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Dharma talks from the tradition of Buddhist meditation master Ajahn Brahm and Australian Forest Sangha of monks and nuns presented by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia
Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
Kathryn began meditating over 30 years ago at the Armadale group (AMG) of BSWA and continues to join the now online group as a regular member. She has practised in Theravadan, Tibetan and Zen/Chan traditions. She is the founder of “Mind and Movement”, and is a certified teacher of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s program, “Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction” (MBSR). Kathryn is recognised as a Senior Teacher by the Meditation Association of Australia. Kathryn has been slowly retiring from her meditation related work but continues to support a local secondary school implementing a whole school approach to Mindfulness-based Social and Emotional Learning.
Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice. While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.
Dust in Our Eyes 2025 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2025) Hear stories of everyday dhamma as told by monastics and lay practitioners from various Buddhist traditions.
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
Drew is a former President and Secretary of the BSWA in the years of 2014-2018. During this time Drew implemented many changes at the BSWA including property purchases and a re-structure of the Committee into sub-committees and the employment of paid staff to better service the growth in size the Society had experienced in the previous 10 years.
Drew is a family man and business man who won an industry award in 2021 from the State Government for innovation in the mining sector.
Since stepping down as President Drew has been a regular on the scene at the BSWA and has been invited as a Lay Speaker and to date has given 9 Dhamma talks.
Drew’s talk last year, ‘Monks on Mars’ followed a trajectory of Buddhism in the future, which was a sequel to his talk the year before ‘Dhamma and the Dinosaurs’ that was a Buddhist examination of deep time. Tonight’s talk ‘Free Will - a Failed Fantasy’ is a look at the experiences of a lay person existing in the human realm looking to change their future.
Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice. While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.
Dust in Our Eyes 2025 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2025) Hear stories of everyday dhamma as told by monastics and lay practitioners from various Buddhist traditions.
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Monday Aug 11, 2025
Monday Aug 11, 2025
29 July 2025
Dennis Sheppard joins the Armadale Meditation Group online live. Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) teaches you about meditation. The classes generally begin with chanting the Metta Sutta, meditation instructions, meditating together, asking questions, and, if time allows, a Dhamma talk. These weekly Tuesday night teachings are via Zoom from Bodhinyana or Dhammasara Monastery. For the AMG zoom link and more details: https://bswa.org/location/armadale-meditation-group/
Support us on: https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
Ayya Karunika explains the importance of wise attention and why and how to develop it based on the teachings of the Buddha. Talk given on 3 October 2024.
Bhikkhuni Ayya Kārunikā is currently the Abbot at Santi Forest Monastery, NSW, Australia and the spiritual director for New Zealand Bhikkhuni Sangha Trust, Hamilton. Ayya Karunika started her monastic life in 2010 and she received her full ordination as a bhikkhunī in 2014 at Dhammasara Nuns monastery in Western Australia where she lived and trained for over a decade with Ajahn Hāsapaññā. She has been a student of Ajahn Brahm and Ajahn Brahmali for over 2 decades.
Ayya Kārunikā is able to articulate the Buddhist teachings in a way that is practical and comprehensible to people of all ages and has experience in conducting retreats for both adults and youth. While she has a PhD in Microbiology and worked as a scientist, she has also been the building project manager for the construction of the Dhammasara Nuns Monastery main building complex and has worked with many volunteers over the years. Ayya Kārunikā was born in Sri Lanka but has been living and working in Australia for over 2 decades.
She has a passion to share her experience and knowledge and loves working with people and also doing creative projects. She is dedicated to supporting the growth of Bhikkhunis around the world and is currently involved in projects to support the establishment of places for Bhikkhunis in Theravada forest tradition in Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Sri Lanka.
Please visit the Santi Forest Youtube Channel and Santi Forest Monastery website
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Sandra is a long-time BSWA member who enjoys holding space for group meditations. She has led the Spiritual Education Group at BSWA and Mindfulness Meditation sessions at her workplace. She also enjoys bringing people together for a good yarn and has suppported the Kalyana Friendship Group at BSWA. These days she collaborates with others at the Buddhist Council of WA and volunteers at Sakyadhita Australia Perth Chapter.
