Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ajahn Sujato guides a metta (loving-kindness) meditation. Ajahn instructs us to give metta to ourselves first, then to a loved one and finally to all beings.

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Ajahn Sujato entertains us by covering topics from veganism, death and Buddhism. Ajahn offers us advice on how to live well and shares with us the benefits of meditation.

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Ajahn Sujato guides a meditation for about 30 minutes.

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Bhante Sujato broke with our normal format and gave us a dharma talk on Dependant Origination prior to the meditation.  Dependant Origination is at the core of the Buddha's teachings and is viewed by many as a very difficult, confusing subject.  Bhante handled it by using real life examples from his own life, with a good dose of humour, using words and terms that the lay person can understand.

Bhante then asked the group what type or object they would prefer for the meditation.  The raised hands were fairly even on all the suggestions, so it was left to Bhante to decide.  Bhante having just given a dharma talk on Dependant Origination suggested a meditation on the four elements as recognised by Buddhists.  So the meditation object was Earth, Water, Fire, Air and how they relate to everything (our bodies and all things around us) both seen and unseen.

After meditation Bhante opened to Q&A suggesting that anyone who may have been confused by the dharma talk, should now ask.



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Meditation guided by Ajahn Sujato. We apologize that the full meditation was not recorded due to technical failures.

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For the past 2 years Ajahn Sujato has been translating Pali Suttas into English. Ajahn shares with us his knowledge and enthusiasm about the Suttas. His translations are published on Sutta Central

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Ajahn Sujato guides a meditation for approximately 30 minutes.

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Bhante Sujato has been absent from Australia for 2 1/2 years, so when he arrived at Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) on Tuesday everyone was interested to know where he'd been and what he’d been doing. Therefore, this session is quite different to our normal AMG evenings. Bhante gladly started the evening by recounting his time spent on a tiny island in the South China seas just off the coast of Taiwan for 2 1/2 years, translating the Buddha’s texts into plain English.

To see and read the good work being done by Bhante Sujato and his team, please visit Sutta Central.

Bhante, having spoken very little during his time away, started to lose his voice early in the evening and so the meditation, rather than the usual guided meditation, was a silent one. With the majority of us, on the night, well practised, this was a chance for us to do, as a group, our own favourite meditations. Some prefer breath meditation while others prefer metta meditation. It made for a very pleasant meditation greatly appreciated by all.

After the meditation Bhante opened to questions relating to meditation and gave us a talk on the five hindrances that the Buddha detailed in the very early suttas. Very sadly all too soon we ran out of time. We would all have happily stayed for several more hours. One doubts whether Bhante's voice would have held out that long though.  Especially when we consider that since returning to Australia, he has had to speak a great deal.  Bhante was recently on ABC Radio National, to listen to or download his interview, please click here.

An excellent evening with Bhante Sujato appreciated by all and one we hope Bhante will be willing and able to to repeat soon.

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Ajahn Sujato discusses one of the most commonly taught Dhammas or group of Buddhist teachings known as the Five Spiritual Faculties: Faith, Energy, Mindfulness, Samadhi and Wisdom or Understanding. Ajahn talks about what they mean and how to practice them.

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Ajahn Sujato offers us a reflection on Buddhism and the environment. Ajahn points out that the breath we are breathing is the same breath we are all breathing; the atmosphere. Ajahn reflects on the consequences of our actions and his concern for the future generations. Ajahn emphasises that we are we not powerless and as a Buddhist community we have a voice and we should speak for the good interest of others, our environment, nature and our planet as a whole.

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This question and answers session follows the teaching given by Ajahn Sujato entitled ‘Training the Mind to Be Happy with Metta Meditation’, given in Sri Lanka during 2013.

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Why do people give up everything they thought they wanted to attend meditation retreats?

Ajahn Sujato reflects on what it is that is causing us suffering when we sit and meditate? Why it is so difficult to have peace of mind? What is disturbing our mind? In this talk, Ajahn teaches us how to let go of our worries. 

This Buddha Dhamma talk was given in Sri Lanka during 2013.

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Following on from the audience electing to do a contemplation of death meditation, Bhante Sujato discusses the Buddhist attitude to death and how to use the contemplation of death to find greater peace and understanding in life.

Ajahn Sujato reflects on what is meant by a new year and how we can make it a happy one. Ajahn talks about how we always have choices in life and how our choices make our future and destroy countless other futures. Ajahn teaches us how to make the right choices and encourages us to consider very carefully the choices we make because they have consequences which are far beyond what we can imagine and conceive. This Buddha Dhamma talk was given by Ajahn Sujato in Colombo, Sri Lanka during 2013.

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Ajahn Sujato describes what Dhamma practitioners mean by a good time compared to most other people. Ajahn discusses how meditation teaches us what true and real happiness really is and Ajahn looks at where this happiness and peace in meditation comes from. “Holding on leads to suffering and letting go leads to peace”. This Buddha Dhamma talk was given in Colombo, Sri Lanka during 2013.

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Bhante Sujato discusses how consciousness evolves, from a raw consciousness, to an awareness of consciousness itself, to understanding the elements and conditions of consciousness.

Qustion and Answers Session folloing the Buddha Dhamma talk "Untangling Buddhist History from Legend Based on Suttas," given by Ajahn Sujato at the Royal College in Colombo during 2014.

What does the Dhamma mean for us here and now? Who was the Buddha and what relevance does he have in our spiritual practise? Ajahn Sujato reflects on how to make the Dhamma meaningful and real here and now in today’s rapidly changing world. Ajahn looks at the different texts from Buddhist traditions and distinguishes history from mythology within them. 

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What does the Dhamma mean for us here and now?

Who was the Buddha and what relevance does he have in our spiritual practise?

Ajahn Sujato reflects on how to make the Dhamma meaningful and real here and now in today’s rapidly changing world. Ajahn looks at the different texts from Buddhist traditions and distinguishes history from mythology within them. This Buddha Dhamma talk was given at the Royal College in Colombo during 2014.

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Ajahn Sujato tells the story of what happened after the Buddha became enlightened and Ajahn reflects on what people do once they become enlightened. Ajahn explains how the Buddha worked and helped people to understand the Dhamma teachings.

Ajahn points out that each one of us has the quality of goodness, wisdom, love, caring, letting go, contentment, understanding and compassion. But the question is how do we find, manifest and draw out these seeds so we can use any situation?

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Ajahn Sujato gives a Dhamma talk the evening before Australia Day and therefore talks about what it means to him to be an Australian practising Buddhism and whether there is such a thing as Australian Dhamma. Ajahn looks at the characteristics of Buddhism in Australian culture.

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