Bodhinyana Monastery

Bodhinyana Monastery is a significant Theravada Buddhist center located in Serpentine, Western Australia, approximately 60 minutes southeast of Perth. Established on December 1, 1983, it operates under the auspices of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia and is a part of the esteemed Thai Forest Tradition.

History and Establishment

The monastery's origins trace back to 1981 when a delegation from the Buddhist Society of Western Australia traveled to northeast Thailand to invite monks from the Thai Forest Tradition to establish a presence in Western Australia. This initiative led to Australian monks Ajahn Jagaro and Venerable Puriso relocating to Perth in 1982. In 1983, Ajahn Brahm was also invited by the BSWA to join them. The society purchased rural land near Serpentine, and Bodhinyana was founded on December 1, 1983. The monastery was named in honor of Ajahn Chah, the teacher of Ajahn Jagaro and Venerable Puriso, with its name derived from Ajahn Chah's monastic title, Phra Bodhiñāṇathera.

Growth and Development

Initially conceived as a retreat center for both monks and lay people, Bodhinyana later shifted its focus to monastic life under Ajahn Jagaro. Construction of the monastery's buildings was aided by the monks themselves, including plumbing work undertaken by Ajahn Jagaro and Ajahn Brahm. In 1987, the monastery received official sanctification from senior monks in Thailand, enabling it to conduct higher ordinations. The monastery has experienced media attention and faced challenges, including a devastating bushfire in 1991. Bodhinyana became a Shire of Serpentine–Jarrahdale heritage-listed place on June 1, 2000. A study by Murdoch University in 2010 used Bodhinyana as a case study on the relationship between renewable energy and Buddhist monasteries.

Bhikkhuni Controversy

A notable event in the monastery's history was the bhikkhuni ordination ceremony facilitated by Ajahn Brahm on October 22, 2009. Four female Buddhists were ordained into the Western Theravada bhikkhuni sangha. This occasion was controversial within some Buddhist communities. As a consequence of this ordination, Ajahn Brahm was removed from the Ajahn Chah Forest Sangha lineage on November 1, 2009, and is no longer associated with the main monastery in Thailand, Wat Pah Pong, or its Western Forest Sangha branches.

Activities and Significance

Bodhinyana Monastery serves as a training facility for monks and upholds the traditional reciprocal relationship between the monastic community and laity, where food is provided by alms-givers. While limited guest stays are possible for meditation and assistance, there is no monetary charge. The monastery attracts a significant number of visitors, particularly during Buddhist holidays such as Visakha Bucha, with daily visitor numbers varying considerably.

Notable Figures Associated with Bodhinyana Monastery:

• Ajahn Jagaro: First abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery until 1995.
• Ajahn Brahm: Current abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery, invited in 1983.
• Ajahn Brahmali: Senior monk at the monastery.
• Ajahn Dhammasiha: Trained at Bodhinyana and later became the first abbot of Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage.