Clear Mountain Monastery Project

In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about the critical imbalance underlying many Western and modern practitioners' approach to practice. When we lean into a narrow, ascetic vision of practice without understanding the Buddha's emphasis on joy, we risk the heart's withering. To nourish the mind, the Buddha provided us powerful teachings on generosity, faith, community, and even creativity.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Bringing Nourishment to the Heart

01:24 Thanatos & The Super-Ego: The Trap of Practice Violence

03:26 Returning Home: Intuiting Truth vs. Excessive Renunciation

06:05 The Dry Heart (Chetokhila Sutta)

09:06 Gladness as the Basis for Samadhi

12:39 Cultural Context & "Acid Mixed with Acid"

18:07 Chanda (Zeal) and the 19 Beautiful Qualities of Mind

20:41 A Holistic Ecosystem: Generosity, Chanting, & Dharmanusati

25:43 The Role of Art & Beauty on the Path

37:49 Q&A & Story: Walking Out of the Mountains with Guan Yin

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Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

A conversation with Debbie Stamp, upāsaka steward and founding force of Abhayagiri Forest Monastery (www.abhayagiri.org)

00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:02:36 Debbie's Role at Abhayagiri

00:03:13 Moments of Faith Leading to Monastery Life

00:06:29 Early Faith Experience in Catholicism

00:07:38 Transition from England to Rural California

00:09:22 Meeting and Connecting with Luang Por Pasanno

00:15:37 Navigating the Space Between Monastery and Lay Life

00:18:10 Working Internally with Belonging and Suffering

00:25:05 Advice for Women Considering Ordination

00:27:23 Understanding What It Means to Follow the Heart

00:39:27 Working with Anger and Perspective Shifts

00:41:46 Thriving as a Female Layperson in a Male Monastic Space

00:48:08 Personal Relationship to the Triple Gem

00:51:29 Meaning and Reflection on "Anicca Vata Saṅkhāra"

00:54:23 Influential Teachers and Expressions of Gratitude

00:58:15 The Dhamma of Caregiving and Family End-of-Life Support

01:07:10 Gratitude and Reflections on 30 Years of Abhayagiri

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Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

In this Q&A session, Ajahn Sona speaks about how to hold the fraught political landscape of the present, the significance of our daily actions and intentions as "political" acts, the karma of voting (or not!), the cultivation of deep concentration, and more. For more information about Ajahn Sona and Birken Forest Monastery, visit: https://birken.ca/

Ajahn Sona Biography:

Ajahn Sona is a first-wave Western Theravada-ordained monk and the Abbot of Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery (‘Birken’). With over thirty years in the robes, he is now referred to as ‘Luang Por’ (‘Venerable Father’) by his closest disciples – a traditional honorific for senior monks of the Thai Forest Tradition.

After several years of practice as a lay hermit, the young Bhikkhu Sona took full monastic ordination in 1989 with Bhante Henepola Gunaratana Mahathera at the first Theravada forest monastery in the United States (The Bhavana Society, West Virginia). He later switched to the Thai Forest Tradition and trained at Ajahn Chah’s monasteries in northeastern Thailand for several years. Ajahn Sona now draws on both the Sri Lankan and Thai scholastic and meditative traditions in his teachings, in addition to his modern western sensibilities. His pre-monastic education in philosophy, humanities, and classical Western music have aided him in understanding the Western psyche and in establishing paradigm bridges between East and West.

Ajahn Sona is also deeply interested in the ecological movements of this environmentally critical time, both at the practical and philosophical levels. The off-grid monastery, which he has carefully curated over the last two decades, employs the latest in green design technologies and principles

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Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

In this Q&A, done with the Pali Canon - Majjhima Nikaya - Book Club (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69n9ObQ6zIo), Ajahn Nisabho answers questions regarding truth as revealed in three Suttas, the Cāṅki Sutta (MN 95), the Subha Sutta (MN 99), and the Dhammacetiya Sutta (MN 89). Using the three discourses as a framework, we see how the Buddha taught us to protect, realize, and honor truth. To find out more about the Pali Canon - Majjhima Nikaya - Book Club, visit https://majjhima.club/en/.

