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The Buddhist Society of Western Australia
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Dear Members and Friends,
Welcome to our monthly eNews bulletin for: 1-30th NOVEMBER 2021.
All visitors to BSWA locations must sign-in using the paper registers, or scan the QR codes (posted in public areas) with the SafeWA COVID tracing app. This is due to the WA government's requirements for contact tracing at public venues, including places of worship. Please see our Safety plan to be COVID SAFE.
For government guidelines (during a Covid outbreak) please see the WA Government website.
Scroll down to read more important BSWA notices for this month. This list is prepared ahead of time, so please check the website for any last minute changes or cancellations, in News HERE or Events, HERE. If you find this bulletin helpful, feel free to share it with your family and friends. If this email is cut off at the bottom, please try the link: "View this email in your browser" or just click: View entire message.
Many thanks to all our contributors! If you have any notices of upcoming BSWA events you'd like to share in the months ahead, please email us at: (enews@bswa.org). For longer news articles of past events, photos, stories and reflections, please send them to, Nick, The Enlightened Times Editor at : (eteditor@bswa.org). For the archive of ET newsletters published by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia, click HERE.
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DHAMMA REFLECTION: Mettanussati
(Meditation on Loving-kindness)
"Having compared oneself with others,
one should practice loving-kindness
toward all beings by realising that
everyone desires happiness.
May I be free from sorrow and always be happy.
May those who desire my welfare,
those who are indifferent towards me and
those who hate me, also be happy.
May all beings who live in this vicinity and
those who live in other kingdoms in this
world-system be happy.
May all beings living in every world-system
and each element of life within such a system
be happy and achieve the highest bliss.
Likewise, women, men, the noble and the
ignoble ones, gods, men and those in woeful
states and those living in the ten directions --
may all these beings be happy."
~from "Daily Buddhist Devotions" by Ven. K Sri Dhammananda.
Free distribution edition 2001.
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Power of Kindness - Ajahn Brahm - 22 October 2021
Ajahn Brahm tells a story of an ox named Nandivisala to illustrate the power of kindness.
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Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon.
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The Buddhist Council of Western Australia Inc.
BSWA is a member of the Buddhist Council of Western Australia (BCWA). The BCWA was formed in 2005 to serve as a peak body to represent the Buddhist community at state government and national levels. The Buddhist Council of Western Australia is a member of the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils. BCWA is made up of the three denominations of Buddhism ie. Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana.
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Recently the BCWA had its Annual General Meeting on 5th October. BSWA has two representatives in the BCWA Committee: Jake Mitra is the Vice-President and Boon Tan as a Committee member. News and updates from BCWA can be seen through their: WEBSITE: buddhistcouncilwa.org.au and FACEBOOK page: facebook.com/BuddhistCouncilWA
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BCWA Committee Members pictured above (L-R): Jake Mitra (Vice President, BSWA) Ramani Gunasekara (Committee, Sri Lanka Sinhala Buddhist Society) Boon Tan (Committee, BSWA) Marlene Robins (President, Hayagriva) Kevin Dickson (Committee, Diamond Way) replaced by Natasha Tang (Committee, Buddha Light International Association WA) Stewart Jarvis (Secretary, Diamond Way) Bunthan Chan (Treasurer, Cambodian BSWA) and Tholla Chan (Committee, Cambodian BSWA).
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Welcoming our New Operations Manager
We are pleased to announce that the BSWA Committee has appointed a new Operations Manager – Lay Har Goh.
Lay Har is no stranger to BSWA. She has held positions such as Secretary, Vice President and has also been volunteering in Jhana Grove, managing the retreat booking system and running retreats.
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The Operations Manager role was created to maintain and develop the current operations, as well as provide much needed support for the BSWA Committee and the Spiritual Directors.
Lay Har started her role as Ops Manager on 11 October 2021 and will be working 4 days part-time. She will continue to volunteer her time in Jhana Grove with retreats.
