Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Venerable Pannavuddho's first visit to the Armadale Meditation Group is one we hope he will repeat in the very near future. Venerable started the evening by asking us to give thanks to ourselves for just being there, for at least trying to be a better person. Venerable continued his talk by recalling examples of being a better person from his own experience prior to becoming a monk. During his working experience in Japan, Venerable was exposed to Zen Buddhism, so uses this experience to explain how we beginners and experienced alike should approach our meditation. Venerable refers to the process of watching the mind as “taking a backwards step”. Just step backwards in our minds and watch, rather than becoming engaged in our thoughts as they arise.

Prior to the meditation Venerable asked and instructed us to simply make ourselves comfortable, sit how-ever we feel comfortable. The focus initially is on the feelings and sensations that are always present within our bodies. This meditation is well suited to both experienced and new meditators alike.

After meditation Venerable continued his talk on trying to be a better person before opening to Q&A.

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To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Our first Monk of the year 2020 was Venerable Cunda. Venerable has been living in Victoria for just over a year now helping to establish the Buddhist Society of Victoria Monastery at Newbury. As we all do, we work hard and then search for ways to unwind, clear our minds and just relax. Venerable encourages us to firstly relax our bodies as much as we are able, this will allow us to relax our mind.

Venerable lead the group in a longer than usual meditation commencing with a body sweep and moving gently to our breathing. Throughout the meditation Venerable asks us to use our bodies as an anchor, so that when random thoughts arise, we can return to the moment.  This meditation is well suited to both experienced and new meditators alike.

After meditation, Venerable described his early meditation experience and difficulties to help us understand that we don't need to make it hard work. Venerable then opened to questions before continuing his talk about Newbury.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Kevin focuses on teaching meditation and mindfulness as simple, practical skills. He teaches us how and why meditation works, draws on the most up-to-date scientific research, and introduces us to techniques that we can use on the go - whenever and wherever we are. He is also keen to help us find innovative ways to adapt meditation to our own needs. His teaching methods reflect his life experiences as a high-level communicator and participant-observer in the media, politics and corporate life. He has a particular interest in the science of meditation, as well as in the cultures and traditions from which such techniques are drawn. Kevin was introduced to meditation in 1992 by renowned meditation teacher Eric Harrison of the Perth Meditation Centre.

Kevin lead the group in meditation by first asking us to relax and listen to sounds around us. By doing this we shift from thinking to observing. The meditation is a full detailed body scan encouraging us to simply observe, not think nor engage with random thoughts. The meditation is well suited to all levels of meditators.

After meditation Kevin opened to questions.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Ajahn Cittapalo asks us to consider the Metta Sutta and it's wording. Ajahn reminds us that the Metta Sutta is something to aspire to. How-ever, when we meditate we should focus our attention on just one person, ourselves. Make number one happy, then more often than not, those around us will be happy too. Ajahn reminds us that we should put our own mind first in meditation. If we are calm and happy, it will be easier, more pleasant to wish others well.

Ajahn then guided the group in meditation well suited to beginners and experienced alike and a pleasure to do. Ajahn asks us to be kind to ourselves first before considering others. To simply allow thoughts to come, to go and not apply any pressure to our mind. Just let it progress.

After the meditation, Ajahn continued his talk on the Metta Sutta asking us to bare in mind that it is a translation, not a set of instructions.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Venerable Bodhidhaja doesn't get to Club Med often, certainly not as often as we'd like. How-ever, when he does it's always to an audience that greatly appreciates the session.

Venerable commenced with an explanation with comparisons, of the Four Noble Truths. Rather than quote the sutta, Venerable termed them in a manor more easily understood by us all and relating to our meditation practice. The focus of his talk is in letting go during meditation, something we all struggle with to one degree or another.

After the introduction Venerable lead the group in meditation for slightly longer than usual and in a method not seen by the majority of us. Venerable asked us to imagine that we were slowly filling with warm, comforting water. Commencing with our feet and working slowly to the top of our heads. An interesting meditation that was thoroughly enjoyed by all and suitable for beginners and experienced alike.

After meditation Venerable talked on gratitude, a subject well needed at this time of year and very much a part of a monks life. Venerable suggested the following to assist us;

Reflecting on the good during every long trip [commuting to work].
Gratitude countdown from 10 to 0 or ABC.
A gratitude jar or journal
Acknowledgement [in conversation, sms or e-mail]
Reflecting with gratitude before bed, upon waking and when commuting.