- Cāṅki Sutta (MN 95): https://suttacentral.net/mn95/en/bodhi?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false

- Subha Sutta (MN 99): https://suttacentral.net/mn99/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin

- Dhammacetiya Sutta (MN 89): https://suttacentral.net/mn89/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin

You can find summaries of these Suttas, and more, on Clear Mountain's Mission Majjhima Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLomY-Sp4p5YsIVG0DmvJhUcR6YaXR_3wf

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction & Ordination Story

07:47 - Living a Life Worthy of Death

11:44 - Why the Majjhima Nikaya?

14:46 - MN 95: Epistemic Humility & Knowing the Truth

44:20 - MN 99: Intention & Lay Practice

54:40 - MN 89: King Pasenadi & Monuments to the Dhamma

58:34 - Q&A: Do You Need Jhanas for Enlightenment?

01:04:40 - Q&A: Navigating Difficult Sutta Passages

01:08:58 - The Rare Opportunity of the Dhamma & Closing Blessing

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Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

A conversation with Venerable Robina Courtin (https://robinacourtin.com/):

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:13 Meaning of the saying "Everything exists on the tip of a wish."

00:03:08 Wish that brought Venerable Robina into robes

00:05:52 Inspirations that sparked faith in Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa

00:08:10 Concept of the guru as a fourth jewel in Tibetan Buddhism

00:08:52 Reasons for feeling safe with two male Tibetan teachers

00:12:08 Evolution and deepening of the relationship with teachers over decades

00:17:15 Origins and physical experience of prostration practice

00:21:55 Recitations/commitments accompanying prostrations in different traditions

00:22:54 Working with inmates through the Liberation Prison Project

00:28:48 Parallels between incarcerated individuals and the four heavenly messengers

00:30:42 Transitioning from feminism into a male-dominated monastic hierarchy

00:31:09 Navigating monasticism and advice for women entering spiritual traditions

00:36:20 Differences between ordination and lay life across Buddhist schools

00:40:09 Central role of karma and addressing concerns about victim blaming

00:43:34 Explaining karma in relation to innocent suffering and everyday good fortune

00:45:40 "Hinayāna"?

00:46:24 Comparing the scope and levels of different Buddhist Vehicles

00:52:14 Nature and reality of deities, Bodhisattvas, and Green Tara

00:57:11 Relating to diverse, wrathful, and peaceful deity manifestations

00:59:24 Meaning, mechanics, and karmic benefits behind water bowl offerings

01:02:29 Applying Dharma to world news without falling into depression or panic

01:05:25 Practical morning intentions and simple daily vows for lay practitioners

Biography of Venerable Robina Courtin:

Ordained since the late 1970s, Ven. Robina has worked full time since then for Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Over the years she has served as editorial director of Wisdom Publications, editor of Mandala Magazine, executive director of Liberation Prison Project, and as a touring teacher of Buddhism. Her life and work with prisoners have been featured in the documentary films Chasing Buddha and Key to Freedom.

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The link to the 7:00-7:45 pm Zoom session following the livestream may be found on the event listing at https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/events/wednesday/.

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 - 7:45 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11:00 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6:00 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

In this talk, Bhante Rāhula, visiting from Paññabhumi Monastery in Jalisco, Mexico, speaks about the danger of expectation, and how attachment to our desires inevitably leads to suffering. By seeing this dynamic with wisdom, replacing expectation with aspiration, and cultivating gratitude, we can escape from the vicious cycle. Sadhu! Visit https://www.bhanterahula.com/ or https://dhamma-pb.org/en to learn more.

Bio

Bhante Rāhula, born in Mexico, has spent the last 22 years in Asia in various periods, where he has practiced and studied the Dhamma.He was ordained in Myanmar by Sayadaw Dr. Nandamālābhivaṃsa, who is his preceptor. Since 2004 he has received meditation guidance from Sayadaw U Tejaniya. For 6 years, Bhante studied Suttas and Abhidhamma with Sayadaw Dr. Ukkamsacara in Macau. In 2019, he completed a course on Buddhist scriptures from Harvard University. He underwent monastic Vinaya training for 2 years in Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary in Malaysia under the guidance of Ven. Ariyadhammika, where he also led retreats and Dhamma activities for the local community. Currently, Bhante is constructing the Mexican Buddhist Center (Paññābhūmi) to introduce and propagate the Buddha’s teaching in South America. He is also actively involved in diverse programs to aid parts of the society in overcoming drug addiction and alcoholism, as well as supporting educational campaigns for children and teens to prevent such problem in this region. Visit bhanterahula.com or https://dhamma-pb.org/en to learn more.

