Sunnataram Forest Monastery : Thai Forest Monastery Bundanoon, offering a Meditation Retreats program

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To follow up our current activities, please visit Instagram @kimmcsweeney52  or   #sunnataramforestmonastery.

We need help to sponsor a small tractor for the monastery.

Please click here to see detail.

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.

Every Sunday

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.

Buddhism for HSC Students

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'

Teaching Monks: Further Training in Australia

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

A new release drone vdo of the monastery May 2021

Thanks to Mick Rattanapanyo for your kind help.

Fri 6th - Sun 8th December 2024

Weekend Meditaion Retreat: Joyfully Moving Out from Dukkha

Please click here to see more photos

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 Jan 2025

Weekend Meditation Retreat

Please click here to see more photos

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 14th  - Sun 16th Feb 2025

Weekend Meditation Retreat

Sorry, the retreat is full. Please apply for the next ones. Thank you.

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 14th  - Sun 16th Mar 2025

Weekend Meditation 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.

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

Thu 17th  - Mon 21th April 2025 (Easter)

Long Weekend Meditation Retreat 

Reserved for only people who have participated one of our meditation 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 on Friday and will finish 1 PM on Monday.

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 2nd  - Sun 4th May 2025

Weekend Meditation 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.

Sat 3rd - Thu 8th May 2025 (Vesak-The Enlightement Day of the Buddha)

Special Meditation Retreat

This special long retreat is reserved for people who have participated in one of our meditation retreats in the past. Thank you.

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 - Mon 9th June 2025

Long Weekend Meditation 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.

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 6th July 2025

Weekend Meditation 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.

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 8th  - Sun 10th Aug 2025

Weekend Meditation 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.

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 5th  - Sun 7th Sept 2025

Weekend Meditation 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.

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 3rd - Mon 6th October 2025

Long Weekend Meditation Retreat

Reserved for people who have participated in one of our meditation 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 Friday and will finish 1 PM on Monday.

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 9th Nov 2025

Weekend Meditation 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.

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 5th  - Sun 7th Dec 2025

Weekend Meditation 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.

The Fold Southern Highlands by Jessica Raschke Jan 2022

Please click here to read more

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.

Please click on the photos to see records