We are a close group of Buddhist friends in Victoria who have known one another since 2014, serving the Buddhist community, supporting the monastic Saṅgha, and practising the Buddha’s teachings together.
In May 2026, while visiting the Yarra Ranges, we knew by heart the forested Upper Yarra Valley deeply suitable for light living and for returning to balance with Nature.
The tall forests, flowing streams, clean air and serene spaces reminded us of the repeated guidance found throughout the historical Buddha’s teachings :
"Here monks,
go to forest,
go under root of tree,
go to an empty dwelling,
sit down cross-legged,
uphold the neutral spine,
set up the awareness at front.
Record the breath in. Record the breath out.
Meditate, monks !
Do no neglect. Do become no regret afterwards.
This is Our Instruction to You."
Idha, bhikkhave,
bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā nisīdati pallaṅkaṃ ābhujitvā ujuṃ kāyaṃ paṇidhāya parimukhaṃ satiṃ upaṭṭhapetvā. So satova assasati satova passasati.
(MN 118 – Ānāpānasati Sutta, SN 54 Ānāpāna Saṃyutta).
Etāni, bhikkhave, rukkhamūlāni; etāni suññāgārāni.
Jhāyatha, bhikkhave, mā pamādattha; mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha.
Ayaṃ vo amhākaṃ anusāsanī.
(SN 35.146, SN 43.1, MN 19)
Inspired by these words, Anapanasati Hermitage Incorporated Association was established with the aspiration of providing a respected place where every body can have enough space and time to sit down, absorb the stillness of Nature, see clearly each breath in and out, hear clearly each heartbeat, and know what needs to be upheld and what needs to be let go.
Following the forest breath towards the origin of the Stream, we found a place in Upper Yarra Valley to establish Anapanasati Arama - Breath Grove Hermitage.
By this breath, here - we are.
The Hermitage is intentionally simple.
We aim to not disturb Nature as much as possible, to walk gently on this land, and to provide something plain and frugal : a suññāgāra - an “empty dwelling” in the forest with basic facilities for minimal maintenance.
This is a serene place where Buddhist nuns can continue their fruitful practice and training within light living in accordance with the Buddha’s core teachings. This is also a peaceful place where the lay people and local community can come and enjoy nature, share loving kindness, support the nuns with appropriate requisites, and benefit through the practice of clean breathing, clean living and healthy circulation.
When loosening the attachment between ID⋯entity that we temporarily carry through this life, we can recognise something very fundamental : we are simply all human beings. We all share together the Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Space.
We honour Elders past and present, as well as the young and future generations who are and will be the Truth keeping, sustaining the Stream that nurtures all life. Every body here is respected, and every body should be treated with equal human dignity.
So every body is welcome here - to take a light breath, release some burdens for a moment, and return towards natural balance. We realise that everybody has always been an awakening system since birth with the ability to see and know all life within. Every body has its own autonomy and intelligence. Every body is truth-keeping. Every body always tells the organic truth with insight from the core - if we listen. That’s why every body here is respected and every body here should be treated equally - as every body is the present of the evolutionary flow. Following the instructions of the bodhi Truths by every breath leads to the unshakeable core values and leaves no regret at the end.
Under Buddha’s body of law, we practice learning not to create more burdens for anybody and for the Earth. We organically understand that everything we have, we create, we build has a limited lifetime. Eventually, it will deteriorate and end up in one of the bins :
🟩 Compost · 🟨 Recycling · 🟥 Waste - then returning to the Earth the burdens we can no longer carry. After all, there will always be a need for a greater, more intelligent system to process all the burdens we have created throughout our time in this world. Nature is that intelligent system, with the capacity to break down, transform and reintegrate what we leave behind, adapting through the continuous flow of natural biological evolution.
The monastics have their limits too. Their limits are their training rules in accordance with the historical Buddha's body of law - Vinaya.
Everyone has their own limits for sustainable living.
Their limits are what they voluntarily commit and uphold with understanding.
We respect everyone’s limits.
We know our 5 fundamental limits :
❌️ NO taking life of sentient being is our limit.
❌️ NO taking things without consent is our limit.
❌️ NO misconduct is our limit.
❌️ NO untruthful words is our limit.
❌️ NO alcoholic drinks and intoxication is our limit.
Keeping ourcells within these clear limits helps us stay free from being detained and stagnant in life stream.
Clearly we see emptiness is not the goal, it is the necessary task for everyday.
And the most worthy work that every body keeps doing throughout life is breathwork.
Every thing has the desire to be breathable,
and every body desires flowing with the Stream with lightness.
Now we keep learning this LESS:ON
to simplify things until everything is no longer a fraction,
but becomes a worthy integer.
So here, the Hermitage is intentionally free from unnecessary additions.
There are no religious statues, no religious buildings, no big furniture, no elaborate decorations, no titles, no abbot, no abbess, no teachers, no elaborate rituals, no particular duties, no special events, and no fees for anything.
It is all free.
Free to come. Free to go. Free flow.
Because the breath is free.
The breath carries the Truth’s superpower to free every living being.
Listening to this breath guides us to the Stream. Every body is free to enter the Stream.
“Teaching of the Core Dhamma is well taught by the Worthy One.
Core manuals can be directly visible and experienced here and now.
Core manuals are not limited by time.
Come and See.
It is worth being brought within one to train.
Every one with insight knows and understands."
Dear Bodhi buddy, dear Core Dhamma fellows,
listen to this breath,
listen to this heartbeat,
listen to the organic truths with in👁sight,
and unblock the ways to the Stream.
We believe in the Stream.
We have always been living in the Stream, from the moment of birth.
The Stream has Nature’s capacity to nurture every body within.
And the Stream carries Nature’s powerful force to cleanse every body flowing within.
We know how to sustain the Stream any way.
You know how to sustain the Stream in your own ways
There is no compulsory way for everything.
It doesn’t matter, as long as we hold the line with the level ruler : INTEGRITY.
The kind of integrity that keeps us grounded while we are levelling up.
The kind of integrity that makes sure who we are becoming still honours who we are.
With reflection and intelligent insight,
every body sees, every body knows
sooner, later, or right now :
✅ what should be stopped
✅ what should be prevented to avoid recurrence
✅ what should be ended to make way for something better
✅ and what should be developed
to continue flowing with the Stream
in balanced ways.