Sunnataram Forest Monastery : Thai Forest Monastery Bundanoon, offering a Meditation Retreats program
225 Teudts Road, Bundanoon NSW 2578
02 4884 4262
Welcome visitors back for Sunday meditation and Dhamma teaching in 2023.
Numbers will be restricted. Bookings only, by email: [email protected]
Please check our website or instagram for update.
Thank you very much for your kind cooperation.
You are welcome to form a group of friends or work colleagues who are interested in Buddhist teachings and meditation to spend one Sunday between 10 AM- 2 PM at the monastery. Please contact us in advance. Thank you.
For more enquiries, please contact us by email.
To follow up our current activities, please visit Instagram @kimmcsweeney52 or #sunnataramforestmonastery.
Helping the monks
Every Sunday is a working bee. Please email us if you would like to help the monks working in the garden or cleaning. Thank you very much.
Buddhist talk and a short meditation session for people who are interested to learn Buddhism between 10 AM -2 PM
Booking is essential. Thank you very much.
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'
Sunnataram Forest Monastery now establishes a special training program: Teaching Monks: Further Training in Australia, to support international Buddhist monks who want to learn how to teach Buddhism in Australia and the West.
We welcome any non-Thai monk who would like to undertake this program to experience teaching Dhamma and helping Dhamma work in Australian culture for 3 months. Please email us.
Thank you & Sadhu
We would like to thanks to all friends who kindly donate Bunning Gift cards and Mitre 10 Gift cards to the monks. We have been using them to purchase many building materials to maintain the monastery and to support our Dhamma teaching programs. May all happiness and wisdom be with all of us. Sadhu
Thanks to Mick Rattanapanyo for your kind help.
1-3 December 2023
Weekend Meditation Retreat
Boxing Day - New Year Retreat
Fri 19th Sun 21st Jan 2024
Weekend Meditaion Retreat
Activities in February 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Fri 16th - Sun 18th Feb 2024
Activities in March 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Sun 17 Mar 2024
Sorry, the monastery will be closed for this weekend.
Thur 28th Mar - Mon 1st April 2024 Easter
Long Weekend Meditaion Retreat : The Beauty of Mindfulness
Reserve only for people who have attended one of our retreats in the past.
Due to the 2020 Bushfire damage to the monastery, we have only limited accommodation. Please make sure to complete the whole retreat before your booking. Please email the monastery your application form at least 7 days in advance. All retreat is by suggested donation.
Every retreat there are some people who cancel their booking at the last minute. We have created a waiting list for people who seriously want to practise meditation. Please email your application form to be eligible for the waiting list, and be ready to be notified at short notice (1-2 days before the retreat starts). Thank you.
The retreat starts at 6 PM on Thursday and will finish 1 PM on Monday
Activities in April 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Fri 26th - Sun 28th April 2024
Weekend Meditaion Retreat
Sorry the retreat is full. Please apply for the next ones.
Activities in May 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Fri 17th - Sun 19th May 2024
Weekend Meditaion Retreat
Sorry the retreat is full. Please apply for the next ones.
Every retreat there are some people who cancel their booking at the last minute. We have created a waiting list for people who seriously want to practise meditation. Please email your application form to be eligible for the waiting list, and be ready to be notified at short notice (1-2 days before the retreat starts). Thank you.
Activities in June 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Fri 7th - Sun 10th June 2024
Long Weekend Meditaion Retreat
Due to the 2020 Bushfire damage to the monastery, we have only limited accommodation. Please make sure to complete the whole retreat before your booking.. Please email the monastery your application form at least 7 days in advance. All retreat is by suggested donation.
Every retreat there are some people who cancel their booking at the last minute. We have created a waiting list for people who seriously want to practise meditation. Please email your application form to be eligible for the waiting list, and be ready to be notified at short notice (1-2 days before the retreat starts). Thank you.
The retreat starts at 6 PM on Friday and will finish 1 PM on Monday.
Activities in July 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Fri 12th - Sun 14th July 2024
Weekend Meditaion Retreat
Due to the 2020 Bushfire damage to the monastery, we have only limited accommodation. Please make sure to complete the whole retreat before your booking.. Please email the monastery your application form at least 7 days in advance. All retreat is by suggested donation.
Every retreat there are some people who cancel their booking at the last minute. We have created a waiting list for people who seriously want to practise meditation. Please email your application form to be eligible for the waiting list, and be ready to be notified at short notice (1-2 days before the retreat starts). Thank you.
The retreat starts at 6 PM on Friday and will finish 1 PM on Sunday.
Activities in August 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Fri 9th - Sun 11th August 2024
Weekend Meditaion Retreat
Due to the 2020 Bushfire damage to the monastery, we have only limited accommodation. Please make sure to complete the whole retreat before your booking.. Please email the monastery your application form at least 7 days in advance. All retreat is by suggested donation.
Every retreat there are some people who cancel their booking at the last minute. We have created a waiting list for people who seriously want to practise meditation. Please email your application form to be eligible for the waiting list, and be ready to be notified at short notice (1-2 days before the retreat starts). Thank you.
The retreat starts at 6 PM on Friday and will finish 1 PM on Sunday.
Activities in September 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Fri 6th - Sun 8th September 2024
Weekend Meditaion Retreat
Due to the 2020 Bushfire damage to the monastery, we have only limited accommodation. Please make sure to complete the whole retreat before your booking.. Please email the monastery your application form at least 7 days in advance. All retreat is by suggested donation.
