We regret to inform all of the passing away of perhaps Australia's most elderly western monk, Bhante ( Phra Ajahn) Santitthito on 29th Aug 2014 at 4:40am at the age of 74 years. Originally from Germany (Ronald Wagner), Bhante has made significant contribution to the growth of Buddhism in Australia, bringing the Buddha Dhamma to the English speaking Australian community. He was Deputy Abbot and Vice-President of Wat Buddhalavarn at Weddrburn, NSW, Australia.
Bhante was a member of the Australian Sangha Association. He was a kind and thoughtful monk, and the Sangha will be poorer due to his passing.
The Venerable Santihhito arrived in Melbourne in 1990. He came from Wat Umong in Changmai, Thailand where he had been for fifteen years. Born in Germany, after a restless questioning adolescence, he discovered the teaching of the Buddha. It was not possible to be ordained in Germany at that time so he went to England for ordination as a Buddhist monk, then went to Thailand. Although English was not his native tongue, he made good use of the language, with a plentiful use of symbols and metaphors and many of his talks were quite poetic.
Details of the funeral are as follows:
Date: Thursday 4th Sep 2014, Venue: Leppington Crematorium, Camden Valley Way, Leppington NSW 2179.
Please direct all queries to Wat Buddhalavarn.
Please download the Funeral Notice here.
"All conditioned formations are subject to cessation, therefore strive for your liberation with diligence."