About Rainbodhi Sydney

Sydney is the original home of Rainbodhi on Gadigal/Dharug land. 

Since our launch in 2019,  we have run regular events for the Sydney LGBTQIA Buddhist community, including meditation mornings in the Sydney Botanical Gardens, a death contemplation at Rookwood cemetery, and day retreats on Dangar Island. We’ve visited art galleries to meet queer Buddhist artists and gone on coastal walks to meditate on cliff tops. 

We also host online events inviting Australian and international queer Buddhist teachers to connect with our community.

Our latest event can be found here

Email: hello@rainbodhi.org 

Organising Team

Bhikkhu Akāliko

Bhante Akāliko (he/him) is the founder and spiritual director of Rainbodhi. He went forth in 2016 under Ajahn Brahm and received full ordination in  2017.  He has served as a chaplain at Western Sydney University and sat on the boards of the Buddhist Council of NSW and the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils. 

Bhante Akāliko lives as a wandering monk, teaching in Australia and overseas.

Venerable Bom Hyon Sunim

Bom Hyon Sunim (she/her) is a bhikkhuni in the Korean Zen tradition. She founded the Healthcare Chaplaincy program for the Buddhist Council of Victoria and currently serves as a chaplain for the University of Western Sydney where she is undertaking a PHD. 

Sunim also serves as the Senior Buddhist Chaplain for the Australian Defence Forces. 

Venerable Pasanna

Venerable Pasanna (they/she) is a Buddhist monastic in the Australian forest tradition living on Gundungurra country.

They took up life in the monastery in 2017 and full ordination in 2021.

They are a follower of the Early Buddhist Texts and like to bring creativity and nature into their practice.

Letty

Letty (she/her) is a queer Theravadin Buddhist, living on the stolen and unceded Gadigal and Bidjigal lands. Letty is primarily interested in the practice of Metta (loving-kindness). Letty loves Rainbodhi’s vision for collective liberation and collective awakening for the LGBTQIA+ communities and allies!

Kee

Kee (he/him) was born into a Chinese Mahayana Taoist Buddhist Confucianist (phew… that’s a lot of beliefs!) family, that mainly practised ritualistic Buddhism and ancestral worship. Curious about spirituality and the meaning of life from young, he has explored various world religions. 

Kee mainly practises Theravada and Ch’an (Zen) Buddhist but also explores various other Buddhist, non-sectarian, inter-denominational and secular paths.

Yulianto (Sin Sin)

Yulianto Lukito aka Yuli aka Sin Sin (he/him) has mainly been studying under the guidance of Theravada Buddhist practitioners with a special interest in early Buddhism. However, he is non-sectarian and is open to the teachings from other Buddhist traditions. 

He is passionate about elephant welfare and advocacy and in his free time, he enjoys hiking and spending time in nature.

Ben

Ben (he/him) lives on the unceded Aboriginal lands of the Gadigal and Wangal people and has a strong interest in the intersections of Buddhism and Queer identities. 

For many, spirituality has been a place of discrimination and non-acceptance. By uniting together as a community, Rainbodhi offers a place of spiritual nourishment for those on the path to awakening that is safe, affirming and inclusive.

Kath

Kath (she/her) is a curator and artist, who lives on Gadigal Wangal Country in Sydney. Her art practice is underpinned by meditation and embedded in Buddhist philosophies of impermanence, interconnection, and compassion. Kath co-curated ‘Presence of Mind’ at Gallery Lane Cove, featuring works by Buddhist artists from Australia and Singapore. Kath has been involved in Rainbodhi events since 2018 and really values being part of this diverse Buddhist queer community.

Cittamaya 

Cittamaya (they/them) is travelling the Buddha’s Path and has taken lay  ordination with the Triratna sangha in Sydney.  They are particularly inspired by Metta and Sangha – the power of coming together in ways which support us to become more aware of our deep interconnection.  

They are excited to be part of Rainbodhi’s creation of shared spaces to explore Queer being in welcoming communities, inclusive spaces for us all to be, belong and go beyond.