Generous Offerings Support the Monastery
During the past 2,500 years, support for the monastic life has been provided entirely by lay supporters through daily acts of generosity. In this spirit, support in the form of work, money, foodstuffs, building materials or other help is both appreciated and needed. Your generosity helps the spiritual community to survive and flourish. The steward of the monastery, Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery Property Limited, is a nonprofit organisation who manages all the donations on behalf of the resident monastics and for the development of the monastery. All donations goes solely towards the monks’ requisites and the building of the monastery.
At Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery, we embody a time-honored tradition rooted in Theravāda Buddhism and the Thai Forest Tradition, which honors the profound interrelationship between lay and monastic communities established by the Buddha over 2,500 years ago.
In Theravāda Buddhism, monastics are renunciants dedicated to the cultivation of their minds and spiritual development. They live in monasteries, embracing seclusion and the practice of Dhamma within supportive monastic communities. According to the Buddha’s teachings, monks and nuns are entirely dependent on the lay community for their essential needs—food, robes, shelter, and medicines. In alignment with the precepts that the Buddha laid down, monastics refrain from handling money and receive sustenance solely through offerings.
In return, the monastic community plays a vital role in addressing the spiritual needs of the lay community by providing Dhamma teachings and guidance for the heart. This reciprocal relationship fosters a spirit of support and enrichment between both communities.
In Thailand, this practice can be best embodied in the form of “alms food,” where each morning, monks walk through nearby villages with their alms bowls, receiving offerings of food from those who wish to contribute. This act of generosity is seen as a way for laypeople to cultivate merit, enriching their hearts. Monastics, in turn, embrace this pure way of life, relying on the generosity of the community to provide them with nourishment and sustenance.
At Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery, we aspire to uphold and continue this cherished tradition here in Sydney, Australia. We invite you to join us in practicing generosity, spiritual growth, and community support in this monastery.
In the spirit of the Buddha’s teachings, Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery does not grow or purchase food and is entirely dependent on daily alms and food donations. The monks typically walk their alms round in the local area most mornings. However, the most convenient time for making food offerings for the monks’ daily meal is at 10:30 AM in the outdoor kitchen at the monastery.
We encourage guests to prepare their food offerings in advance. Any cooked food, or items that can be consumed by the monks without the need for additional cooking or preparation, is greatly appreciated. When you arrive with your prepared dish, there is usually someone available to assist and explain the proper protocol for offering food to the monks.
After the monks have received their food for the day, all visitors are warmly invited to join in lunch, taking from the remaining offerings, as these have by then been relinquished by the monks. We kindly ask that once all visitors have enjoyed their meal, any leftover food be taken back home, as the monastery does not store food.
Please note, as we generally don’t have lay guests staying at the monastery, and therefore, any dried or uncooked foods cannot be offered to the monks at a later date.
The new Bodhisaddha Hall is currently under construction. Our aim is to complete the Hall by end of 2025.
The new Bodhisaddha Hall will replace temporary currently used facilities. The Hall will be used for many monastery activities including:
– An Eating Hall where monks have their daily meal and meet with visitors
– A Meditation and Chanting Hall for monks and laypeople
– Preparation and kitchen area used daily by visitors
– Space for laypeople to have their meal after the monks
– Public toilets (sufficient for large events) including disabled bathroom
– Monks’ Common room with bathroom and bowl washing area
– Open dormitory space for guests staying for retreat (with 4 showers)
– Storage space for offerings donated to the monastery.
Current Stage of Building
The next stage of development is running services to and around the building. Many important infrastructure must be completed and this makes up a significant amount of this building construction.
The services required are:
Electrical substation installation, gas heating, waste treatment system and grey water runoff, reverse cycle air conditioning, water mains line upgrade, fire hydrants and services, and electrical wiring and plumbing.
The Hall is built entirely from donations given by faithful lay people and supporters of the monastery.
This Hall will be used by many people for use in developing themselves spiritually.
Any donors wishing to contribute may contact the monastery committee.
General tax-deductible donations to Bodhisaddha Hall may be made through the Building Fund.
Building Fund
Used for the building of all the monastery buildings and infrastructure, such as meditation huts for the monks, meditation and eating hall. The development application as a Public Place of Worship has been approved by the local council in November 2016. Building aims to start during 2017.
Donations to the building fund are tax-deductible.