Credits:
- Thank you to Tour Leader Vikas Kumar and all the team at Ekno Travels who made our journey possible.
- Unless otherwise noted, this shared collection of photographs was supplied by Vikas Kumar, Helen Richardson, Sharon Thrupp, Kathy Uno, Deanne McKenzie, Sandra Henville and Venerable Thubten Chokyi who travelled together from 1 – 15 June 2025, to the place mapped in this presentation.
- Maps produced using ESRI © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Videos of chanting nuns at Dormaling Nunnery and traditional Tibetan dancers near Norbilingka and were recorded by Sandra Henville 10 June 2025
- Vicki Mackenzie (1998) Cave In The Snow, Bloomsbury Publishing, 1998
- Khyentse Norbu (2000) The Cup Film Release date: 20 April 2000 (Australia); Director: Khyentse Norbu, Producers: Raymond Steiner, Malcolm Watson
- Geleck Palsang (2022) Amala - The Life and struggle of Dalai lama's sister (2022) Director: Geleck Palsang. https://youtu.be/nkkb7hkRRCY?si=qbrfcR0MSBY_O-F9
- Tenzin Yankyi (2025) Golden Flowers of Dhamma. Director: Tenzin Yankyi 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_IftsyDwFk
- Presentation compiled by Sandra Henville
Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice. While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.
Dust in Our Eyes 2025 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2025) Hear stories of everyday dhamma as told by monastics and lay practitioners from various Buddhist traditions.
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
22 July 2025
Richard Thomas joins the Armadale Meditation Group online live. Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) teaches you about meditation. The classes generally begin with chanting the Metta Sutta, meditation instructions, meditating together, asking questions, and, if time allows, a Dhamma talk. These weekly Tuesday night teachings are via Zoom from Bodhinyana or Dhammasara Monastery. For the AMG zoom link and more details: https://bswa.org/location/armadale-meditation-group/
Support us on: https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Ananda was born in Sri Lanka went to the village temple with his Grandfather from a very young age. Yet he came to practise meditation only after meeting the then Ajahn Jagaro & Ajahn Brahm, around 1987. He has been meditating for about 25 years and considers Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmali & Bhante Sujato as his spiritual teachers. He and his family started visiting Bodhinyana and Dhammaloka regularly in 1991 and he has served in the Committee in different capacities including Treasurer and the Secretary. He has also contributed to Buddhist communities overseas in various ways and is a student of early Buddhist texts from the Tripitaka, relying mostly on Bhante Sujato’s English translations of Sutta on SuttaCentral & also, Dhammaloka Sutta classes & Sutta Retreats at Jhana Grove.
Please find the list of Suttas that was quoted during the talk:
Guided Meditation:
SN 56.10 Tiracchānakathā sutta (Low Talk) - Bhikkhu Sujato
SN 14.12 Sanidāna sutta (With a Cause) - Bhante Sujato
Dhamma Talk:
Iti 100 Brāhmaṇadhammayāga sutta (The Brahmin’s Offering of the Teaching) - Bhante Sujato
SN 22.87 Vakkali sutta (With Vakkali) - Bhante Sujato
SN 4.5 Dutiyamārapāsa sutta {Māra’s Snares (2nd)} - Bhante Sujato
Kd 1 Mahākhandhaka, part 7 (Great Chapter) Vinaya Pitaka – Ajahn Brahmali
AN 8.37 Sappurisadana Sutta (Good Person’s Gifts) - Bhante Sujato
Ud 8.6 Pāṭaligāmiya sutta (The Layfolk of Pāṭali Village) - Bhante Sujato
AN 10:1 Kimatthiyasutta Sutta (What is the purpose) - Bhante Sujato
SN 12.41 Pañcaverabhaya sutta (Dangers & Threats) - Bhante Sujato
AN 5.42 Sappurisa sutta (True Person) - Bhante Sujato
SN 20.2 Nakhasikha sutta (A Fingernail) - Bhante Sujato
SN 56.11 Dhammacakkappavattana sutta (Rolling Forth the Wheel of Dhamma) - Bhante Sujato
Q&A:
AN 3:100 Lonakapalla Sutta (A Lump of Salt) - Bhante Sujato
MN 14 Cūḷadukkhakkhandha sutta (The Shorter Discourse on the Mass of Suffering) - Bhante Sujato
Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice. While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.