To get to know Lay Har, she has very kindly taken the time to provide this interview, which you can read in full, HERE. We wish Lay Har the best of luck as she settles into her new position. Please join us in welcoming Lay Har to the BSWA team. |
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Find a BSWA Meditation Class near you
There's a growing list of opportunities to join a Meditation Class led by experienced teachers (Senior monastic and lay) in the Perth Metro area, South-West WA and online. Check out our quick reference guide to locations and times, HERE.
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BUDDHIST EDUCATION RESOURCES:
There are a number of workshop presentations and classes available on our Youtube channel for people to learn more about the Teachings of the Buddha. For a subject list of some recent courses and ongoing classes by senior monastics and lay practitioners, click HERE.
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Dhammaloka BUDDHIST CENTRE
Nollamara
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DHAMMALOKA BUDDHIST CENTRE
Dhammaloka City Centre is located in Nollamara and is the main teaching and administrative centre for the Buddhist Society of Western Australia. It offers a wide range of services including regular Dhamma teachings and meditation classes, as well as WA's largest Buddhist Library. Click this link for: ALL REGULAR ACTIVITIES
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MONDAYS at Dhammaloka
Monday is Open Day
The library is open every Monday from
10:00am to 2:00pm
for memberships, sale of books and other items.
Volunteers will be available.
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~ MONTHLY Dhamma Discussion with Q&A for new Buddhists led by Geetha
is on: MONDAY, 8th November 2021,
from 1.00 - 2:00pm in the shrine room adjacent to the Main Hall.
Any questions, please forward to Lucky at: (lucky@bswa.org)
~ WEEKLY Guided Meditation session with Jacob
every Monday, from 2:00 - 3:00pm in the Community Hall.
All are welcome to participate, no booking required.
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WEDNESDAY NIGHTS at Dhammaloka
BUDDHIST CARE LINE
The Buddhist Care Line operating hours are:
Time Zone – Perth, Western Australia (GMT+8)
Wednesdays 6.30pm-9pm
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WEDNESDAY Night Community Meditation Class
Led by lay guest teachers.
Every Wednesday Night in NOVEMBER from 7:00pm - 8:00pm
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Observing the Five Aggregates - Meditation
Dennis Sheppard - 10 February 2021
Wednesday night meditation at Dhammaloka Centre with Dennis Sheppard (former President of the Buddhist Society of WA). These ongoing guided meditation classes are suitable for both beginners and experienced meditators and offer an opportunity for visitors and online listeners to chat with our Care Group members during and after the class. Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon. |
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FRIDAY NIGHTS at DHAMMALOKA in NOVEMBER
Guided Meditation and Dhamma Talk
Live and online, via YouTube live streaming
7:30 - 9:00pm
5th November - Ajahn Brahm - Bodhinyana Monastery
12th November - Ajahn Brahmali - Bodhinyana Monastery
19th November - Ajahn Hasapanna - Dhammasara Monastery
26th November - Ajahn Brahm - Bodhinyana Monastery
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SATURDAYS in NOVEMBER
Introduction to Meditation:
A Four Week Course for Beginners
Time: 3.00 pm - 4.15 pm
Venue: Community Hall, Dhammaloka Buddhist Centre
18 Nanson Way, Nollamara WA 6061
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- 1st Session: ‘Meditation Overview’ – Saturday, 6th November.
- 2nd Session: ‘The Five Hindrances’ – Saturday, 13th November.
- 3rd Session: ‘Meditation in Action / Mindfulness’ – Saturday, 20th November.
- 4th Session: ‘Loving Kindness Meditation’ – Saturday, 27th November.
Beginning on the first Saturday of each month, an experienced lay teacher will guide new students through the basics of meditation. New participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions consecutively in order to build their understanding and practice. If you happen to miss one session it is possible to attend that session in the following month. This course is free of charge and can be repeated. Please come in comfortable and modest clothing. You are welcome to bring your own meditation cushion/stool. If not, we have plenty, and chairs are available, if you prefer.
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STARTING IN NOVEMBER
Early Buddhism Workshops: Satipaṭṭhāna
Over four SATURDAYS
Dates: 27th November, 4th December,
11th December & 18th December.
