This page has information on the following topics:
Dhammaloka and events
Ajahn Brahm
Bodhinyana Monastery
Dhammasara Monastery
Jhana Grove
Supporting the BSWA
BSWA membership
General
Covid
FAQ about Dhammaloka and events
What are the usual events in Dhammaloka and which are live streamed?
Please refer to the following table.
For more details on each event, please refer to our website: BSWA – Events – Dhammaloka
*RAINS RETREAT (Full moon in July – Full moon in October):
No.
Day
Time
Event
Live-stream (Yes/No)
During Rains Retreat*
1.
Monday
2:00 – 3:00pm
Group meditation with Jacob – lay teacher (Community Hall)
No
√
2.
First Monday of every month
1:00 – 1:45pm
Q&A Dhamma Discussion with Geetha – lay teacher (Main Hall)
No
√
3.
Friday
7:30 – 9:00pm
Guided Meditation (30mins), Dhamma Talk (45mins), Q&A (15mins) – by Senior Monk / Nun
Yes
Guest Speaker
(lay/monastic)
4.
Saturday and Sunday
10:30am – 12:00pm
Dana (Community Hall) – Offering of food to the monks / nuns
No
X
5.
Saturday
3:00 – 4:00pm
Guided Meditation (45mins), Q&A – by Senior Monk / Nun
Yes
Recorded Meditation of Ajahn Brahm’s
6.
4 Saturdays in each month, starting from 1st Saturday
3:00 – 4:00pm
Intro to Meditation (45mins), Q&A – by lay teacher (Community Hall)
No
√
7.
2nd Saturday
1:45 – 2:30pm
Book Club – Reading and discussion led by a monastic
No
X
8.
2nd and 4th Sunday
3:00 – 4:30pm
Sutta Class – by Senior Monk / Nun
Yes
X
9.
1st and 3rd Saturday
5:00 – 6:00pm
BeQuiet (aged 18-35) – meditation, Dhamma reading and sharing, led by a monk/nun
No
1st Saturday only, (not 3rd)
10.
2nd and 4th Saturday
5:00 – 6:00pm
Kalyana Friendship Community (KFC) (All ages) – meditation, Dhamma reading and sharing, led by a monk/nun
No
√
11.
Sunday (during school term excl. July-Sept)
9:00 – 11:00am
Children’s Dhamma School
No
√
12.
First Thursday after full moon day
9:00 – 3:00pm
8-Precept Day – Lay community doing group meditation and listening to Dhamma talk
No
√
Is there a Dana in Dhammaloka this weekend and who is the monk/nun in attendance?
Please check out our website for more information: BSWA – Events – Dhammaloka
Kindly note that information might be updated on a weekly basis so advance information may not be available.
Who is teaching this weekend in Dhammaloka?
Please check out our website for more information: BSWA – Events – Dhammaloka
Kindly note that information might be updated on a weekly basis so advanced information may not be available.
Who is teaching next weekend in Dhammaloka?
Please check out our website for more information: BSWA – Events – Dhammaloka
Kindly note that information might be updated on a weekly basis so advanced information may not be available.
Do we need to register for the above mentioned events in Dhammaloka?
No registration is needed except for the Children’s Dhamma School
Do I need to pay to attend the above mentioned events?
No fee is collected for those events.
The Children’s Dhamma School may be subject to a small fee – To be confirmed closer to the start date of Term 2.
You are welcome to give a donation to help support our activities and the Sangha.
How do I listen or watch a BSWA Dhamma Talk or Meditation online?
To listen or watch the Dhamma Talk or Meditation live, please go to the BSWA YouTube Channel.
If the event is already over, you can retrieve the recordings on the BSWA website: https://bswa.org/teachings/. You can then use the search function to find the right talk.
Are there accommodations in Dhammaloka for people to stay?
No, we do not have accommodation for people to stay in Dhammaloka.
How can I request Ajahn Brahm to speak on a particular topic during the Friday Night Talk in Dhammaloka?
The BSWA has thousands of talks available online via our YouTube Channel and Teachings Page. Please use the search functions on these pages to find talks on the topic you are interested in. If you cannot find what you are looking for, then please see our Contact a Monastic – Including Ajahn Brahm for ways to connect with Ajahn Brahm and other monastics to make a new topic suggestion.
How can I request for Ajahn Brahm to be a guest speaker at an event in Australia, overseas or online?
Please email any requests of this nature to admin@bswa.org and they may be forwarded onto Ajahn Brahm for consideration.
Am I allowed to use quotes from Ajahn Brahm’s books, or clips from his talks for other programs?
Please email any requests of this nature to admin@bswa.org and they may be forwarded onto Ajahn Brahm for consideration.
