Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Ayya Karunika explains where compassion (Karuna) and lovingkindness (metta) is found on the Noble Eightfold Path and how these two Brahmavihara practices are essential factors to practice the path to enlightenment. Also explains the answer to the question 'Why are we here?' and what to do after the end of a long retreat. Talk given on 17 October 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

00:00 Guided meditation by Sandra Henville 30:39 Talk by Boon Tan Speaker Profile: Boon Tan has been a long time follower of BSWA since the 90’s when the former Ajahn Jagaro was the spiritual director. He volunteered in the BSWA committee between 2014 to 2020 at the invitation of one of the committee, firstly as Assistant Treasurer and then Treasurer. He has represented BSWA on the Buddhist Council of WA since 2014, holding the role of committee member, President and now as Treasurer. Since 2022, he has represented BSWA and BCWA at the Federation of Australian Buddhist Council, contributing as both Secretary and Treasurer. Despite those roles, you will usually see him behind a camera and he has probably aimed at you at some time! 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

Venerable Chokyi is resident teacher at Hayagriva Buddhist Centre. Ordained in 2006 by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, she has held several senior posts at FPMT centres in Australia and international positions within the FPMT. Before coming to Perth, Venerable Chokyi was Spiritual Program Coordinator at the FPMT Centre in Sydney, Vajrayana Institute, for 10 years and in 2018 was appointed the resident western teacher at Chenrezig Institute, an FPMT Centre in Queensland.   - Unless otherwise noted, this shared collection of photographs was supplied by Vikas Kumar, Helen Richardson, Sharon Thrupp, Kathy Uno, Deanne McKenzie, Sandra Henville and Venerable Thubten Chokyi who travelled together from 1 – 15 June 2025, to the place mapped in this presentation. - Maps produced using ESRI © OpenStreetMap contributors - Videos of chanting nuns at Dormaling Nunnery and traditional Tibetan dancers near Norbilingka and were recorded by Sandra Henville 10 June 2025 - Vicki Mackenzie (1998) Cave In The Snow, Bloomsbury Publishing, 1998 - Khyentse Norbu (2000) The Cup Film Release date: 20 April 2000 (Australia); Director: Khyentse Norbu, Producers: Raymond Steiner, Malcolm Watson - Geleck Palsang (2022) Amala - The Life and struggle of Dalai lama's sister (2022) Director: Geleck Palsang. https://youtu.be/nkkb7hkRRCY?si=qbrfcR0MSBY_O-F9 - Tenzin Yankyi (2025) Golden Flowers of Dhamma. Director: Tenzin Yankyi 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_IftsyDwFk - Presentation compiled by Sandra Henville 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

Kathryn began meditating over 30 years ago at the Armadale group (AMG) of BSWA and continues to join the now online group as a regular member. She has practised in Theravadan, Tibetan and Zen/Chan traditions. She is the founder of “Mind and Movement”, and is a certified teacher of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s program, “Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction” (MBSR). Kathryn is recognised as a Senior Teacher by the Meditation Association of Australia. Kathryn has been slowly retiring from her meditation related work but continues to support a local secondary school implementing a whole school approach to Mindfulness-based Social and Emotional Learning. 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  

Drew is a former President and Secretary of the BSWA in the years of 2014-2018. During this time Drew implemented many changes at the BSWA including property purchases and a re-structure of the Committee into sub-committees and the employment of paid staff to better service the growth in size the Society had experienced in the previous 10 years. Drew is a family man and business man who won an industry award in 2021 from the State Government for innovation in the mining sector. Since stepping down as President Drew has been a regular on the scene at the BSWA and has been invited as a Lay Speaker and to date has given 9 Dhamma talks. Drew’s talk last year, ‘Monks on Mars’ followed a trajectory of Buddhism in the future, which was a sequel to his talk the year before ‘Dhamma and the Dinosaurs’ that was a Buddhist examination of deep time. Tonight’s talk ‘Free Will - a Failed Fantasy’ is a look at the experiences of a lay person existing in the human realm looking to change their future. 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

29 July 2025 Dennis Sheppard 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

Ayya Karunika explains the importance of wise attention and why and how to develop it based on the teachings of the Buddha. Talk given on 3 October 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

