Staying at Bodhinyana
*There are no rooms available till the end of November due to rains retreat.
You can apply for December onwards but it may take a while for guest monk to get back to you.
Bodhinyana has rooms available for short term residence in the monastery. Local guests may stay for up to 2 weeks, interstate and international guests up to 4 weeks. If this interests you, please carefully read the information below.
If you would like to stay at Jhana Grove Meditation Retreat Centre for the 3 month annual rains retreat you can find more information here. We do not offer places for visitors at Bodhinyana monastery during that period. These rooms are reserved for prospective anagarika candidates and by invitation only.
Visas
Please remember that you need a visa to enter Australia if you are from overseas. To find out which one is the right one for you follow this link: http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visi/Visi#. A visitor visa will cover you to come and stay as a guest at Bodhinyana.
General Requirements
To stay, applicants should meet the following criteria:
- Applicants should be Buddhist, and a member of the BSWA if living locally
- Applicants should have completed at least one Buddhist retreat, and preferably have a daily meditation routine. There is no formal meditation teaching program at the monastery, so one must be able to meditate independently.
- Applicants should be in good physical and mental health.
- Guests are required to keep the 8 precepts (see below) and respect the monastery rules while staying at the monastery.
- Guests should participate in any work duties assigned to them during their stay.
The Eight Precepts
- To refrain from intentionally taking the life of any living creature.
- To refrain from taking what is not given.
- To refrain from any sexual activity: no physical contact or intimacy with the opposite sex.
- To refrain from dishonest speech.
- To refrain from using alcohol or non-medicinal drugs. (Smoking is banned in the monastery).
- To refrain from eating after noon. (Non-milk drinks, juice, sweets, sugar & honey are allowable).
- To refrain from dancing, singing, playing music, and wearing cosmetics, perfume, and jewellery.
- To refrain from using luxurious beds and seats.
Daily Schedule
6:30am | Light breakfast served. 7am for female guests, to be eaten in female accommodation. |
7:15am | Tues – Fri is work meeting for men. Female guests have set duties. |
10:00am | Male and female guests meet in kitchen to help anagarikas with meal preparation. |
10:30am | Dāna offering to monks and main meal. |
6:00pm | Optional drinks in kitchen for men. Female guests may take drinks in their room. |
Male Guest Work Duties
7:15am Saturday-Monday | If you take breakfast, sweep for 15 minutes. |
7:15am Tuesday-Friday | Work meeting / job assignment. |
9:45am every day | After work assignment, help anagarikas to prepare for the meal. |
11:30am every day | Wash up and clean kitchen and dining area. |
Female Guest Work Duties
7:15am Saturday-Monday | If you take breakfast, sweep for 15 minutes. |
7:30am Tuesday-Friday | Sweep road in front of female guest quarters and clean tables and chairs on terrace. |
7:30am Tuesday and Friday | Clean male and female toilets adjacent to female guest quarters. |
9:45am every day | Help anagarikas to prepare for the meal. |
11:30am every day | Wash up and clean kitchen and dining area. |
Arrival and Departure
The monastery gates are open at these times:
6am – 6pm, Monday – Friday
6am – 1pm, Saturday and Sunday
It is best to arrive at the monastery before the main meal—starting at 10:30am—as one cannot eat in the afternoon.
If you need to leave the monastery during your stay, or return home earlier than intended, please notify a senior monk or the guest monk.
On departing, please ensure your room is clean and tidy by 10am on the day of departure, ready for the next guest. Return your key to a monk or anagarika if the guest monk is not available.
For those without transport, please take the Australind train, from Perth to Serpentine Station: departing Perth at 9:30am (daily) or 5:55pm (Mon-Fri) / 7:55pm (Sat & Sun). For bookings call: 1300 662 205, or see: www.transwa.wa.gov.au. After booking a seat, please confirm with us your arrival time, so we know when to pick you up.
What to Bring
The following items are useful to bring to the monastery
- Torch
- Alarm clock
- Toiletries and towel
- Sheets & sleeping bag. (Bedding is available, but must be cleaned before you leave).
- Work clothes and shoes/boots
- A drivers license
Having read all this you can now complete the guest application form. Applications may take a few days to be reviewed, so please be patient.
If you have any questions you can contact the guest monk:
Please don’t use the above email address for general correspondence with the monastery.