Time: 8:30am to 5:30pm.
Venue: Dhammaloka Buddhist Centre.
Ajahn Brahmali will teach the next workshop series focusing on the 7th factor of the Noble Eightfold Path (N8P), Right Mindfulness or Sammā-Sati, otherwise known as, Satipaṭṭhāna.
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Kalyana Friendship Community
Dhammaloka BUDDHIST CENTRE
SATURDAY afternoons in Nollamara
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Ajahn Brahm announcing the new name for KM !
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Kalyana Mitta is evolving...
The legendary Kalyana Mitta group is relaunching as an exciting, new, grown-up incarnation for 2021/22: The Kalyana Friendship Community! Joyfully renamed by Ajahn Brahm as “KFC” (see video above) it is open for ALL AGES to practise together, share Dhamma and eat fried chicken. (Wait - the last part is optional!). Join us twice a month for an hour-long, monastic-led session offering meditation, a Dhamma reading and sharing circle.
Kalyana Friendship Community will run on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, 5-6pm at Dhammaloka. The first session: Saturday, 27th November.
Be Quiet, Perth
Are you aged 18-35 (ish)? Do you ever feel like unplugging from social media, turning off your phone and just being here? Then Be Quiet is the group for you! We are a community of young mindfulness practitioners who meet twice a month, welcoming all. Join us to practise, make new Dhamma friends and have inspiring discussions. A young monk or nun will lead meditation, give a Dhamma reading and lead a sharing circle. We also organize social events for young people such as mindful movie nights, meals and hikes (if you want to help, get in touch!). Put your 500+ Facebook friends aside for now; come and make some you can actually be with in person and be here now!
Be Quiet is on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month, 5-6pm at Dhammaloka. The first session: Saturday, 4th December.
Make sure you stay updated with our events by joining us on Facebook:
Kalyana Friendship Community
facebook.com/groups/kalayanafriendshipcommunityperth/
Be Quiet, Perth facebook.com/groups/bequietperth/ just reach out on messenger if needed or make a post, and keep an eye out at Dhammaloka.
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Helpers Needed - looking for volunteers to assist with:
- Volunteer Coordinator - to assist in maintaining our volunteer database.
- Gardening Coordinator - to organize volunteer rosters for gardening projects.
If you can help, please contact Bill by email:
(dhammaloka-subcommittee@bswa.org)
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Bodhinyana MONASTERY
Serpentine
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Bodhinyana Monastery
NEWS IN BRIEF:
- Bodhinyana had a peaceful Rains Retreat. For this period Bodhinyana had 23 monastics, which included, 18 Bhikkhus and 5 Samaneras (Novice monks).
- The Kathina ceremony had a big gathering at Jhana Grove and $86,000 was raised.
- The next project is to build an ablution block for the monks at Hermit Hill.
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Photo by Matt Gibson
Ajahn Brahm's 70th Birthday celebration at Jhana Grove.
A moment captured while watching the video presentations with fellow Sangha and members of the BSWA Community.
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Dhammasara MONASTERY
Gidgegannup
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Dhammasara Nuns' Monastery
NEWS IN BRIEF:
- We have been super busy ever since the Vassa finished on 21st October.
- We are very grateful to our Tree Services volunteers who helped clear and fix up some erosion on our firebreaks.
- All the maintenance jobs that were on pause during the Vassa are now being attended to, for example, the solar connection at the compost toilet, broken tiles and cornices, etc.
- In the coming months, we will be organizing a Busy Bee to help us with raking and path clearing, in preparation for the bush fire season. Volunteers are welcome!
- News on Santi Forest Monastery's (SFM) End of Rains Ceremony.
- If you would like to support Dhammasara Nuns' Monastery donations can be made online via the links to PayPal on the Donation page.
