury Buddhist Monastery in Victoria. Ajahn J.R. shared the rental property with Ajahn Santutthi and laboured alongside him to build Kusala Hermitage. Ajahn J.R. has been a monk for 12 years. He now resides at Kusala Hermitage in Roleystone, Western Australia. Ajahn J.R, together with Ajahn Santutthi, carry out monthly half day meditation retreats in Roleystone.