Ajahn Sundara, born in France, was one of the first four women ordained in England by Ajahn Sumedho in 1979 in the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah. She has been involved in the establishment and the training of the nuns' community at Chithurst and Amaravati Buddhist Monasteries in England and since the late 1980's she has taught and led retreats in Europe and the United States. She is interested in exploring ways of practicing, sustaining, and integrating Buddhist teachings in Western culture. She is currently residing at Abhayagiri Monastery in Redwood Valley, California.