As is usual with Venerable he included references that are on-line and open to all of us;

In A Nutshell [Kurzgesagt] – An antidote to dissatisfaction.

A Grateful Day – Brother David Steindl-Rast.

The Virtue Project

Share Tree App & Character Cards

Venerable then opened to Q&A.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Ajahn Jhanarato asks us to “just relax”. Whilst breath meditation is the main focus of most meditations Ajahn starts with a relaxing body scan then allows us to move naturally to the breath.

After meditation Ajahn opened to Q&A with explanations on some of the more difficult hindrances for beginners.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching
you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Ajahn Brahm arrived at Club Med and entered in his usual manner, via the wrong door. Ajahn then partially sat down and then promptly stood again, to the surprise and laughter of the entire room. Ajahn does this in good humour to set us on the path to fun and laughter for the evening regardless of the subject.

Ajahn then for the benefit of those who are starting out in meditation, spoke on the many methods of and hindrances to meditation. Ajahn then guided the group through a 30 minute meditation beginning with a body scan and ending with silence. This meditation is well suited to beginners and experienced meditators alike.

After the guided meditation, Ajahn opened to Q&A. As always, Ajahn uses his life experience and humour interspersed with jokes to convey his message and answers.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the
BSWA teachings page: /, choose the AMG teaching
you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Bhante Aranavihara encouraged us to ask ourselves why we meditate? Bhante then gave a brief talk on some of the reasons we meditate and how best to deal with them once meditation commences. Bhante asked us to remind ourselves every five minutes or so to come back to our meditation object, not forcefully, but gently.

Bhante begins the meditation by using a body scan and asking us to let our bodies settle down. After the body scan Bhante suggests we shift our attention to either the breath or our metta object.

After the meditation Bhante opened to Q&A. 

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

This was Venerable Kassapa’s first visit as a teacher to The Armadale Meditation Group and we hope to see more of him in the future. Venerable commenced his instruction by explaining why he meditates. Venerable used his own life experiences to highlight the benefits of meditating whilst asking us to have Positive Actions In Our Day. Whilst Venerable is referring to the Noble Eightfold Path, he used his own experience in lay life to demonstrate how right action and right speech actually work.

Venerable lead the group in a longer than usual meditation beginning with a body sweep. Towards the middle Venerable moved us gently towards a breath meditation. An easy meditation well suited to beginners and experienced meditators alike.

After the meditation Venerable continued his talk on positive actions and the benefits before opening to questions from the group.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.  Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

Though not his first teaching assignment, tonight was Venerable Sampasadana’s first visit as a teacher to The Armadale Meditation Group and a most welcome one. Venerable opened the evening by comparing meditation to cooking. Sometimes the recipe works, sometimes it’s ok and sometimes it’s not what we were expecting at all. So it is with meditation. Sometimes it’s fabulous and sometimes it just doesn’t work. When it doesn’t work, we need to look at what is stopping us.  The disruptive thoughts, the nagging feelings. We need to examine them and at least attempt to resolve them. This needs to be done gently, with kindness and compassion. We can’t just push them aside, they will keep coming back.

Venerable then lead the group in a slightly longer than usual meditation with the first focus being relaxed and comfortable. He then moved the focus to breathing. An easy meditation well suited to beginners and experienced meditators alike.

After the meditation Venerable opened to Q&A.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

The monks' Rains Retreat has finally come to an end and the first to bless us with his teachings is Ajahn Appi.

In his pre-monk life Ajahn was a nurse and he ordained as an anagarika at Bodhinyana monastery in 1993. After 5 years as a fully ordained monk he travelled extensively, living in monasteries in Italy, England, Thailand, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. In 2008 he returned to Bodhinyana and is now second only to Ajahn Brahm in seniority.

Ajahn guided us firstly through a 10 minute meditation focusing our attention on the ever present dark colour, we seem not to notice, when we close our eyes. The meditation then progressed to breath meditation focused on the sensations around the mouth.

An easy meditation well suited to beginners and experienced meditators alike.

Following the meditation Ajahn opened to questions.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Teachings are available for downloading from the BSWA website, the BSWA Youtube Channel, the BSWA Podcast, and Deeper Dhamma Podcast.

