

Buddhist Society of Western Australia
Buddhist Society of Western Australia
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
Mentioned books

Jul 24, 2025 • 57min
What Gives Rise to Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension (Satisampajanna) | Ayya Karunika | 5 September 2024
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:
BSWA Teachings
BSWA Podcast Channel
BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
BSWA YouTube

Jul 23, 2025 • 1h 18min
Trust Access Awareness | Dennis Sheppard | 18 July 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:
BSWA Teachings
BSWA Podcast Channel
BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
BSWA YouTube

Jul 23, 2025 • 1h 13min
Meditating with Wisdom | Ajahn Yiu | The Armadale Meditation Group
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:
BSWA Teachings
BSWA Podcast Channel
BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
BSWA YouTube

Jul 20, 2025 • 50min
Obstacles or Hindrances in Meditation | Ajahn Jhanarato | Roleystone Meditation Group
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:
BSWA Teachings
BSWA Podcast Channel
BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
BSWA YouTube

Jul 20, 2025 • 53min
Living Silently Within The Moment | Ajahn Santutthi | Roleystone Meditation Group
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:
BSWA Teachings
BSWA Podcast Channel
BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
BSWA YouTube

Jul 20, 2025 • 1h 27min
Dust in Our Eyes | Venerable Hue Can | 11 July 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:
BSWA Teachings
BSWA Podcast Channel
BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
BSWA YouTube

Jul 18, 2025 • 54min
Not Overwhelmed by Fear and Worry | Bhante Cunda | Roleystone Meditation Group
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:
BSWA Teachings
BSWA Podcast Channel
BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
BSWA YouTube

Jul 17, 2025 • 56min
Starting Point of The Path | Ayya Karunika | 5 September 2024
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:
BSWA Teachings
BSWA Podcast Channel
BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
BSWA YouTube

Jul 16, 2025 • 51min
Why Do We Continue With This Practice? | Ajahn Appicchato | The Armadale Meditation Group
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:
BSWA Teachings
BSWA Podcast Channel
BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
BSWA YouTube

Jul 11, 2025 • 59min
Recollecting Our Own Goodness - Silanussati | Venerable Upekkha | The Armadale Meditation Group
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:
BSWA Teachings
BSWA Podcast Channel
BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel
BSWA YouTube


