Origins
Bodhipala Monastery is a monastery in the tradition of the late Venerable Ajahn Chah (b.1918 d.1992), the well-known and respected Meditation Master of the Thai Forest Tradition and a branch monastery of Buddha Bodhivana Monastery near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia..
Venerable Ajahn Kalyano is the abbot and resident teacher at Buddha Bodhivana Monastery near Melbourne, Australia. Having ordained as a Buddhist monk with Ajahn Chah in 1985, he subsequently moved to Australia in 2001.
Under the spiritual guidance of Venerable Ajahn Kalyano, Bodhipala Monastery management committee was founded in July 2018 for the purpose of purchasing land for a monastery in South Autralia. In the past, Venerable Ajahn Kalyano had travelled to visit the great meditation teacher, Luang Por Boonyarit and also to teach Buddhism in Adelaide on many occasions.
The purchase of the land, about 220 acres, for Bodhipala Monastery was initiated by Bee Lian Soo (who also initiated the purchase of land for Buddha Bodhivana Monastery). The property at 88 Stoney Banks Road, Mount Pleasant, S.A. was chosen after Venerable Ajahn Kalyano had a clear vision in his meditation the day before he travelled to South Australia to view possible sites for a monastery. In the vision, he saw his teacher, Venerable Ajahn Chah, sitting together with many monks next to a stream and a lake full of cool, clear water. Upon visiting the farm in Stoney Banks Road, Venerable Ajahn Kalyano realised this was the land he had seen in his vision. Subsequently , Bee Lian Soo together with her family members offered to purchased the land to begin the monastery.
The new property included a small house, 3 cottages, a small hall, toilets and a number of sheds and out buildings. Not only was the peace and quiet of the bushland on the property conducive to the practice of meditation and the life-style of Buddhist monks, but the existing infrastructure, allowed for monks to take up residence immediately.
At that time South Australia was in the midst of a long drought, but the presence of a large lake fed by an underground spring, gave Venerable Ajahn Kalyano confidence that the monastery would not be short of water, even in a drought.
May the goodness of the Triple Gem and the devas continue to bless this branch monastery and may the good practice of the resident Sangha continue to fulfil the intention of the donors of the land to bring growth and benefit to the Buddha Sasana. May Bodhipala Monastery be successful and continuously grow like Buddha Bodhivana Monastery, and may many people come forward to train and receive ordination as Buddhist monks and practice the Dhamma.
Purpose
Bodhipala Monastery is primarily a training monastery for Buddhist monks (bhikkhus), novices (samaneras) and postulants (anagarikas), but it also provides a supportive environment in which individuals, families, visitors and residents are given the opportunity to be in contact with the principles of the Buddha’s teachings and to cultivate those same qualities in their own lives. The monastery is a place to study, practice and cultivate the central elements of the Buddha’s Path: generosity, virtue, mental cultivation, wisdom, and compassion.
The monastery is both the dwelling place and place of practice for the resident monastic community and a sanctuary for those who visit regularly and provides a spiritual presence in the world. The goal is to serve these functions through providing monastic training and freely sharing the fruits of this practice.
The Sangha (community of monks, nuns and novices) lives according to the Vinaya, the code of monastic discipline established by the Buddha. In accordance with this discipline, the monastics are alms-mendicants, living lives of celibacy and frugality. Above all, this training is a means of living mindfully and reflectively and is a guide to keeping one’s needs to a minimum: a set of robes, an alms bowl, one meal a day, medicine when ill, and a sheltered place for meditation and rest.
The Vinaya (monks discipline) creates a firm bond between the Sangha and the general public. One reason for this is that without the daily offering of alms food and the long-term support of ordinary people, the Sangha cannot survive. By committing to the training the Sangha provides an example that is worthy of support. This relationship creates a framework within which generosity, compassion, and mutual encouragement can grow.
For the monastic Sangha, the dependence upon others encourages a lifestyle that is based on faith and requires constant development of the qualities of contentment and humility. For those who support the Sangha, the opportunity to give and share provides occasions for generosity and a joyful and direct participation in the spiritual life. The Sangha offers spiritual guidance by teaching Dhamma and through their example as dedicated and committed monastics living the holy life.