The monastery opening hours are 9:00am – 1:00pm every day of the year. Visitors wishing to make food offerings are asked to arrive by 10:00am to allow time to prepare food and then participate in the daily rice offering to the monks. Prior to the meal a blessing (a short Buddhist chant) is given in appreciation of the donors’ generosity. All are then invited to share in the day’s meal. After helping clean-up, visitors are welcome to return to the Dhamma hall where a senior monk will be available to receive questions relating to Dhamma practice.
Directions
Bodhipala Monastery is situated approximately 1hr drive east of Adelaide at the edge of the Borossia Valley near the town of Mt Pleasant.
Regulations to note for Visitors:
Retreat:
The monastery is a place of residence and retreat for monks and all visitors are required to remain strictly within the public areas of the monastery and not walk into the areas of retreat marked “Private”.
Food and Drink:
All food and drink items received by the monastery are the property of the monastery and may not be distributed without the permission of the senior monk.
Lost Property:
Due to limited storage facilities, the monastery will only undertake to keep lost property for one month.
Photography and Videos:
Please do not take photos or videos of the monks whilst they are receiving food, eating, teaching or meditating without prior consent. Please do not take pictures or videos of children in the monastery without their parents consent.
Dress:
Visitors are kindly asked to wear appropriate clothing for their visit to the monastery as it is a place of worship and spiritual practice. It is not appropriate for men to wear shorts, vests or walk bare chested in the monastery. Females should avoid wearing shorts, miniskirts, vests or revealing clothing.
Children:
All children are welcome to visit the monastery, but the community takes the protection and welfare of children seriously. Children must be closely supervised by a parent at all times during their visit. As the monastery is a place for practising the Dhamma, parents are responsible to teach their children to respect the peace and quiet of the monastery and not allow them to play noisy games or disturb the monks or public who are attending meditation sessions, Dhamma talks or blessings given by the monks.
Children are not allowed to stay overnight in the monastery or attend meditation retreats unless it is a program specifically organised for children.
Wildlife and Plants:
The monastic community undertakes to look after and protect the native plants and wildlife in the monastery. Visitors are prohibited from damaging plants, feeding or disturbing the animals and birds in the monastery grounds. Visitors are discouraged from bringing pets to the monastery and all dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.
Water System:
As Bodhipala Monastery relies solely on rain water, visitors are encouraged to use their water mindfully.
Visiting Sangha:
Sangha wishing to attend the dana offering, monastery events or stay overnight in the monastery, must first receive an invitation from the senior monk at least 7 days prior to their intended visit.