Special Panel Discussion - The Unexpected Life’s Labyrinth: embracing life’s twists and turns

Panellists: Bhante Joe Atulo, Bhante Suddhāso, Ayyā Somā, Rev Ryōtoku & Bhante Akiñcana (In Person, Visiting from Sri Lanka; New Jersey, USA; New Jersey, USA; UK; & WA respectively )

Mon 10 Nov | 7.00-8.30pm AEDT

Location: In person at Western Sydney University (74 Rickard Rd, Bankstown City Campus), Room 1.4.34 on level 4;

or Online (Zoom link below)

Cost: Free

Join us for a special event panel discussion with five monastics from various Buddhist traditions - a rare opportunity to hear multiple voices and perspectives together in one room.

They will share reflections on navigating the unpredictable paths of life and practice - the unexpected turns, challenges, and invitations that shape our journeys.

An evening of contemplation, curiosity, and shared wisdom.

All are welcome.

About the Panellists: Venerable Bhante Joe Atulo was born in 1983, in London, Ontario, and was initially interested in business and computers. A spiritual vocation seemed extremely unlikely. However, in high school, he was given a book as a joke, which contained teachings from an assortment of religions. Browsing through it, he came to a description of the Four Noble Truths, and was converted. In high school and university, Bhante attended the Toronto Zen Buddhist Temple. He eventually moved in and started training part-time to become a priest. In 2006, he took up full-time training at the temple. However, an attraction to Theravada Buddhism pulled him towards the Thai Forest Tradition. He attended a day-long retreat with Ajahn Viradhammo in 2007. At the retreat, he learned about the newly-established Tisaraṇa Buddhist Monastery. He found his way to Tisaraṇa and was ordained as an anagārika in 2008. In 2010, Bhante Joe was ordained as a bhikkhu with Ajahn Viradhammo as his preceptor. Bhante trained at Tisaraṇa until 2015, with one year in Thailand. In 2015, his teacher released him from dependence. He spent six months at a monastery in California and before returning to Toronto, Canada between 2016 and 2019. In Toronto, he associated with the Toronto Mahavihara and the West End Buddhist Temple. In November 2019, he moved to Sri Lanka, where he currently resides. More info can be found here.

Venerable Bhante Suddhāso is a Buddhist monk living in New Jersey, USA. He is one of the co-founders of Buddhist Insights, a non-profit organization created to help connect laypeople with Buddhist monastics.
Bhante Suddhāso is a practitioner of both Theravāda and Mahāyāna Buddhism, with a particular emphasis on the teachings found in the Pāli Suttas and the methods of practice used in Chan/Zen. His teachings focus on incorporating multiple step-by-step meditation techniques, as well as on detailed explanations of the Buddhist scriptures that provide the underlying theoretical framework for Buddhist practice.
Bhante Suddhāso has studied under the direct guidance of some of the most well-respected monastics in Western Buddhism, including Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Amaro, Ajahn Vīradhammo, and Bhante Gunaratana. His monastic life began at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, where he was trained in Soto Zen Buddhism; during that time, he discovered a deep affinity for the Theravāda Forest Tradition, which led him to receive ordination at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in California. Since then he has lived at several different monasteries from a variety of Buddhist traditions. In 2019, together with Ayyā Somā, he co-founded Empty Cloud Monastery in New Jersey, where he currently resides as co-abbot.

Ayyā Somā is an Italian Buddhist monk and co-abbot of Empty Cloud Monastery in New Jersey. A former fashion and lifestyle editor, her first encounter with Buddhist monasticism was at Santacittārāma Monastery in Italy, in the tradition of Ajahn Chah. She started practicing as a renunciant in 2016, received monastic ordination in 2018, and full bhikkhunī ordination in 2020. As the co-founder of Buddhist Insights, a non-profit organization connecting people with monastics, she has learned the Dharma through the perspective of monks of all different traditions like Bhante Suddhāso, Bhikkhu Bodhi, Ajahn Pasanno, Ven. Robina Courtin, Khenmo Drolma, Ajahn Brahm, Thich Phap Hai, Ven. Paññavati, and Bhante Gunaratana

Reverend Ryōtoku After spending time studying Buddhism himself, Ryōtoku's introduction to Buddhist meditation was through a beginners course with the West London Buddhist Centre in 2011.
In 2013, Ryōtoku began studying Rinzai Zen, practicing kōan and zazen meditations where he undertook jukkai (receiving the precepts ceremony) that same year and later began a Zen junior teacher programme, which provided training in mindfulness and meditation.
In 2015, after continuing his studies, Ryōtoku wished to expand and understand more regarding Buddhism and began studying Tendai, where he also received jukkai and subsequently joined a two year lay leader programme.
This inspired him to begin studying at an academic level and in 2020 Ryōtoku began a Master in Buddhist Studies with the University of South Wales.
After graduating in 2023 Ryōtoku traveled to Japan and received tokudo ordination on Mt. Hiei with the Tendai tradition.
Ryōtoku is currently in Japan to complete his training and at the same time begin PhD research.

Venerable Bhante Akiñcana was born in Hong Kong to a Sri Lankan Catholic family. He went to school in Singapore, HK, India, the Philippines and New Zealand and is now back studying at Ajahn Brahm’s “Finishing School” near Perth.
After completing degrees in Economics he worked in HK, London and then migrated to Sydney in 1994. Sydney became home for over 20 years and it was there that he converted to Buddhism and connected with his first teachers, Bhante Mahinda and Bhante Sujato.
He then moved to Bali in 2016 and focused his life mainly on Buddhist practice; visiting Bodhinyana monastery in 2017 then ordaining as an Anagarika in 2019 and again in 2022. On 2 May 2024, after a year’s training as a novice, he took higher ordination under Ajahn Brahm.

Accessibility
An infrared audio system is installed, which attendees can either tune into directly, or they can pick up a receiver from Security near the front desk.

Hybrid event: Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive session in person at the Metta Centre or online by clicking on this link to access the session: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83506489824?pwd=cmpNQ1ljSmFVYURLWVN1dWllYUN1dz09 Alternatively, you can dial in from your telephone (call charges apply): +61 2 8015 6011 | Meeting ID: 835 0648 9824| Passcode: 718905

If you are feeling unwell, please consider staying at home and joining online instead.