Skiptvet Buddhist Monastery belongs to the Thai forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism. It was established on the 1st of July, 2015, when Western monks from the lineage of the late Venerable Ajahn Chah came to take up residence here, following an invitation by the Norwegian Forest Monastery Foundation ("Stiftelsen Skogskloster"). The monastery, which is the first of its kind in the Nordic countries, consists of an old farm with surrounding forest ― altogether approximately 37 hectares/90 acres. It is located in the south-east of Norway, about one hour by car south of Oslo and two-and-a-half hours north of Gothenburg.
Lokuttara Vihara is the Pali name for Skiptvet Buddhist Monastery. In Pali, the scriptural language of Theravada Buddhism, it means "Dwelling Beyond the World". Lokuttara is made up of "loka", meaning world, and "uttara", meaning above or the north. Vihara means either a physical abode or a mental dwelling place. The aim of the Buddhist practice is to transcend all worldly conditions and realize Nibbana which is said to be "above the world". It is also a suitable name for a monastery located in the northern part of Europe.
