Ayya Anandabodhi first encountered the Buddha's teaching in her early teens, igniting a deep interest in the Buddha’s Path of Awakening. She has practiced meditation since 1989, and lived in Amaravati and Chithurst monasteries in England from 1992 to 2009.

In 2009 she moved to the U.S. on invitation of the Saranaloka Foundation, to help establish Aloka Vihara, a training monastery for women, where she now resides. She took leave of the Ajahn Chah lineage in 2011, in order to take bhikkhuni ordination. The teachings and example of Ajahn Chah continue to be an inspiration in her practice and teaching.