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Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:45 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

A conversation with Ajahn Pavaro, senior monastic and teacher at Tisarana Buddhist Monastery in Perth, Ontario (https://tisarana.ca/) and sometimes Anandagiri Monastery, Thailand (https://www.peacebeyondsuffering.org/anandagiri.html)

00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:01:51 Early Faith and Path to Ordination

00:09:44 Philosophy Studies and Existential Wonder

00:15:07 Creative Outlets and Joy in Monastic Life

00:20:49 Woodworking and Crafting at the Monastery

00:24:28 Jungle Practice, Metta, and the Viper

00:36:14 The Decision to Ordain

00:49:44 Daily Intentions and Unseen Agencies

00:53:43 Practical Intentions and Chants for Lay Practitioners

01:00:06 Living in the World of Devas and Other Realms

01:15:33 Final Benediction and Words of Encouragement

Ajahn Pavaro's Biography:

Ajahn Pavaro is a Canadian-born bhikkhu who brings with him a wealth of experience and wisdom from both his academic and monastic journeys. Before entering monastic life, he was a university lecturer in Calgary, Alberta, teaching comparative religion—a field that deeply reflects his lifelong interest in understanding the spiritual paths of humanity. Ajahn Pavaro began his monastic training in 2001 under the guidance of his teacher, Ajahn Sona, at Birken Forest Monastery in British Columbia. Over the years, his practice and training have taken him across the globe. He spent his seventh year as a monk with his preceptor, Luang Por Pasanno, at Abhayagiri Monastery in California. Later, he moved to Thailand, where he spent nearly a decade at Anandagiri Forest Monastery with Ajahn Achalo, benefitting from the teachings of renowned elders of the Wat Nong Pah Pong Sangha, including Luang Por Liam and Ajahn Anan. Several years ago, Ajahn Pavaro returned to Canada to reside at Tisarana Monastery in Perth, Ontario. This Rains Retreat, however, Ajahn is back in Thailand at Anandagiri.

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

https://www.clearmountain.org/

https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery

https://www.friendsofclearmountain.org/land-development/

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction & Setting the Intention

02:15 Day 1: Beginning the Pilgrimage Journey

05:30 Day 2: Reflections, Community, and the Trail

09:45 Day 3: Arrival and The Vision Lands

12:10 Conclusion & Reflections on the Mountain

VISION

Clear Mountain Monastery is a Buddhist forest monastery. In Theravāda Buddhism and within the Early Buddhist Texts, the forest tradition represents a return to the simple way of life taught by the Buddha. Monastics aspire to live as the early disciples did: dwelling in the forest, studying the teachings, and devoting themselves to meditation. Monastics and laity exist in a relationship of mutual generosity, in which they support one another on the Buddha’s path towards complete liberation of the heart—Nibbāna.

From 2021 to 2026, Clear Mountain’s first monastics, Ajahn Nisabho and Ajahn Kovilo, generally lived on the quiet periphery of Seattle, going for alms most mornings at Pike Place Market. On Saturday mornings, those interested gathered at Amistad School next to Saint Mark’s Cathedral for meditation and teaching, and a community based on mutual generosity took root.

In mid-2026, after years of searching, Clear Mountain acquired 90 acres of forested land in North Bend, Washington, only 40 minutes from Seattle. The property, both close enough to remain accessible to those in the city and secluded enough to allow monastic retreat, represents an ideal location for the monastery to grow.

Clear Mountain envisions a flourishing home for up to 20 monastics—a sanctuary rooted in nature, quiet simplicity, and traditional monastic discipline (Vinaya). From this peaceful foundation, the monastery will warmly welcome the lay community to join in a rich variety of shared spiritual activities, including: daily meal offerings; chanting and meditation (pūjas); Sutta and Pāli scriptural study; online and public teachings; observance of the Buddhist holy days; visits from guest monastics; and retreats. Apart from a large temple able to hold several hundred people on celebration days, the monastery vision includes a multi-purpose hall, residence for visiting bhikkhunis, gardens, and forest paths—a refuge of peace for generations.