Dust in Our Eyes 2025 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2025) Hear stories of everyday dhamma as told by monastics and lay practitioners from various Buddhist traditions.
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Ayya Karunika explains how to cultivate Satisampajanna and also discuss what gives rise to ignorance. Explains about wise attention (Yonisomanasikara). Talk given on 26 September 2024.
Bhikkhuni Ayya Kārunikā is currently the Abbot at Santi Forest Monastery, NSW, Australia and the spiritual director for New Zealand Bhikkhuni Sangha Trust, Hamilton. Ayya Karunika started her monastic life in 2010 and she received her full ordination as a bhikkhunī in 2014 at Dhammasara Nuns monastery in Western Australia where she lived and trained for over a decade with Ajahn Hāsapaññā. She has been a student of Ajahn Brahm and Ajahn Brahmali for over 2 decades.
Ayya Kārunikā is able to articulate the Buddhist teachings in a way that is practical and comprehensible to people of all ages and has experience in conducting retreats for both adults and youth. While she has a PhD in Microbiology and worked as a scientist, she has also been the building project manager for the construction of the Dhammasara Nuns Monastery main building complex and has worked with many volunteers over the years. Ayya Kārunikā was born in Sri Lanka but has been living and working in Australia for over 2 decades.
She has a passion to share her experience and knowledge and loves working with people and also doing creative projects. She is dedicated to supporting the growth of Bhikkhunis around the world and is currently involved in projects to support the establishment of places for Bhikkhunis in Theravada forest tradition in Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Sri Lanka.
Please visit the Santi Forest Youtube Channel and Santi Forest Monastery website
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Dennis Sheppard has been involved with the Buddhist community since 1976, since joining the Buddhist Society of WA as a young man interested in meditation and spiritual practice. He went on to serve multiple terms as President, as well as serving in other capacities including designing several buildings for both the monastics and lay community. Dennis’ talks delve deep to explore reality, deep meditation and the meaning of life. In recognition of his immense contribution to the Society, Dennis has been awarded lifetime membership.
Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice. While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.
Dust in Our Eyes 2025 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2025) Hear stories of everyday dhamma as told by monastics and lay practitioners from various Buddhist traditions.
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
15 July 2025
Ajahn Yiu joins the Armadale Meditation Group online live. Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) teaches you about meditation. The classes generally begin with chanting the Metta Sutta, meditation instructions, meditating together, asking questions, and, if time allows, a Dhamma talk. These weekly Tuesday night teachings are via Zoom from Bodhinyana or Dhammasara Monastery. For the AMG zoom link and more details: https://bswa.org/location/armadale-meditation-group/
Support us on: https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Sunday Jul 20, 2025
Sunday Jul 20, 2025
26th June 2025
Ajahn Jhanarato hosted this week's meditation session at the Roleystone Family Centre. Roleystone Meditation Group’s weekly classes are about an hour long and include a talk on meditation, meditating together, and questions & answers.
The sessions are led by a Buddhist monk from Kusala Hermitage in Roleystone (Buddhist Society of WA).
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Sunday Jul 20, 2025
Sunday Jul 20, 2025
19th June 2025
Ajahn Santutthi hosted this week's meditation session at the Roleystone Family Centre. Roleystone Meditation Group’s weekly classes are about an hour long and include a talk on meditation, meditating together, and questions & answers.
The sessions are led by a Buddhist monk from Kusala Hermitage in Roleystone (Buddhist Society of WA).
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Sunday Jul 20, 2025
Sunday Jul 20, 2025
Venerable Hue Can is the Abbess of Sunyata Meditation Centre in Vic Park and has the very clear goal to teach others how to realise their full potential through Zen Buddhism. Venerable Hue Can had an interesting and diverse career as a teacher, children’s librarian and co-ordinator of the Ethnic Child Care Resource Unit. As an advocate for access and equity she have worked in the area of social welfare, particularly in the Vietnamese community in Western Australia. When the Most Venerable Master Thich Thanh Tu came to Perth in 1996 she was fortunate to attend his lecture "Why am I a Buddhist”. She found out that Buddhism could give her five things that she had always been searching for – wisdom, altruism, freedom, equality and emancipation. She wanted to become his disciple and follow the path that he had illuminated. Her first ordination occurred in 1998.
