Buddhist Society of Western Australia

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:

• BSWA Teachings
• BSWA Podcast Channel
• BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
• BSWA YouTube

Talk/sharing in Bahasa Indonesia by Venerable Ajita, Handaka, Andi and David from the Ehipassiko Foundation (https://ehipassiko.or.id/) on the 24 November 2024. 

In honour of Ajahn Brahm’s 50th Bhikkhu Anniversary, members of the BSWA Sangha and affiliated organisations and sangha gave a series of talks leading up to the big celebration at Dhammaloka.

Talks and books published to commemorate the event on BSWA website can be found here. For Podbean (audio only) playlist, click here: https://podcast.bswa.org/category/ajahn-brahm-s-50th-bhikkhu. 

Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa

BSWA teachings are available:

• BSWA Teachings
• BSWA Podcast Channel
• BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
• BSWA YouTube

Sutta class by Sister Sylvia Bay from the Buddhist Fellowship of Singapore (https://www.buddhistfellowship.org/) via Facebook in honour of Ajahn Brahm’s 50th Bhikkhu Anniversary.

Read DN 16 on Sutta Central here: https://suttacentral.net/search?query=DN16

In honour of Ajahn Brahm’s 50th Bhikkhu Anniversary, members of the BSWA Sangha and affiliated organisations and sangha gave a series of talks leading up to the big celebration at Dhammaloka.

Talks and books published to commemorate the event on BSWA website can be found here. For Podbean (audio only) playlist, click here: https://podcast.bswa.org/category/ajahn-brahm-s-50th-bhikkhu. 

Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa

BSWA teachings are available:

• BSWA Teachings
• BSWA Podcast Channel
• BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
• BSWA YouTube

Dhamma talk by Dr Ng Wai Chong from Buddhist Fellowship Singapore (https://www.buddhistfellowship.org/), via Facebook on the 10 November 2024.

In honour of Ajahn Brahm’s 50th Bhikkhu Anniversary, members of the BSWA Sangha and affiliated organisations and sangha gave a series of talks leading up to the big celebration at Dhammaloka.

Talks and books published to commemorate the event on BSWA website can be found here. For Podbean (audio only) playlist, click here: https://podcast.bswa.org/category/ajahn-brahm-s-50th-bhikkhu. 

Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa

BSWA teachings are available:

• BSWA Teachings
• BSWA Podcast Channel
• BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
• BSWA YouTube

Program:

00:00 Guided Meditation by Sandra Henville (BSWA)

24:24 Dhamma Talk by Dr Lydia See (Tzu Chi Foundation)

Dharma Master Cheng Yen established the Tzu Chi Foundation in 1966 in Taiwan. The mission started with Charity, Medical Services, Education and Humanistic Values, and then extended further to Bone Marrow Donation, Environment Protection, Community Volunteerism and International Relief – Known as Tzu Chi’s Eight Footprints. Tzu Chi’s Australian footprints first appeared in Brisbane and Sydney in the early 1990s when members migrated to Australia from Taiwan. The Australian chapter of Tzu Chi Foundation was officially incorporated in 1996 and became a national body in 1999. Since then Tzu Chi Foundation has grown to encompass offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth, with over 10,000 supporters Australia-wide. Volunteers offer their free time to serve the local communities. Their regular presence can be found in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice wards, school for deaf and blind children, and homeless centres.

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.

HEAVENLY MESSENGERS 2024 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2024)

Out of respect for our teacher, the teachings, and the precious opportunity we have to receive them from afar, please attend the online teachings in the same way that you would if you were at the teachings in person. Comments have been disabled to maintain a wholesome learning environment and prevent opportunities for unskillful speech.

The BSWA is now using Ko-fi for donations. Please join us on Ko-fi and cancel your donations via Patreon. Thanks for your ongoing support!

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

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

Kathryn Choules joins the Armadale Meditation Group again for part two in her four part series, on-line live for Rains 2024.

Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) is designed to teach you about meditation. The classes generally begin with chanting the Metta Sutta, then receiving meditation instructions and meditating together, followed by asking questions and finally if time remains listening to a Dhamma talk. However, the layout can vary. These weekly Tuesday night teachings are happening via Zoom from Bodhinyana Monastery.

“All views expressed by our Rains Retreat Guest Speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the BSWA”

The BSWA is now using Ko-fi for donations. Please join us on Ko-fi and cancel your donations via Patreon. Thanks for your ongoing support!

Audio teachings are available to download from our BSWA Podcast Channel (Dharma talks and guided meditations) and BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel (Rain's Retreat teachings, retreats and suttas). Videos can be viewed on our BSWA YouTube Channel. Books and articles are available on our website here.

Past Presidents and long-term members came together to reflect on 50 years of BSWA. We shared happy memories of the various turning points that made the Society what it is today. We remembered it’s small beginnings end explored what makes it thrive, we talked about challenges and our hopes for the future. It was a wonderful insight into how a multicultural community comes together in peace and kindness. This starts from 38:35 minutes after the guided meditation.

From the far left to the right: Drew Bellamy, Dennis Sheppard, Sanath de Tissera, Malkanthi de Tissera, Sandra Henville, Binh Anson, Ananda Thilakasiri and Vivara Kunabutr

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.

TURNING POINTS 2023

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

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

*Apologies, this video is missing the first few minutes of the introduction and starts with the guided meditation in progress

John Waite strives to focus on study and practice but recognises the need to use one’s skills to benefit others as needed. To this end, he is an active volunteer firefighter in the Murray Shire and currently serves on a few FPMT committees and/or boards. He tries to complete a couple of retreats a year; in 2023 he completed one in honour of his guru Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, fulfilling a commitment recently made to this revered teacher before his passing. This year’s retreat and pilgrimage in Nepal has also affirmed John’s desire to share the joy of practice with fellow students in Australia and serve others. He has embarked on a project to help improve education and potential for young women in Nepal.

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.

TURNING POINTS 2023

To find and download more precious Dhamma teachings, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the teaching you want and click on the audio to open it up on Podbean.

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