To learn more about or support the vision, visit https://www.friendsofclearmountain.org/land-development/

VIDEO CREDITS

*Clear Mountain rejoices in the generosity of the wonderful volunteers who gave their time and expertise to create this video. Sadhu!*

Producer & Editor: Kyle Seago

Videography: Jen McGowan, Michele Gomes, & Jenny Ting

Audio Editing: Tyler Dennis

In this talk, Bhante Rahula, visiting from Paññabhumi Monastery in Jalisco, Mexico, speaks about joy as an essential spiritual tool which we may access by appreciating all the good we've done. To pause now, and appreciate the great care that's gone into finding Clear Mountain a home, can serves a cause for great wellbeing, and a happiness that outlasts the world. Sadhu! Visit bhanterahula.com or https://dhamma-pb.org/en to learn more.

Bio

Bhante Rāhula, born in Mexico, has spent the last 22 years in Asia in various periods, where he has practiced and studied the Dhamma.He was ordained in Myanmar by Sayadaw Dr. Nandamālābhivaṃsa, who is his preceptor. Since 2004 he has received meditation guidance from Sayadaw U Tejaniya. For 6 years, Bhante studied Suttas and Abhidhamma with Sayadaw Dr. Ukkamsacara in Macau. In 2019, he completed a course on Buddhist scriptures from Harvard University. He underwent monastic Vinaya training for 2 years in Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary in Malaysia under the guidance of Ven. Ariyadhammika, where he also led retreats and Dhamma activities for the local community. Currently, Bhante is constructing the Mexican Buddhist Center (Paññābhūmi) to introduce and propagate the Buddha’s teaching in South America. He is also actively involved in diverse programs to aid parts of the society in overcoming drug addiction and alcoholism, as well as supporting educational campaigns for children and teens to prevent such problem in this region. Visit bhanterahula.com or https://dhamma-pb.org/en to learn more.

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Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

In this session, Ayya Sudhamma, abbess of Charlotte Buddhist Vihara (https://www.charlottebuddhistvihara.org/), joins Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho for a conversation. Read her renderings of the Therigatha at: https://therigatha.org/

Ayya's biography:

Venerable Sudhammā is one of a handful of Theravada Mahātherīs born in the West. After receiving her initial monastic training under the renowned teacher Bhante Gunaratana of the Bhavana Society, West Virginia, Ayyā Sudhammā has since gone on to become a beloved Buddhist teacher and pioneer of Buddhism in America. She was the first Western women to become fully ordained in Sri Lanka, she co-founded the North American Bhikkhuni Association, and hosted the first-ever Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha proceeding in the USA. In 2013 Ayya founded the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara in her hometown of Charlotte, NC, where she continues to offer regular Dhamma programs.

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The link to the 7:00-7:45 pm Zoom session following the livestream may be found on the event listing at https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/events/wednesday/.

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 - 7:45 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11:00 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6:00 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo discusses various skilful means—specifically ones related to a felt sense of spaciousness—for relating to the 5 hindrances of:

00:00 Introduction to unbounded mind vs little mind

08:12 (1) sensual desire

11:45 (2) ill-will

17:21 (3) sloth and torpor

20:35 (4) restlessness and worry

24:50 (5) doubt

An overarching relationship is drawn between:

(a) the Buddha's comparison of a vast, lakelike mind with a constricted, confined, salty mind (https://suttacentral.net/an3.100/en/sujato) and

(b) the Buddha's comparison of the mind afflicted with the five hindrances to various types of unclean water (https://suttacentral.net/an5.193/en/sujato).

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

This is PART TWO of Clear Mountain's interview with Bhante Sujāto, co-founder of SuttaCentral.net and abbot of Lokanta Vihara. Watch PART ONE here: https://youtu.be/dJvntE6aw-s

00:00:00 Introduction & Textual Curiosity Across Buddhist Genres

00:16:51 Comparative Studies of the Creation of the Bhikkhuni Order

00:24:59 The Trojan Horse Simile of Picking and Choosing & How to Hold Varrying Views

00:31:51 The Buddha, Bodhisattva, and Arahant Awakenings

00:38:18 The Buddha as Distinct From Arahants?

