About Sumedho Bhikkhu

I am currently a fully ordained monk (bhikkhu) in the Theravada Buddhist tradition living at Chua Phat Phap where I help run the English language meditation group on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm. On June 20, 2010, I became a bhikkhu at Chua Phat Phap. They changed my name from Sucāra to Sumedho during this high ordination ceremony.

On November 1, 2009, I became a novice monk (sāmanera) in Houston, Texas at Chua Phap Luan. Prior to my ordination there, I was a resident at Buu Mon Buddhist Temple where I worked towards becoming a monk. I also studied for a few months with Most Venerable Khantidhammo at Lien Hoa Monastery near Dallas. While there I also worked to improve my meditation practice and increase my study of the Dhamma in a more monastic environment.

I had temporarily became a monk at Buu Mon Buddhist Temple in Port Arthur, Texas during the Kathina celebration on October 29, 2007. After this experience, it was a very strong factor in me preparing for ordination and being a monk for the rest of my life. The name given to me was Sucāra in the language of Pali, which means “good conduct.”

I have prior experience in working in print design advertising and computer support, both of these skills are in demand as we modernize temples into the digital age. As such, I have dreams of bringing Buddhism into the 21st century via technology and computers. I have applied my experience in print design to improve my web design skills, which I hope to use to improve and build websites for Buddhism.