Our Story
Venerable Ajahn Kalyano is the abbot and resident teacher at Buddha Bodhivana Monastery near Melbourne, Australia. Having been 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 Australia.
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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 purchase 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 outbuildings. Not only was the peace and quiet of the bushland on the property conducive to the practice of meditation and the lifestyle 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.
Venerable Ajahn Kalyano saw it suitable to send Ajahn Nyanadipo, his senior-most student, to be the Abbot of this new Branch monastery. On the 26th January 2019, the official opening of Bodhipala Monastery.
Purpose
Bodhipala Monastery is primarily a training monastery for Buddhist monks (bhikkhus), novices (samaneras) and postulants (anagarikas)
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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.
Dwelling
The monastery is home and practice place for the resident monastics and a refuge for visitors, offering a spiritual presence. It supports these roles by training monastics and freely sharing the results of that practice.
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The Sangha (monks, nuns, and novices) follows the Vinaya, the Buddha’s monastic rules. They live as alms-seekers, practicing celibacy, frugality, and simple daily routines: a few robes, an alms bowl, one meal a day, medicine when needed, and a sheltered place to rest and meditate. This training teaches mindful, restrained living.
The Vinaya links the Sangha and the public: the Sangha depends on daily alms and long-term support from lay people. By committing to training, the Sangha becomes worthy of support, creating a basis for generosity, compassion, and mutual encouragement.