I would like to express my gratitude to Ajahn Brahm for his teachings. Who do I write to?
Please email any messages of this nature to admin@bswa.org and they will be collated into a group of messages and forwarded onto Ajahn Brahm, for him to read when he has time. Please do not include any questions as they can not be forwarded. If you have any questions for Ajahn Brahm or other monastics, please see our Contact a Monastic – Including Ajahn Brahm page for ways to ask these.
I would like to send an email to Ajahn Brahm. What is his email?
As you can expect, Ajahn Brahm has a very busy schedule and does not have capacity to attend to the many requests made of him. Please see our Contact a Monastic – Including Ajahn Brahm page for ways to ask questions of Ajahn or our other monastics.
Can I request for a personal recorded/written message from Ajahn Brahm?
As you can expect, Ajahn Brahm has a very busy schedule and does not have capacity to attend to the many requests made of him. We can ask Ajahn Brahm to sign his signature in one of his books, if you would like to purchase one from our online Bookshop to have as a memento.
Can I speak to Ajahn Brahm directly or privately from Perth?
Can I speak to Ajahn Brahm privately from overseas/interstate?
As you can expect, Ajahn Brahm has a very busy schedule and does not have capacity to attend to the many requests made of him. If you would like to ask a question during the question time of a livestreamed talk, please find details about this on our Contact a Monastic – Including Ajahn Brahm page.
I would like to translate one of Ajahn Brahm’s talks online. Who do I contact to get approval?
Please check our Translated Talks on our YouTube Channel first, to see if the talk has already been translated into the language you need. If not, please email translations@bswa.org to make a request.
Can I translate one of Ajahn Brahm’s books?
Please email admin@bswa.org with details of this request.
FAQ about Bodhinyana Monks’ Monastery
Who is the Senior Monk in attendance for dana today?
Please call the monastery at (08) 9525 2420 between 6:45am – 7:15am or 6:00pm – 7:00pm to find out. Leave a voicemail if the call is not answered.
I’m interested on becoming a monk. Can I get more information?
Donate in person by cash/cheque, using one of the cashless donation tablets at Dhammaloka, Dhammasara and Bodhinyana.
Donate in person, by using a donation envelope and placing it in the donation box.
Donate via direct credit (bank to bank transfer) by contacting for details.
If you require a tax receipt for your donation, please make sure you choose to donate to one of the Building Funds, which are tax deductible in Australia for donations over $2.00
If you do not require a tax receipt or are overseas (so cannot claim a tax benefit in Australia), please consider donating to one of the Expense Funds, which contribute to the running of the BSWA, our online teachings and the medical, travel and other expenses of the Sangha.
I have a problem with making payment through PayPal. Is there another payment method?
Information about becoming a BSWA member can be found on our website here: BSWA Memberships
Becoming a member involves filling out a membership form and paying the membership fee at one of the following locations in person or electronically via our website at https://bswa.org/support-us/membership-3/
1) At the donation boxes located at all our centres (Dhammaloka Centre in Nollamara, Dhammasara Nuns Monastery in Gidgegannup, Bodhinyana Monks Monastery and Jhana Grove Meditation Centres in Serpentine, Bodhinyana Great Southern in Albany and Kusala Hermitage in Kelmscott) you can find the membership application forms in yellow envelopes to be completed.
2) At the library at Dhammaloka (a library volunteer will assist).
3) Online at https://bswa.org/support-us/membership-3/ to pay via PayPal. Membership and direct debit forms are also available on this page. Please submit the two forms together on the same day as payment, by email memberships@bswa.org or post to:
Memberships Assistant
Dhammaloka Buddhist Centre
18 Nanson Way
Nollamara WA 6061
AUSTRALIA
What are the different types of membership and the fee?
Information about membership types can also be found on our website here: Membership Types
We have 3 mains types of membership:
Youth: Available to those under 18 years of age. Simply fill in a membership form with the date of birth or date of 18th birthday included (No fee required).
Associate: Open to Buddhists and Non Buddhists alike to support the aims and activities of the BSWA by taking up this category of membership. Requires submitting a membership form together with a payment of $50 per annum. Associate Membership can be upgraded to Full membership status after receiving confirmation of taking precepts online or with a monk or nun of BSWA, at no additional cost.
Practicing Buddhists who have taken the three refuges and five precepts from Ajahn Brahm, the Spiritual Director of BSWA, Ajahn Hasapanna, the Abbot of Dhammasara Nuns Monastery or their representatives of BSWA. (Subsequent to taking the precepts, please approach the Sangha in person for their signature to endorse the application form).
Indicate on the application that you have fulfilled this requirement by ticking the box on the form or by emailing memberships@bswa.org).