00:41:08 Maintaining Inter-Tradition Epistemological Humility?

00:47:00 A Buddhist Perspective on Artificial Intelligence - "Start Generating"

01:01:22 What Mendicant Would Grace the Gosinga Sal Tree Grove?

Bhante Sujāto's Biography:

Born in Perth in 1966, Bhante Sujato left a career as a musician to become a Buddhist monk at Wat Nanachat in 1994. Some years later, he returned to Perth to study with Ajahn Brahm at Bodhinyana Monastery, before going on to found Santi Forest Monastery in New South Wales in 2003. In 2005 he, together with Rod Bucknell and John Kelly, founded SuttaCentral which has become the unchallenged juggernaut of Early Buddhist Textual Study. In 2015, seeing the need for a complete, accurate, plain English translation of the Pali texts available entirely for free, he undertook the task, spending nearly three years in isolation and completing the four main Nikāyas in 2018, and the early books of the Khuddaka Nikāya by 2021. In 2019, Bhante Sujato moved to Sydney to establish Lokanta Vihara (the Monastery at the End of the World) to explore what it means to follow the Buddha’s teachings in an era of climate change, globalised consumerism, and political turmoil.

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_mona... for details. Welcome!

In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about the definitions of "dukkha", and the importance of understanding its various meanings in order to practice skillfully towards its ending. To truly embody the directive of the First Noble Truth is to initiate the alchemy of release.

Chapters

00:00 - Understanding Dukkha (Translations & Etymology)

02:11 - The Malunkyaputta Sutta & Leaves in the Hand

04:33 - The Four Noble Truths as a Path of Practice

10:10 - The Two Types of Dukkha: Characteristics vs. Clinging

16:44 - Suka, Dukkha, and Nibbāna

19:50 - Turning Towards Suffering with Gratitude & Khanti

31:02 - Pain Meditation as a Direct Practice

33:45 - Rumi Poem: Fire and Water

36:17 - Q&A Session

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

This is PART ONE of Clear Mountain's interview with Bhante Sujāto, co-founder of SuttaCentral.net and abbot of Lokanta Vihara. Watch PART TWO being premiered next Wednesday here: https://youtu.be/h1RotjMuH_M

00:00 Introduction

01:56 Bhante Discovers the Suttas

07:01 The Origin Story of SuttaCentral

13:52 How Comparative Agama Study Supports Pāli Sutta Practice

20:59 Key Insights Uncovered Through Comparative Text Studies

29:45 Navigating the Impact of Text-Critical Studies on Faith

36:38 The Necessity of Jhāna and Its Role on the Path to Awakening

48:00 Layering Text-Critical Study with Traditional Pāli Canon Study

Bhante Sujāto's Biography:

Born in Perth in 1966, Bhante Sujato left a career as a musician to become a Buddhist monk at Wat Nanachat in 1994. Some years later, he returned to Perth to study with Ajahn Brahm at Bodhinyana Monastery, before going on to found Santi Forest Monastery in New South Wales in 2003. In 2005 he, together with Rod Bucknell and John Kelly, founded SuttaCentral which has become the unchallenged juggernaut of Early Buddhist Textual Study. In 2015, seeing the need for a complete, accurate, plain English translation of the Pali texts available entirely for free, he undertook the task, spending nearly three years in isolation and completing the four main Nikāyas in 2018, and the early books of the Khuddaka Nikāya by 2021. In 2019, Bhante Sujato moved to Sydney to establish Lokanta Vihara (the Monastery at the End of the World) to explore what it means to follow the Buddha’s teachings in an era of climate change, globalised consumerism, and political turmoil.

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

The Key of Compassion (Free Download): https://sravastiabbey.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The_Key_of_Compassion_v2026-04-09_ClearMtn_Secured.pdf

In this interview, Ven. Chodron speaks about the new book, "The Key of Compassion: Finding Meaning where

In The Key of Compassion, incarcerated men articulate how they landed in prison, the reality of life behind bars, the benefits of educational programs, and how the Buddha’s teachings on nonviolence and compassion changed them. Through evocative stories, poetry, and artwork, they show us that compassion is possible, no matter where you are. Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron shares her experience of introducing inmates to these teachings and the revolutionary effect it has had on their lives.