The last week of Rains has arrived. The monks will be with us again next week but we have one more guest speaker before then - Barry Gaskin. Barry has been an attendee at the Armadale group for almost 20 years. He has traveled much of South East Asia in his working career - Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Barry gave a background to his strange introduction to Meditation and Buddhism. He explained his observations as a Westerner living in Buddhist countries, his beliefs of Pre-Birth through to Post Death, how lucky we are and also how meditation can impact on happiness. Meditation is always taught "how to do" but he wants to explain "when to do" as a way of life, with difference and ease.

Barry then lead the group in a 30 minute meditation easily enjoyed by experienced and beginners alike. Barry began with a relaxing body scan, asking us to open our hearts to self-compassion and finishing with a difference.

After meditation Barry continued his talk on Buddhism in both the West and the East.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the
BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.  Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

It’s week 12 of our Rains Schedule already and this week, we have Richard Thomas. Richard came to meditation in the early '80s and discovered BSWA in 1992. He has completed several 3 month Rains retreats, has stayed at Bodhinyana and has also attended retreats at Kyaswa monastery in Myanmar. He was the editor of the book "Emptiness and Stillness" which marked Ajahn Brahm's 60th birthday. He was also a key co-ordinator of the 2015 Global Conference on Buddhism in Perth and a Member of the BSWA Committee and occasional teacher of the Introduction to Meditation course at Dhammaloka. So Richard brings both his experience and expertise to this weeks session.

Richard commenced the session by asking us to reflect on Metta, compassion in general and why we meditate. Richard used his own extensive experience and known facts about Metta meditation to instruct us before commencing the meditation. Richard then guided us in a 30 minute meditation well suited to beginners and experienced meditators alike.

After meditation Richard opened to Q&A before continuing his talk on Metta and compassion.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Week 10 of Rains and this week we have U Zor Hane. Zor is originally from Burma, but has been in Australia for over 40 years. He is the Spiritual Advisor of the Buddhist Meditation Society in Joondalup. He has given talks at universities, schools, business organisations and at the Perth Detention Centre. He worked with drug addicted young people at the Palmerston Farm drug rehabilitation centre for 4 years, showing them the life skills that can be achieved through meditation and the Buddhist way of living with wisdom, awareness and harmlessness (to oneself and to others).

Zor lead the group in a 30 minute meditation session beginning with a body sweep then shifting to breath. This meditation is well suited to beginners and experienced meditators alike.

After meditation Zor spoke to us on Karma and before closing the night, opened to questions.

For further talks and meditation session from U Zor Hane please visit the Buddhist Meditation Society.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: , choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Week nine of the Rains season and this week we had Ananda Thilakasiri. Ananda was born in Sri Lanka into a Buddhist family & frequented the village temple with his Grandfather from a very young age yet, came to practise meditation only after meeting the then Ajahn Jagaro & Ajahn Brahm, around 1987. He and his family started visiting Bodhinyana and Dhammaloka regularly from 1991. They have been members of BSWA since that time. He has been serving the Buddhist community in WA, also in other countries in various ways but, mainly as the Treasurer of BSWA. Even though he has been meditating for approximately 25 years, his progress has been rather slow. About 9 or so years ago, he started to attend meditation retreats at Jhana Grove, mostly of those taught by Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmali, Bhante Sujato, on a regular basis. Also, retreats by a couple of visiting Sri Lankan monks. Around the same time, urged by Bhante Sujato, he also started to read the Suttas. The early Buddhist texts from the Tripitaka with the Buddha's teachings on mindfulness, insight, wisdom and meditation. Attending retreats & reading Suttas have helped his meditation practice, immensely! For anyone who has not attended a meditation retreat, yet, he recommends starting with a weekend retreat and then go on to do 9 Day retreats. You will start noticing the difference! Continuity is the key!

Ananda lead the group in a thirty minute meditation focusing on the breath though starting with a body sweep. This meditation is best suited to experienced meditators.

After meditation Ananda opened to questions before continuing to talk on a variety of subjects relative to both Buddhism and Meditation.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Week eight of the Rains season and this week we had Mark Simpson. Mark is a yoga teacher, writer, holistic health coach and facilitator. His work integrates postures, breathing practices, meditation and philosophy. He is interested in mindfulness and meditation practices and draws on them both in his own personal life and to help others observe and care for their bodies and minds. He has also attended retreats at Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village including a retreat focused on Compassionate Leadership.

