Dhammasara Nuns Monastery
Dhammasara Nuns' Monastery, was established by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia in 1998. We are primarily a training monastery for nuns in the Forest Tradition of Theravada Buddhism. The nuns are fully ordained Bhikkhunis (equal in every respect to Bhikkhu /Monks) in the Theravada tradition. The monastery in 583 acres of natural bushland in the hills outside Perth, is just a 45 minute drive from the city centre.
Initially the accommodation was temporary, including a modest caravan and a Dhamma shed. The first permanent facility, the Nun’s Cottage was completed in January 2001. This building provides accommodation, bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities for residents. It is also the meeting place where supporters come to offer Dana (food and other requisites) and receive Dhamma teachings. Eight brick meditation huts and a separate amenities block for use by the monastics have since been built in the forest.
Although Dhammasara is not a meditation centre there are facilities for a limited number of female guests to stay at the monastery and practise with the resident monastic community. All the residents or temporary lay visitors need to have some basic in meditation practice and familiarity with the Buddhist principles in order to live in the monastery. We would like our guests to follow the daily routines of the nuns as much as possible and join in with all communal meetings and work activities.
The monastic life encourages development of simplicity, renunciation and quietude. It is a deliberate commitment to this way of life that create a community environment where people of diverse backgrounds, personalities and temperaments can co-operate in the effort to practice and realise the Buddha’s path to liberation (Nibbana).
Anyone who stays at Dhammasara takes the 8 precepts and follows the routine of the monastery. This varies throughout the year, but basically includes participating in the daily food offering, when supporters come to bring Dana and receive teaching, at least 4 formal group meditations some with teaching per week, and the daily work period before Dana. For visitors this usually means helping in the kitchen or any outside work around and in the forest. Some afternoon there is a group work period. There is still ample time for solitary meditation.
The daily life in the monastery emphasises quiet, seclusion, meditation practice and the study of the Buddha’s teachings. The routine at Dhammasara is designed to create an atmosphere conducive to meditation practice. At times there is an emphasis on group practice. At other times the focus shift to solitary practice.
- Address: 203 Reen Road, Gidgegannup, WA 6083 Australia
- Tradition: Theravada, Forest Tradition, Thai
- Affiliation: Buddhist Society of Western Australia
- Phone: Phone: (61 8) 9574 6583
- Fax: (61 8) 62101131
- Website: http://cms.dhammasara.org.au/about/ & http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/
Videos
- A short documentary about the Dhammasara Nun's Monastery in Perth, Western Australia (12 Minutes, Oct 2011):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuVrFXNM7o4
- Venerable Hasapanna from Dhammasara Monastery in western Australia explains about the stages of becoming a nun (15 Minutes, November 2013):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBOTo3Q_F5Y
- Dhammasara: A Buddhist monastery- growing nuns in Australia (5 Minutes, June 2011):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiuFwk6Ty9g.
- Ajahn Brahm & Dhammasara Nun's Monastery - A documentary (31 Minutes, Jan 2012):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5JRw97wHsk
https://www.facebook.com/DhammasaraNunsMonasteryFundraisingPj?fref=photo