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Global Metta Meditation Retreat 2021
Ven Uppekka - Dhammasara Nuns Monastery
The Global Metta Meditation Retreat 2021 was organised in honour of Ajahn Brahm in the week leading up to his 70th birthday on 7th August 2021. Many have contributed by wishing Ajahn well, by sharing how they are connected to him and by guiding a Metta Meditation. There is a series of videos now available as a special Global Metta PLAYLIST made possible through the kindness of our friends at BSV and with the permission of the participants. It offers many different ways to meditate with kindfulness (kindness and mindfulness).
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Jhana Grove Retreat Centre
Serpentine
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(BOOKING DATES for retreats later in the year)
12 - 21 November 2021: BSWA 9-Day Retreat with Ajahn Brahm. RETREAT FULL.
10 - 12 December 2021: BSWA Weekend Retreat with Venerable Mudu. FULL. Waiting list open.
14 - 23 January 2022: BSWA 9-Day Retreat with Ajahn Brahm. FULL. Waitlist will open on 5 November 2021, Friday 6:00 PM WA time - AWST for all including non-members.
4 - 13 February 2022: BSWA Group Self-Retreat. Bookings for Full Members of BSWA will open on 12 November 2021, Friday 6:00 PM WA time - AWST. (Important: Your membership status will be verified post booking and if not valid, your booking will be cancelled.) For others, bookings open on 19 November 2021, Friday 6:00 PM WA time - AWST. if available.
More Retreats at Jhana Grove in 2022
New BSWA Retreat Dates are now available. Please see the full list on our BOOKING PAGE at: http://jhanagrove.akmin.com/ for more information.
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ARMADALE Meditation Group
Online
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The Armadale Meditation Group (AMG Online) has been joined by a lovely group of members from overseas. New friends are being made each week. We have people from Singapore, Japan, Germany, England, Hong Kong, USA, Austria and more, who regularly join us, as well as people from around Australia. Being on Zoom has proved to be a wonderful opportunity to meditate together in a Covid safe environment and without having to travel anywhere at night. Yet we have been able to keep our social connections and make sure we spend time together in conversation, before and afterwards. We give thanks to all our Rains Retreat speakers for sharing so generously of their wisdom and experience. And now, the monks are back with us each week, which we very much look forward to. We also have a new Master of Ceremonies and welcome Chris from Japan to this role. If you would like to join our Zoom meditation sessions, please email Marlene for details at: (armadale@bswa.org). Tuesday evenings. Starts at 7.00 pm (WA time - AWST) Finishes at 8.30/8.40 pm.
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A Minute of Peace - Armadale Meditation Group
Venarable Kassapa - 29 December 2020
The topic of this session is 'A Minute of Peace'. The Armadale Mediation Group (AMG) is designed to teach you about meditation. The classes generally begin with chanting the Metta Sutta, then receiving mediation instructions and meditating together, followed by asking questions and finally if time remains listening to a Dhamma talk. However, the layout can vary. Due to social distancing regulations, our weekly Tuesday night teachings are happening via Zoom from Bodhinyana Monastery.
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KUSALA HERMITAGE
Roleystone
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Kusala Hermitage
NEWS IN BRIEF:
- We're about to start our granny flat project. The building permit has been delayed, but should be sorted soon.
- We did some native planting during the Rains which is going well and we just got a grant for 1500 more seedlings, which we'll plant in our "ephemeral wetland" - the dam that dries up in the summertime.
- There's also a few fencing projects, both along the boundary and for some more native gardens.
- The Roleystone Meditation Group - at the Roleystone Seniors Club is on SUNDAY afternoons, Starting at 5:00pm with Ajahn Santutthi and Ajahn Jhanarato running the group. For more details, click HERE.
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If you would like to DONATE to support the Kusala Hermitage Project, please choose it from the list on our Donation page, HERE.
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Bodhinyana GREAT SOUTHERN
Albany
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Bodhinyana Great Southern
NEWS IN BRIEF:
- If anyone would like to visit the Albany Hermitage and hasn't been before, please contact Lucky (lucky@bswa.org) for directions. Kindly do not follow GPS instructions, as they may take you to a neighboring property.
- We are looking for volunteer driver/s for both Friday Night meditation and Saturday Morning Pindapata.
