Sunnataram Forest Monastery : Thai Forest Monastery Bundanoon, offering a Meditation Retreats program
225 Teudts Road, Bundanoon NSW 2578
02 4884 4262
Venerable Phra Mana
Viriyarampo
WELCOME to the peaceful and friendly atmosphere of a Thai forest Buddhist monastery in the Southern Highlands. This is a place where you can learn and apply Buddhist teachings to add inner peace in your daily life.
We offer many Dhamma programs and activities for all levels of interest, from serious meditators to students or just curious visitors.
Monks and volunteers have created teaching tools to simplify the complicated Buddhist teachings into modern day language. Plants in the monastery gardens are carefully chosen to link with Buddhist history and add more peaceful and pleasant feelings to both meditators and visitors.
We constantly carry out in depth research of Buddhist history, by visiting many archaeological sites and museums, and by meeting with experts in many universities around the world. The knowledge that we have acquired from this research helps us to extract the spiritual values of Buddhist teachings from the veil of cultural practises.
Our monthly meditation retreats are highly attended by people from all over Australia. We combine the beautiful rural location, archaeological history of Buddhism, ancient artefacts, stone carvings, visual arts, Buddhist chanting, and yummy Thai vegetarian food, with many outdoor activities i.e. Tai Chi Qi Gong, walking & sitting meditation in the gardens. Many people attend up to 6 retreats per year.
Monks from Sunnataram Forest Monastery have been regularly invited to talk on various topics of Buddhism and teach meditation in many local and Sydney schools. The monastery is a favourite place for local school excursions.
Sunday is a very suitable time when individuals, couples or
the entire family can enjoy the beautiful view and art work around the
monastery. Visitors are welcome to participate in our programs without changing their religion!! Parents and young children can experience offering vegetarian food
to monks, listening to Buddhist blessings, short sitting meditation, Dhamma
talk, and can feel free to ask questions to the monks. Every Sunday 11am-2pm.
Please read more from the above tabs.
For more enquiries, please contact us by email.
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Every Tuesday
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6 - 8 PM Buddhist Chanting, Guided Meditation & Dhamma talk by the monks. All are welcome. |
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Every weekend |
Open Day for all visitors (good for the entire family) between 11 AM - 4 PM. Please read 'Guideline for Visitors' below.
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Buddhism for HSC Students
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New! After experiencing teaching Buddhism in many high schools, we have decided to include a section in our website to help those students studying Buddhism in HSC. Read more in 'Dhamma Teachings/Buddhism for Students' |
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Research Trip to South India Ven. Phra Mana, Jim, Kim, Toby and Ned traveled in Tamil Nadu, South India for thier research trip of Early Maritime Interaction between Southern India and Southeast Asia. It was a very successful,adventurous and eye-opening trip. As a result, we understand more about the roots of Thai culture and the arrival of Buddhism to Southeast Asian countries. See more photos in Gallery/ 2013/ Southern India Research Trip Part One 12 - 27 Mar 2013 |
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U3A: Caves to Canvas 10 week course start 17th July, BowralSee more details in Event. |
Activities for May 2013
| Wed 8 May 2013 |
2 - 3.30 PM Phra Mana gives talk for students at Abbotsleigh Girl School, Wahroonga.
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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY Sat 11 & Sun 12 May 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks 12.30 - 2 PM Dhamma talk on Love and Gratitude of Mothers & Short meditation for all visitors. See photo in Events/ Mother's Day 12 May2013 |
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Sat 18 May 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30-2 PM Dhamma talk on 'Four Noble Truths and Happiness' & Short meditation for all visitors. |
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Sun 19 May 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 - 2 PM Dhamma talk on 'Sound Mind Makes Sound Body' & Short meditation for all visitors. |
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Mon 20 - Sun 26 May 2013
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Vesak (the Buddha's Enlightenment Day) Retreat
Places still available for experienced participants. The theme will be Enlightening the Mind in the Modern Century, studying in detail the 16 steps of Anapanasati, and how to apply the Buddha's Enlightenment to our daily life. |
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Sat 25 May 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 - 2 PM Dhamma talk on Buddhist Contribution on Inner Peace & World Peace in celebration of the Buddha's Enlightenment Day (VESAK Day). |
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Sun 26 May 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 - 2 PM Dhamma talk on 'Shortcut to Enlightenment' & short meditation for all visitors. |
Activities for June 2013
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Sat 1st June 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 - 2 PM Dhamma talk on 'Kamma and Rebirth I '& short meditation for all visitors. |
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Sun 2nd June 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 - 2 PM Dhamma talk on 'Kamma and Rebirth II ' & short meditation for all visitors. |
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Wed 5th June 2013
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9 - 11 AM Chevalier College Year 11 students (group one) visit the monastery and learn Buddhist teaching and short meditation. |
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Fri 7th June 2013
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9 - 11 AM Chevalier College Year 11 students (group two) visit the monastery and learn Buddhist teaching and short meditation. |
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Fri 7th - Mon 10th June 2013
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Long Weekend Meditation Retreat Find Inner Happiness in the Digital Age Take advantage of this long weekend to recharge your spiritual battery to cope with modern life. Places still available |
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Sat 8th June 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 - 2 PM Dhamma talk on 'Deal with Butterflies in the Stomach' & short meditation for all visitors. |
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Sun 9th June 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 - 2 PM Dhamma talk on 'Take vitamin joy everyday keep doctor away' & short meditation for all visitors. |
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Sat 22nd June 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 – 2 PM Dhamma talk on 'How to apply Metta EMR to enhance our lives' & short meditation for all visitors.
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Sun 23rd June 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 – 2 PM Dhamma talk on 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?' & short meditation for all visitors. |
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Sat 29th June 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 – 2 PM Dhamma talk on 'Nirvana for kids' & short meditation for all visitors. |
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Sun 30th June 2013
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11 AM Food offering to monks and lunch for all. 12:30 – 2 PM Dhamma talk on 'Where is my restless mind?' & short meditation for all visitors. |
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Activities for July 2013
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Fri 5th - Sun 7th July 2013
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Weekend Meditation Retreat: Urban Meditation Statistics show that this is the first time in the history of mankind that more population live in urban than country areas. This has resulted in higher stress levels and an increase in depression. We will learn how to apply ancient wisdom to maintain health and happiness in this urban lifestyle. |
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Wed 17th July 2013
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9:30 -11:00 AM Phra Mana starts giving lectures in University of Third Age: Caves to Canvas for 10 week course, Bowral. |
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Fri 19th - Sun 21st July 2013
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University of NSW Buddhist Society (UNIBUDS) Winter Retreat at Sunnataram Forest Monastery. |
Meditation Retreats
The Buddhist teachings in the retreat will include Pali chanting, breathing technique (Anapanasati), Loving-kindness (Metta), ...
Guideline for Visitors
Visitors are welcome to the monastery between 1- 4 pm Mon-Fri, and 11 am - 4 pm on weekends...
Retreat Dates - 2013
Weekend Meditation retreats for the year 2013 start from 6pm on the first day, and finish at 2pm on the last day. Please apply online and see Meditation Retreat Rules and Guidelines for more information.
- 8- 10 Febuary
- 8 - 10 March
- 29 March - 1 April (Easter Retreat)
- 19 - 21 April
- 20 - 26 May (7 Days Retreat-Vesak)
- 7 - 10 June (Long Weekend Retreat-Queen's Birthday)
- 5 - 7 July
- 9 - 11 August
- 9 - 15 September (7 Days Retreat)
- 4 - 7 October (Labor Day Long Weekend Retreat)
- 1- 3 November
- 26 December - 1 January 2014 Christmas New Year Retreat