The fee is $50 per annum, same as for Associate membership
Paid for Lifetime:
An Associate or Full member can make a payment of $990 (equivalent of a 20 year membership payment) to qualify for this category of membership.
How long does it take for my membership to be approved as I want to make a retreat booking?
As you are required to provide your membership number to make a 9 Day Retreat booking, please apply to become a current Full Member 2 weeks prior to the retreat booking opening date. This will give us time to process your membership application ahead of time. New memberships are officially approved at the next available committee meeting. However, full memberships need only be processed (not officially approved).
I have a question on Membership. Who can I contact?
Can I bring my children to Dhamma talks / meditations?
Children are welcome to join our Friday Night Meditation at 7:30pm and Friday Night Dhamma Talk at 8:00pm. We have a room to the left side of the Main Hall with a TV livestreaming the meditation and talk. This side room is especially suited to families with young children.
I live overseas and would like to find a monastery near where I live. Can you recommend one?
You can use BuddhaNet to search for a monastery/retreat centre in your area. All you need to do is fill in the details and search.
The tradition of Buddhism BSWA follows is Theravada, however, you can choose which school you prefer / follow when doing the search.
What should I wear to BSWA locations?
For meditation, comfortable and loose clothing is recommended. Dressing in a modest way is a gesture of respect for the monks and nuns. In a Buddhist temple the principle is that your clothes should not draw attention to yourself. For more on Buddhist etiquette, please see here: Buddhist Etiquette – BSWA
How do I take 3 refuges and 5 precepts with a monastic?
At Dhammaloka
Attend Dana at Dhammaloka at 10.00am and the monastic in attendance will offer the 3 refuges and 5 precepts before the meal. You can then ask them to endorse your membership form after the meal.
Attend Dhammaloka for the Friday night talk or Saturday meditation (excluding during rains retreat July-October). Come early to meet with the monastic in attendance in the Reception area before the meditation and ask for them to offer you the 3 refuges and 5 precepts and to endorse your membership application form.
At Bodhinyana
Attend Dana at Bodhinyana at 10.30am any day of the year and approach the senior monk in attendance after the meal to ask them to offer you the 3 refuges and 5 precepts and to endorse your membership application form. More information about visiting Bodhinyana can be found here: https://bswa.org/location/bodhinyana-monastery/
At Dhammasara
Attend Dana at Dhammasara at 10.30am any day of the year, where the nuns offer the Three Refuges and Five Precepts everyday as part of the Dana ceremony. Ask Ajahn Hasapanna or the senior nun in attendance to sign your membership form after lunch. More information about visiting Dhammasara can be found here: https://bswa.org/location/dhammasara-monastery/
Does BSWA give counselling? How much does it cost for advice/guidance?
Please be advised our monastics do not offer counselling for legal reasons. You can approach members of our Sangha for spiritual guidance, which is without any charge, however, donations to support the BSWA and our Sangha are welcomed.
How can I learn more about Buddhism?
Following are some resources to help you learn more about Buddhism.
These talks/meditations are one way of learning about Buddhism and can be listened to on playback or livestreamed at the following times (excluding during Rains Retreat July – October).
Reading books on Buddhism – Please see our online bookshop for books by Ajahn Brahm or search Wisdom Books for titles by Ajahn Sumedho, Ajahn Chah and Ayya Khema.
Attending / listening via YouTube to our Sutta classes – suttas are the teachings of the Buddha from Scriptures and are freely available at Sutta Central or you can listen to teachings via our YouTube Channel here: BSWA Suttas
Attending meditation retreats – More information about BSWA Meditation Retreats here: Jhana Grove Retreat Centre
Finding a Buddhist Centre or Retreat Centre in your area – if you are overseas or interstate and would like to make direct contact with Buddhism in your area, please use BuddhaNet to search for a monastery/retreat centre in your area. The tradition of BSWA is Theravada, however, you can choose which school you prefer / follow when doing the search.
Do I have to be a Buddhist to attend a BSWA location?
No, we are a diverse community of many cultures, faiths and backgrounds. All are welcome.
How can I request for chanting/blessing for a sick or dying family member?
Please call Bodhinyana Monastery between 6:00pm-7:00pm any day of the week on +61 8 9525 2420 and leave a message if your call is not answered. The monks will add your loved one to their weekly chanting list.
Does BSWA have an online Children’s Dhamma School?
No, BSWA does not provide online Dhamma School teachings and will not do so in the future due to Australian laws. If you are in Perth, information about our Sunday Dhamma School can be found here on our Regular Activities page or you can contact our Dhamma School Coordinators via email at dhammaschool@bswa.org
Covid FAQ
What are the Covid requirements to attend any event in any BSWA location?