- Venerable Mudu is (pictured left) receiving Dana from Rowena the proprietor of Ron’s Barber shop in Albany.
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Photo of Venerable Mudu and Venerable Nivatho by Matt Gibson
Free Meditation Talks by Venerable Mudu
All are welcome:
- Every FRIDAY NIGHT, from 6.30pm – 8.30pm
- Every SUNDAY AFTERNOON, from 4.00pm – 5.00pm
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Connect with our BSWA Great Southern Facebook page HERE for more news and information. If you live in the Albany area and would like to learn more about Bodhinyana Great Southern, click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to support Bodhinyana Great Southern, please choose it from the list on our Donation page, HERE.
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Busselton Augusta Margaret River Buddhist Initiative
(BAMBI) MARGARET RIVER
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Our regular Sunday Meditation and Dharma discussion Sessions are held on each Sunday afternoon of the month, so that means they will be held on Sunday 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th NOVEMBER. Located at the Margaret River Community Resource Centre, 21-33 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River, the meditation room is located in the main building (alongside Tunbridge Street) just look for the open door with a BAMBI sign out the front. The schedule is as follows:
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4.00pm - 4.30pm Guidance on developing meditation
4.30pm - 5.00pm Meditation
5.00pm - 5.30pm Dhamma Discussion
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This is a very friendly group which is appropriate for beginners and on-going meditators and all are welcome.There is no fee, but donations are welcome. Connect via Facebook, HERE. To join the BAMBI mailing list for updates on public events. click HERE. Any queries, email Sol: (sol@bswa.org)
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Announcing a new "meditation club" in Nannup
MEDITATION CLUB
Sundays at 9:00am (1 hour)
Nannup Recreation Centre
First Meeting: Sunday 7th November 2021.
BussletonAugustaMargaretRiverBuddhistInitiative (BAMBI)
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The 17th Sakyadhita Conference Registration is now OPEN!
The Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women which was due to be held in person in Malaysia this year, is now going to be presented ONLINE:
December 26 - 29, 2021.
To visit the conference website for a schedule of speakers, panels and workshops (incl. registration) click HERE.
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HOW YOU CAN HELP
DONATE : If you would like to support the activities at Dhammaloka Buddhist Centre, you can scan this code with your smartphone, or click the linked image to take you to the PayPal portal. Or, if you prefer, you can go to the full list of options on our Donation Page.
A NOTICE TO DONORS REGARDING CHEQUES
PATREON : Become a BSWA Patron on PATREON
To keep sharing these quality Dhamma teachings for free, we need the support of patron's donations to cover the costs of producing and uploading talks across multiple online platforms.
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MEMBERSHIPS : Becoming a member of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia is a great way to support our work, stay in touch via bulletins and our newsletter, as well as getting membership perks such as priority when booking a 9-Day meditation retreat.
For the full list of BENEFITS OF BECOMING A MEMBER OF BSWA, click HERE.
TO BECOME A NEW MEMBER, just download our Membership form, from the website, HERE.
CURRENT MEMBERS: Please inform us if your contact details have changed. You can update your contact details, including your phone number and email address, with the following link: https://bswa.org/update-info/
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NEW: Yellow Membership Envelopes
An easy way to renew, or apply for Membership. For your convenience, yellow envelopes are now available at Dhammaloka and at our Monasteries. They can be used to renew, or apply for
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new memberships. Please use this facility by dropping your envelope with completed information and payment into any of our donation boxes. (This includes - making use of the Direct Debit Form or cheques).
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VOLUNTEER : If you would like to volunteer please fill out our New Volunteer Application FORM that records your details, skills and hours of availability. You can also use this form to sign up to volunteer with any of our monasteries. Please be sure to indicate your area(s) of interest.
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Anumodana ~ Thank you for your wonderful support.
BSWA is a non-profit organisation run by dedicated volunteers to faithfully share the teachings of the Buddha free of charge and to promote Buddhist values and Meditation for the realisation of Dhamma. Your kind donations go towards keeping it running and supports the aim of reaching as many people as possible.
May all beings be happy and well. May all beings be free.
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