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

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 2 Nov 2025

Kathina Ceremony: the Celebration of Harmony

Thanks all supporters for a wonderful event. Please click here to see more phtotos

Fri 7th  - Sun 9th Nov 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 5th  - Sun 7th Dec 2025

Weekend Meditation Retreat

A couple of places become available. Please send an application form if you would like to join the retreat asap. 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

Sun 11 Jan 2025

Phra Mana is away.. One monk will try to led a short meditation session before lunch. Maybe no English Dhamma talk. Please feel free to visit our monastery garden.

Weekend Meditation Retreat 

Fri 16th - Sun 18th Jan 2026

 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

Weekend Meditation Retreat 

Fri 6th - Sun 8th Feb 2026

 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

Weekend Meditation Retreat 

Fri 27th Feb -Sat 28th Feb -Sun 1st Mar 2026

 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

Easter Long Weekend Meditation Retreat 

Thru 2nd -Mon 6th Apr 2026

This retreat is reserved for those who have practised meditation retreats here before.  

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.

This long weekend retreat starts at 6 PM on Thrusday 2nd  and will finish 1 PM on Monday 6th April.

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

 Weekend Meditation Retreat 

Fri 1st - Sun 3rd May 2026

 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.

This weekend 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

Long Weekend Meditation Retreat: King's Birthday

Fri 5th  - Mon 8th June 2026

 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.

This long weekend retreat starts at 6 PM on Friday and will finish 1 PM on Monday 8th June

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