Mark then lead the group in a thirty minute meditation focusing on the breath and being kind to our bodies. This meditation is well suited to both beginners and experienced alike.

After meditation Mark continues his talk on the common areas with Buddhism and Yoga. Towards the end of the evening Mark opened to questions.

For further information on Mark, Yoga and Buddhism, please visit his website.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Week six of the Rains season and this week we had Rob Hendry. Rob is a recent convert to meditation and an Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) regular. Rob grew up entrenched within Christianity and has a Bachelors’ Degree in Theology. He has preached regularly in Christian churches, and turned to meditation during last year’s AMG Rains schedule as a way to deal with both stress, pain and illness. He was quickly converted to the trans-formative power of meditation and is eager to share its benefits with others. Rob’s talk this evening focused on his interest in the areas of commonality between Buddhism and Christianity.

Rob then lead the group in a thirty minute meditation focusing on the breath and simplicity. This meditation is well suited to both beginners and experienced alike.

After meditation Rob continued his talk on the common areas with Buddhism and Christianity. Towards the end of the evening Rob opened to questions.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Week five of the Rains season and this week we had the President of the BSWA, Dennis Sheppard. Dennis focused our attention right from the start onto one of the many things meditators like/try/hope to achieve. A stillness of the mind. By letting go of the world around us, the past, the future and even the body we can slowly but surely achieve this state, arriving very much into the present moment.

Dennis guided us in a meditation with stillness of the mind as our goal. To begin we focused on our posture, feet resting flat on the floor, back straight, head upright, body comfortable and relaxed. The meditation is slightly longer than the usual 30 minutes, well suited to beginners and experienced meditators alike.

After meditation Dennis continued his talk on the silence of the mind.

Dennis is a very experienced long time meditator and has a number of videos available on his web site specifically directed towards beginning Buddhist meditation.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: , choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

Kathryn’s fourth and final session for the rains period of 2019, her chosen subject, Equanimity or Upekkhà. Kathryn started the session by giving us a formal definition of equanimity and then providing real world examples.

Upekkhà is the Buddhist concept of equanimity. As one of the Brahma Vihara (meditative states), it is a pure mental state cultivated on the Buddhist path to nirvāna.

Equanimity is a state of psychological stability and composure which is undisturbed by experience of or exposure to emotions, pain, or other phenomena that may cause others to lose the balance of their mind. The virtue and value of equanimity is extolled and advocated by a number of major religions and ancient philosophies.

Equanimity is something many of us tend to not recognise and to have difficulty in achieving. This occurs often for those of us dealing with suffering of family, friends or even peoples of the world. We become trapped within our emotions.

Kathryn then lead the group in meditation with equanimity as the focus. The meditation and subject is perhaps best suited to intermediate and advanced meditators.

After meditation Kathryn continued her talk on equanimity and opened to questions. Kathryn also answered questions she had not had time to answer in previous weeks. One of the last questions asked of Kathryn was “how long should we meditate for”. Kathryn’s answer was “do what-ever you’ll do”. So we should be happy with any length of meditation that we can achieve at that time.

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.

This is Kathryn’s third of four sessions at AMG during the 2019 Rains Retreat period. Tonight's subject is compassion, specifically in 3 forms. Kathryn describes how we may feel compassion for someone that is suffering. How we may receive compassion because we are suffering. Finally, we may feel compassion toward ourselves. Kathryn continued by giving examples of the each form of compassion. Before meditation and to conclude her talk, Kathryn asked the audience to form a circle of sorts around the room. She then asked us all a series of questions and to raise our hands if we felt the answer applied to us as an individual. It was not surprising to find that nearly all present answered in the affirmative to the questions. We all need to practice both sending compassion and receiving compassion in our lives to help us deal with the stuff of life.

Kathryn then lead the group in meditation with compassion as our focus. The meditation is perhaps best suited to intermediate and advanced meditators.

After meditation Kathryn continued her talk on compassion and opened to question. At the close Kathryn suggested the following titles for those of us interested in furthering their study of compassion.

Mindful Compassion by Paul Gilbert
Compassion: Concepts, Research and Application edited by Paul Gilbert

Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.

To find and download more Armadale Meditation Group Teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page, choose the AMG teaching you want, then type the title into the Podcast search box.