You can find out more about the Sravasti Abbey prison project at https://sravastiabbey.org/who-we-are/how-we-help/

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

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- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

In this talk, Bhante Buddharakkhita, visiting from Uganda, speaks about his journey from Africa into Buddhism, and how the first four blessings described by the Buddha in the Maṇgala Sutta (Discourse on Blessings - https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/ChantingGuide/Section0051.html) can help keep us on the path. Learn more at https://bhantebuddharakkhita.org/ and https://ugandabuddhistcenter.org/

Bio

Bhante first encountered Buddhism in 1990 while studying and living in India. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk by the late Most Venerable U Silananda in 2002 at the Tathagata Meditation Center in San Jose, California. He then spent eight years under the guidance of Bhante Henepola Gunaratana at the Bhavana Society, West Virginia. He is the founder and Abbot of the Uganda Buddhist Center in Uganda. Learn more at https://bhantebuddharakkhita.org/ and https://ugandabuddhistcenter.org/

Chapters

00:00:00 - Chanting & Opening Blessings

00:01:08 - The 4 Wheels of Success (Mangala Sutta)

00:02:49 - Early Journey: Discovering Buddhism in India

00:06:29 - Traveling to Dharamshala to Meet the Dalai Lama

00:08:57 - Private Audience with the Dalai Lama & "Find Friends"

00:11:08 - Returning to Uganda & Scuba Diving in Thailand

00:13:33 - Finding Meditation Teachers & Starting the Uganda Buddhist Center

00:14:47 - 1. Associating with the Wise vs. Unwise

00:17:22 - Meeting Difficult People & Compassion in Action

00:21:44 - 2. Staying in a Suitable Place

00:23:20 - 3. Meritorious Deeds Done in the Past

00:26:46 - 4. Establishing Oneself in the Right Path (Kusala)

00:32:01 - VISA, Mastercard & American Express: Remembering the Noble Eightfold Path

00:36:56 - Story of the Uganda Monastery, Forgiveness & Bullet Hole

00:41:02 - Q&A: Key Friends & Early Spiritual Influences (Mother, Teachers, Animals)

00:49:16 - Q&A: 5 Techniques to Overcome Unwholesome States of Mind

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Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

In this interview, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with Luang Por Pasanno about dukkha (suffering & unsatisfactoriness), in its personal, social, physical, and psychological aspects.

Bio

Luang Por Pasanno is one of the most senior disciples of Luang Por Chah. He is the former abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, and founder of Wat Poo Jom Gom, Wat Dtao Dum, and co-founder of Abhayagiri Monastery in California. https://www.abhayagiri.org/

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction & Welcome to Ajahn Pasanno

00:45 - What is Dukkha? (The Simile of Canadian Tires in Winter)

04:40 - The Two Kinds of Dukkha: First Arrow vs. Second Arrow

07:47 - "Hello Dukkha, My Old Friend": Developing Early Insights

09:31 - Finding Faith in the Cessation of Suffering through Luang Por Chah

10:40 - A Classic Wat Pah Nanachat Story: Sitting Through Patimokkha

20:30 - Dealing with Physical Pain & The True Meaning of Patient Endurance (Khanti)

26:18 - Facing Mental Pain & Becoming Abbott During Luang Por Chah's Illness

32:33 - Seeking Spiritual Friendship (Kalyāṇamittatā) & Support

38:12 - Luang Por Dune’s Reframing of the Four Noble Truths

40:40 - Navigating Worldly News, Politics, & Modern Anxiety

45:11 - Plant Seeds for Good: Lessons from Nature Care

47:43 - The Paradox of Living in Community

50:16 - The Heartwood of the Dhamma (Unshakable Deliverance of Mind)

53:29 - American Patterns of Dukkha & Absorption into Self

57:15 - Where to Reside When Free From Suffering: Stillness and Awareness

58:12 - Final Advice for Clear Mountain Monastery

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Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 - 7:45 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11:00 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6:00 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

This is PART TWO of Clear Mountain's interview with Andrew Holecek—scholar, practitioner, and "student of the night" (https://www.andrewholecek.com/). Watch PART ONE here: https://youtu.be/9wqSc5M1z-Q

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:31 Definition of Nocturnal Meditation

