Farewell To Luangpor Sumedho

On Saturday 20th November, 2010 in the afternoon, Luangpor Sumedho, accompanied by Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Panya, came to the Buddhapadipa Temple to pay their respects and to say goodbye to the Abbot. Luangpor Sumedho has lived in the UK for more than 30 years. He was sent here by Luangpor Chah to teach the Buddhist way of life to those who want to learn and practice Buddhism.

Since he has been in the UK, he has been teaching and propagating Buddhism in and around the UK and Europe. It is a great pity that he is going to leave the UK for good to begin his retirement in Thailand. But to be fair, this will probably be a nice experience for him. As he said in his own words, “It is good to be young in the West and it is good to be old in Thailand, for the Thai people traditionally take good care of old people.”

In monastic life, monks don’t get married so they have no children to take care of them when they get old. They will be well taken care of by their students. Luangpor Sumedho became a Buddhist monk in Thailand and he is well known, not only to Westerners but also to Thai people. As always, Thai people will welcome him and those of us who have studied under him here in UK will miss him. Have a good journey to your homeland, Luangpor Sumedho, and thank you very much for your teaching, loving kindness and generosity!