How to Donate
(a) Bank Transfer
Name: Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery Property Limited School Building Fund
Bank: Westpac Bank
Branch: Rose Bay
BSB No: 032-058
Account No. : 340-303
Swift Code: WPACAU2S (or WPACAU2SXXX if bank requires 11 characters)
(b) Online Donations through Paypal (with option for a recurring monthly donation)
**Daily Work and Volunteer Opportunities at Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery**
At Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery, we welcome your willingness to contribute through various work and volunteer opportunities. Here are some ways you can get involved:
**Daily Work**
After the dana meal offering has concluded, you may offer your services for daily tasks such as gardening, weeding, or other jobs around the monastery. Please feel free to ask the monks on the day if there is anything specific you can assist with.
**Working Bee**
Approximately once a month, we host a working bee to help with various clean-up duties throughout the monastery grounds. Stay subscribed to the Bodhi Newsletter to receive updates on these dates and join us in maintaining our beautiful space.
**Volunteering During Events**
During special events, there are numerous ways to volunteer your time and skills. Opportunities include setting up for events (typically done the day before and the morning of), managing the parking area, assisting at food stalls, helping during ceremonies, photography or video work, offering transport, and participating in the clean-up after the events conclude. If you are interested in volunteering during events, please notify the monastery.
**Offering Special Services**
From time to time, the monastery seeks volunteer support for specific tasks and professional services, such as transportation, gardening, landscaping, or assistance with smaller construction projects, including the main monastery building project. If you would like to offer your special skills or support, please contact the monastery for more information.
We appreciate your generosity and support in helping us maintain and nurture our community!
The new Bodhisaddha Hall is currently under construction.
The next stage of development is running services to and around the building. Many important infrastructure must be completed and this makes up a significant amount of this building construction.
The services required are:
Electrical substation installation, gas heating, waste treatment system and grey water runoff, reverse cycle air conditioning, water mains line upgrade, fire hydrants and services, and electrical wiring and plumbing.
Any donors wishing to contribute may contact the monastery committee.
Other general tax-deductible donations to Bodhisaddha Hall may be made through the Building Fund (details below).
Current Development of Bodhisaddha Hall
28th April 2019: Enshrining the Buddha Statue inside Bodhisaddha Hall
(above: current shed used as a hall)
The new Bodhisaddha Hall will be used for many monastery activities including:
– An Eating Hall where monks have their daily meal and meet with visitors
– A Meditation and Chanting Hall for monks and laypeople
– Preparation and kitchen area used daily by visitors
– Space for laypeople to have their meal after the monks
– Public toilets (sufficient for large events) including disabled bathroom
– Monks’ Common room with bathroom and bowl washing area
– Open dormitory space for guests staying for retreat (with 4 showers)
– Storage space for offerings donated to the monastery
How you can support the monastery
General Expenses
Used for day-to-day running expenses of the monastery.
This includes the monk’s travel and medical expenses, as well as the monastery’s maintenance expenses such as electricity, water, heating, etc.
These donations are non tax-deductible.
How to Donate
(a) Bank Transfer
Name: Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery Property Limited
Bank: Westpac Bank
Branch: Rose Bay
BSB No: 032-058
Account No. : 316-450
Swift Code: WPACAU2S (or WPACAU2SXXX if bank requires 11 characters)
(b) Online Donations through Paypal (with option for a recurring monthly donation)
Building Fund
Used for the building of all the monastery buildings and infrastructure, such as meditation huts for the monks, meditation and eating hall. The development application as a Public Place of Worship has been approved by the local council in November 2016. Building aims to start during 2017.
Donations to the building fund are tax-deductible.
How to Donate
(a) Bank Transfer
Name: Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery Property Limited School Building Fund
Bank: Westpac Bank
Branch: Rose Bay
BSB No: 032-058
Account No. : 340-303
Swift Code: WPACAU2S (or WPACAU2SXXX if bank requires 11 characters)
(b) Online Donations through Paypal (with option for a recurring monthly donation)
The monks build the laypeople, the laypeople build the monastery.
Giving is the same as receiving, because giving is the cause for receiving.
Five blessings accrue to the giver of alms:
– the affection of many
– noble association
– good reputation
– self-confidence
– a heavenly rebirth.
The gift of Dhamma excels all gifts,
the taste of Dhamma excels all tastes,
the delight in Dhamma excels all delights.
The eradication of craving overcomes all suffering.
Neither fire nor wind, birth or death can erase our good deeds.
We rejoice in your generosity
We welcome any donations and support people can give to the monastery and the resident monks. May this generosity by a cause for your continuing happiness, good health, prosperity and ultimate liberation.
All donations to the Building Fund are tax deductible for Australian tax-payers. If you would like a receipt for your donation, email wat@bodhisaddha.org and include your full name, email, donation amount and date of the donation so we can send you a receipt. Processing time may take up to 2 weeks.