00:04:24 The Value of Waking Consciousness

00:15:58 Exploring the Liminal State

00:16:07 Historical Context of Early Wakefulness Teachings

00:29:03 The Role of Beliefs and Intentions in Sleep

00:35:21 Distinguishing Lucid Dreaming from Dream Yoga

00:43:35 Transforming Fear and Nightmares in Dreams

00:51:32 Deity Yoga and the Plasticity of Identity

Andrew Holecek's Biography:

Dr. Andrew Holecek is an author, concert pianist, and interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner of Vajrayāna Buddhism. A member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, he holds degrees in music, biology, and a doctorate in dental surgery, in addition to having completed a traditional Tibetan three-year meditation retreat under the guidance of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. He serves as Resident Contemplative Scholar at the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, is a research consultant for the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at Northwestern University, and is actively involved in scientific research on dark retreat with the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Tiny Blue Dot Science Foundation. He is also the author of 10 books including: Preparing to Die; Dream Yoga; The Lucid Dreaming Workbook; and his latest book Total Eclipse of the Mind: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing, and Transformation.

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_mona... for details. Welcome!

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho engage in a conversation with poet David Whyte (https://davidwhyte.com/).

00:00:00 Introduction & Spiritual Background

00:09:48 David Recites "The Bell and the Blackbird"

00:12:35 Marshaling Art for Spiritual Growth

00:19:16 Overcoming Acedia & Finding Joy

00:24:55 David Recites Blessing for the Morning Light

00:26:24 David Recites "The Well of Grief" & Metabolizing Suffering

00:31:43 Facing the Conversation You Don't Want to Have

David Whyte's biography:

David Whyte grew up with a strong, imaginative influence from his Irish mother among the hills and valleys of his father’s Yorkshire. He now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The author of twelve books of poetry and five books of prose, David Whyte holds a degree in Marine Zoology and has traveled extensively, including living and working as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands and leading anthropological and natural history expeditions in the Andes, Amazon and Himalaya. He brings this wealth of experience to his poetry, lectures and workshops.

David’s life as a poet has created a readership and listenership in three normally mutually exclusive areas: the literate world of readings that most poets inhabit, the psychological and theological worlds of philosophical enquiry and the world of vocation, work and organizational leadership.

The link to the 7:00-7:45 pm Zoom session following the livestream may be found on the event listing at https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/events/wednesday/.

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

- Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 - 7:45 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

- Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11:00 am PT, Online & In-Person)

- Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6:00 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

This is PART ONE of Clear Mountain's interview with Andrew Holecek—scholar, practitioner, and "student of the night" (https://www.andrewholecek.com/). Watch PART TWO here: https://youtu.be/mGqZDbIVK0c

00:00:00 - Introduction & Andrew Holecek's Background

00:01:44 - Lunar Spirituality Bio & Background

00:07:01 - Overview & Significance of Dark Retreat

00:10:34 - Physical Setup and Environments

00:12:03 - Sutra vs. Tantra Approaches

00:18:26 - Comfort, Challenge, and Danger Zones

00:24:03 - Testing Personal Limits and Session Duration

00:25:34 - Preparing for Total Darkness

00:33:17 - The Perception of Light and Openness

00:34:24 - Home Simulations vs. Retreat Centers

00:39:42 - Psychotherapy and Contemplative Practice

00:40:43 - Indications and Contraindications

00:53:34 - Signs of Dissociation and Knowing When to Stop

01:03:55 - Time Perception and Circadian Rhythms

01:07:22 - Egolocation and Boundaries of the Self

Andrew Holecek's Biography:

Dr. Andrew Holecek is an author, concert pianist, and interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner of Vajrayāna Buddhism. A member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, he holds degrees in music, biology, and a doctorate in dental surgery, in addition to having completed a traditional Tibetan three-year meditation retreat under the guidance of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. He serves as Resident Contemplative Scholar at the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, is a research consultant for the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at Northwestern University, and is actively involved in scientific research on dark retreat with the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Tiny Blue Dot Science Foundation. He is also the author of 10 books including: Preparing to Die; Dream Yoga; The Lucid Dreaming Workbook; and his latest book Total Eclipse of the Mind: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing, and Transformation.

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!

Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)

Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person)

Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online)

See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_mona... for details. Welcome!