Metta Forest Monastery
Metta Forest Monastery a.k.a. Watt Mettavanaram or Watt Metta is a Theravada Buddhist monastery in Valley Center California. It was founded in 1991 by Ajaan Suwat Suvaco along with his student Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. Ajaan Ṭhānissaro has been the resident abbot since 1993. Currently there are ten resident bhikkhus, as well as space for lay Buddhists on overnight retreat.
Ajaan Ṭhānissaro stresses the importance of strict adherence to the Vinaya or Buddhist monastic code which teaches relying only on donations from the lay community as well as living in the wilderness, a key feature of the Thai Forest Tradition of which he is a part.