Every retreat there are some people who cancel their booking at the last minute. We have created a waiting list for people who seriously want to practise meditation. Please email your application form to be eligible for the waiting list, and be ready to be notified at short notice (1-2 days before the retreat starts). Thank you.
The retreat starts at 6 PM on Friday and will finish 1 PM on Sunday.
Activities in October 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Fri 4th - Sun 7th October 2024
Long Weekend Meditaion Retreat
Due to the 2020 Bushfire damage to the monastery, we have only limited accommodation. Please make sure to complete the whole retreat before your booking.. Please email the monastery your application form at least 7 days in advance. All retreat is by suggested donation.
Every retreat there are some people who cancel their booking at the last minute. We have created a waiting list for people who seriously want to practise meditation. Please email your application form to be eligible for the waiting list, and be ready to be notified at short notice (1-2 days before the retreat starts). Thank you.
The retreat starts at 6 PM on Friday and will finish 1 PM on Sunday.
Activities in November 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Fri 1st - Sun 3rd November 2024
Weekend Meditaion Retreat
Due to the 2020 Bushfire damage to the monastery, we have only limited accommodation. Please make sure to complete the whole retreat before your booking.. Please email the monastery your application form at least 7 days in advance. All retreat is by suggested donation.
Every retreat there are some people who cancel their booking at the last minute. We have created a waiting list for people who seriously want to practise meditation. Please email your application form to be eligible for the waiting list, and be ready to be notified at short notice (1-2 days before the retreat starts). Thank you.
The retreat starts at 6 PM on Friday and will finish 1 PM on Sunday.
Activities in December 2024
Every Sunday
10 AM A guided meditation and Dhamma talk
11 AM Vegetarian lunch for all, prepared by our volunteers. Please don't bring your food to offer the monks.
12.30 - 2 PM Viewing the monastery garden, exhibition or helping the monks to work around the monastery
Fri 6th - Sun 8th December 2024
Weekend Meditaion Retreat
Due to the 2020 Bushfire damage to the monastery, we have only limited accommodation. Please make sure to complete the whole retreat before your booking.. Please email the monastery your application form at least 7 days in advance. All retreat is by suggested donation.
Every retreat there are some people who cancel their booking at the last minute. We have created a waiting list for people who seriously want to practise meditation. Please email your application form to be eligible for the waiting list, and be ready to be notified at short notice (1-2 days before the retreat starts). Thank you.
The retreat starts at 6 PM on Friday and will finish 1 PM on Sunday.
10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sunnataram Foresst Monastery in The Southern Highlands
The Fold Southern Highlands by Jessica Raschke Jan 2022
Bush Fire 2020 Record
The monks are grateful and touched by all of your support and concerns. We have received many phone calls and emails from many monks and nuns, supporters and retreat friends. We wish everyone to be safe and peaceful. With gratitude from all at Sunnataram Forest Monastery, Bundanoon.
Donation for Bush Fire
Account Name: Sunnataram Forest Monastery Incorporated
ANZ Bank, NSW, Australia
Swift code: ANZBAU3M
BSB: 012 547
Account No. 2370 37944
The monastery has been burnt twice by the Morton fire on 10 & 23 Jan 2020. We lost almost all Ladies' and Men's accommodation, 25 water tanks, water pumps, meditation bushland and a lot of building materials.
Thank you to everyone who has kindly made a donation to rebuild the monastery
Sadhu Anumodhana
Retreat Dates
Mar 28th Mar - 1st Apr Easter
April 26th - 28th 2024- Full
May 17th -19th 2024-Full
June 7th 10th 2024 Long Weekend
July 12th -14th 2024
Aug 9th -11th 2024
Sept 6th -8th 2024
Oct 4th - 7th 2024
Nov 1st -3rd 2024
Dec 6th - 8th 2024
Due to the 2020 Bushfire damage to the monastery, we have only limited accommodation. Please make sure to complete the whole retreat before your booking. All retreat is by suggested donation. Please email the monastery for inquiry. Thank you
Things We Need
Donation to rebuild meditation huts to resume our monthly meditation retreat.
Sunnataram Forest Monastery
ANZ Bank, NSW
Swift code: ANZBAU3M
BSB: 012 547
Acc No: 2370-37944
Thank you for your kind support. May the Blessings of the Buddha be with all of us, to be healthy, weathy and wise.
สิ่งของที่ทางวัดต้องการ
1. ในขณะนี้ คือปัจจัยในการสร้างกุฏิพระสงฆ์และ กุฏิที่พักปฏิบัติธรรม ของอุบาสิกอบาสิกา จำนวน 35 หลัง ซึ่งถูกไฟป่าไหม้เมื่อปี 2020 แต่ทางวัดไม่ต้องการสร้างศาลาโรงนอน เพราะป้องกันการระบาดของเชื้อโรค เช่นเหตุการณ์โควิด จึงขอเชิญสร้างบุญบารมี โดยเฉลี่ยราคาวัสดุก่อสร้าง กุฏิหลังละ ประมาณ $ 9,000 ดอลล่าร์ ไม่รวมแรงงาน ซึ่งเป็นแรงงานพระสงฆ์และอาสาสมัคร ขอเชิญร่วมสร้างบุญบารมี เป็นเจ้าภาพแต่ละหลัง กรุณาติดต่อสอบถามรายละเอียดได้ที่วัดฯ 02-48844262 หรือ email: [email protected]
ขออนุโมทนาในความเมตตาเสียสละของทุกท่าน ขอคุณพระรัตนตรัยได้อภิบาลคุ้มครองรักษาให้ทุกท่านมีความสุข สำเร็จในสิ่งปรารถนาทุกประการเทอญ