Buddhist Society of Western Australia

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.

A talk given at Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand on behalf of New Zealand Bhikkhuni Sangha Trust on 20 June 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

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.

Brigid Lowry has been a Buddhist for over forty years. She spent six years at Wat Buddha Dharma as part of the lay community, helping to run retreats for many teachers, including Ayya Khema, Phra Khantipalo and Joseph Goldstein. She has been a Zen student for many years and is also a Vipassana practitioner. Brigid has an MA in Creative Writing and is the author of many prize-winning YA books. Her adult titles are Still Life With Teapot: On Zen, Writing and Creativity and A Year of Loving Kindness to Myself and Other Essays. The later was chosen by Apple books to be Best Book of the Month in April 2021. Fremantle Press will publish her new title in February 2026 – A Time of Living Graciously: Essays on Ageing. Brigid believes in op shops, coloured pencils and floral frocks, and in fostering joy and creativity in herself and others.

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)

The BSWA is now using Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa) for donations. Please join us on Ko-fi and cancel your donations via Patreon. Thanks for your ongoing support!

Dr Brian Walker has practised medicine for many years in many different countries, before finally settling into practice as a GP in Serpentine Medical Centre. He has front-line experience treating patients in hospitals, emergency departments and general practice. If you are familiar with the book Dying to be Be, which detailed the near death expeirence by Anita Moorjani, it should be noted that Dr Walker was Anita’s GP in Hong Kong. She met up with him in the United States a few years ago and did a beautiful interview which is available on Youtube. Dr Walker is also a member of the Legislative Council in the Parliament of Western Australia for the Legalise Cannabis Party.

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)

The BSWA is now using Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa) for donations. Please join us on Ko-fi and cancel your donations via Patreon. Thanks for your ongoing support!

Talks about how to prepare yourself to deal with the enemies or hindrances to your spiritual path but also explains how this preparation can also help in your day to day enemies in life. This talk was given by Ayya Karunika Theri on the 16th of Jun 2024, at Santi Forest (NSW).

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

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.

Explains the differences four brahmaviharas metta (lovingkindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (sympathetic joy) and upekkha (equanimity) and how to develop them. Describes the benefits of practicing such meditations and also explains what is the difference between how Buddha taught to practice metta and how it is practiced by others. This talk was given by Ayya Karunika Theri on the 6th of Jun 2024, at Santi Forest (NSW).

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

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.

Dennis Sheppard has been involved with the Buddhist community since 1976, joining the Buddhist Society of Western Australia in 1978 as a young man interested in meditation and spiritual practice. He went on to serve multiple terms as president, as well as serving in several other capacities including designing several buildings for both monastics and the lay community. Dennis’ talks delve deep to explore reality, deep meditation and the meaning of life. Dennis was recently awarded life membership for his services. 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)

The BSWA is now using Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa) for donations. Please join us on Ko-fi and cancel your donations via Patreon. Thanks for your ongoing support!

Offers few helpful Buddhist practices to face difficulties in life and to develop mental immunity. This talk was given by Ayya Karunika Theri on the 1st of Jun 2024, at Santi Forest (NSW).

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

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.

Explains why it is so important to let go of guilt and remorse in your life. This talk was given by Ayya Karunika Theri on the 17th of May 2024, at Santi Forest (NSW).

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

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.

Monks on Mars’, following from last years ‘Dhamma and the Dinosaurs’ talk that looked into the deep past, Drew now looks into the future of the universe with a Buddhist perspective.

Drew Bellamy is a former President of the Buddhist Society, serving on the Executive Committee for 3 years up until 2018. Drew was instrumental in overseeing many important structural changes which has allowed the Society to thrive in it’s current format today. 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!

A follow up talk from last week relating the association of people and how these lead to good or bad results and how all of our problems come down to or bad associations. Reads of a sutta on who to associate and who not to associate (AN3.27) and also explain the conditional arising of delusion and how putting in the right conditions lead to freedom from all problems and suffering based of AN10.62 Avijjasutta (sutta on Ignorance). This talk was given by Ayya Karunika Theri on the 11th of May 2024, at Santi Forest (NSW).

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

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.