Sandra is a long-time BSWA member who enjoys holding space for group meditations. She has led the Spiritual Education Group at BSWA and Mindfulness Meditation sessions at her workplace. She also enjoys bringing people together for a good yarn and has suppported the Kalyana Friendship Group at BSWA. These days she collaborates with others at the Buddhist Council of WA and volunteers at Sakyadhita Australia Perth Chapter. Credits: - Thank you to Tour Leader Vikas Kumar and all the team at Ekno Travels who made our journey possible. - Unless otherwise noted, this shared collection of photographs was supplied by Vikas Kumar, Helen Richardson, Sharon Thrupp, Kathy Uno, Deanne McKenzie, Sandra Henville and Venerable Thubten Chokyi who travelled together from 1 – 15 June 2025, to the place mapped in this presentation. - Maps produced using ESRI © OpenStreetMap contributors - Videos of chanting nuns at Dormaling Nunnery and traditional Tibetan dancers near Norbilingka and were recorded by Sandra Henville 10 June 2025 - Vicki Mackenzie (1998) Cave In The Snow, Bloomsbury Publishing, 1998 - Khyentse Norbu (2000) The Cup Film Release date: 20 April 2000 (Australia); Director: Khyentse Norbu, Producers: Raymond Steiner, Malcolm Watson - Geleck Palsang (2022) Amala - The Life and struggle of Dalai lama's sister (2022) Director: Geleck Palsang. https://youtu.be/nkkb7hkRRCY?si=qbrfcR0MSBY_O-F9 - Tenzin Yankyi (2025) Golden Flowers of Dhamma. Director: Tenzin Yankyi 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_IftsyDwFk - Presentation compiled by Sandra Henville 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  

22 July 2025 Richard Thomas 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

Ananda was born in Sri Lanka went to the village temple with his Grandfather from a very young age. Yet he came to practise meditation only after meeting the then Ajahn Jagaro & Ajahn Brahm, around 1987. He has been meditating for about 25 years and considers Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmali & Bhante Sujato as his spiritual teachers. He and his family started visiting Bodhinyana and Dhammaloka regularly in 1991 and he has served in the Committee in different capacities including Treasurer and the Secretary. He has also contributed to Buddhist communities overseas in various ways and is a student of early Buddhist texts from the Tripitaka, relying mostly on Bhante Sujato’s English translations of Sutta on SuttaCentral & also, Dhammaloka Sutta classes & Sutta Retreats at Jhana Grove. Please find the list of Suttas that was quoted during the talk: Guided Meditation: SN 56.10 Tiracchānakathā sutta (Low Talk) - Bhikkhu Sujato SN 14.12 Sanidāna sutta (With a Cause) - Bhante Sujato Dhamma Talk: Iti 100 Brāhmaṇadhammayāga sutta (The Brahmin’s Offering of the Teaching) - Bhante Sujato SN 22.87 Vakkali sutta (With Vakkali) - Bhante Sujato SN 4.5 Dutiyamārapāsa sutta {Māra’s Snares (2nd)} - Bhante Sujato Kd 1 Mahākhandhaka, part 7 (Great Chapter) Vinaya Pitaka – Ajahn Brahmali AN 8.37 Sappurisadana Sutta (Good Person’s Gifts) - Bhante Sujato Ud 8.6 Pāṭaligāmiya sutta (The Layfolk of Pāṭali Village) - Bhante Sujato AN 10:1 Kimatthiyasutta Sutta (What is the purpose) - Bhante Sujato SN 12.41 Pañcaverabhaya sutta (Dangers & Threats) - Bhante Sujato AN 5.42 Sappurisa sutta (True Person) - Bhante Sujato SN 20.2 Nakhasikha sutta (A Fingernail) - Bhante Sujato SN 56.11 Dhammacakkappavattana sutta (Rolling Forth the Wheel of Dhamma) - Bhante Sujato Q&A: AN 3:100 Lonakapalla Sutta (A Lump of Salt) - Bhante Sujato MN 14 Cūḷadukkhakkhandha sutta (The Shorter Discourse on the Mass of Suffering) - Bhante Sujato 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