Every year, the monastic community (Monks and nuns) go on a three month retreat called the “Rains Retreat” from mid July to mid October. During this period, they do not visit our centres for teachings as it’s a time for deepening their own practice. While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.
Dust in Our Eyes 2025 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2025) Hear stories of everyday dhamma as told by monastics and lay practitioners from various Buddhist traditions.
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Friday Jul 18, 2025
Friday Jul 18, 2025
12th June 2025
Bhante Cunda hosted this week's meditation session at the Roleystone Family Centre. Roleystone Meditation Group’s weekly classes are about an hour long and include a talk on meditation, meditating together, and questions & answers.
The sessions are led by a Buddhist monk from Kusala Hermitage in Roleystone (Buddhist Society of WA).
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Ayya Karunika explains what Satisampajanna or Mindfulness and clear comprehension and and how to apply it in daily life as well as in meditation practice. Talk given on 5 September 2024.
Bhikkhuni Ayya Kārunikā is currently the senior resident monastic at Santi Forest Monastery, NSW, Australia and the spiritual director for New Zealand Bhikkhuni Sangha Trust, Hamilton. She has been in monastic life for over 14 years and she received her full ordination as a bhikkhunī in 2014 at Dhammasara Nuns monastery in Western Australia where she lived and trained for over a decade with Ajahn Hāsapaññā. She has been a student of Ajahn Brahm and Ajahn Brahmali for over 2 decades.
Ayya Kārunikā is able to articulate the Buddhist teachings in a way that is practical and comprehensible to people of all ages and has experience in conducting retreats for both adults and youth. While she has a PhD in Microbiology and worked as a scientist, she has also been the building project manager for the construction of the Dhammasara Nuns Monastery main building complex and has worked with many volunteers over the years. Ayya Kārunikā was born in Sri Lanka but has been living and working in Australia for over 2 decades.
She has a passion to share her experience and knowledge and loves working with people and also doing creative projects. She is dedicated to supporting the growth of Bhikkhunis around the world and is currently involved in projects to support the establishment of places for Bhikkhunis in Theravada forest tradition in Australia, New Zealand, Poland and Sri Lanka.
Please visit the Santi Forest Youtube Channel and Santi Forest Monastery website
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
Wednesday Jul 16, 2025
08 July 2025
Ajahn Appicchato joins the Armadale Meditation Group online live. Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) teaches you about meditation. The classes generally begin with chanting the Metta Sutta, meditation instructions, meditating together, asking questions, and, if time allows, a Dhamma talk. These weekly Tuesday night teachings are via Zoom from Bodhinyana or Dhammasara Monastery. For the AMG zoom link and more details: https://bswa.org/location/armadale-meditation-group/
Support us on: https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Saturday Jul 12, 2025
Saturday Jul 12, 2025
10 June 2025
Venerable Upekkha joins the Armadale Meditation Group online live. Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) teaches you about meditation. The classes generally begin with chanting the Metta Sutta, meditation instructions, meditating together, asking questions, and, if time allows, a Dhamma talk. These weekly Tuesday night teachings are via Zoom from Bodhinyana or Dhammasara Monastery. For the AMG zoom link and more details: https://bswa.org/location/armadale-meditation-group/
Support us on: https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Ajahn Brahm guides a meditation for about 30 minutes.
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
https://bswa.org/teachings/
https://buddhacity.podbean.com/
https://deeperdhamma.podbean.com/
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Ajahn Brahm describes enlightenment as akin to sitting under peacefully under the mango tree, simply waiting for the fruit to drop into your open hands. The mango represents enlightenment; the open hands symbolise kindness.
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available:
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
3rd July 2025
Bhante Bodhidhaja hosted this week's meditation session at the Roleystone Family Centre. Roleystone Meditation Group’s weekly classes are about an hour long and include a talk on meditation, meditating together, and questions & answers.
The sessions are led by a Buddhist monk from Kusala Hermitage in Roleystone (Buddhist Society of WA).
Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa
BSWA teachings are available: