Clear Mountain Monastery Project
Dharma talks from monastics at Clear Mountain, an aspiring Buddhist Forest monastery in the greater Seattle area. 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. To learn more, visit https://www.clearmountain.org.
Episodes
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
Hello Dukkha, My Old Friend: American Suffering through the Eyes of a Tough Canadian | Ajahn Pasanno
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.abhayag...
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...
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...
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...
From Seattle to North Bend: A Lotus With Every Step | Ayya Anandabodhi, Ajahn Kovilo & Ajahn Nisabho
00:00 Chanting Together
00:52 Ayyā Ānandabodhi — Walking Right Here
08:04 Ajahn Kovilo — Walking With Stillness: The World Moving Through Us
16:58 Ajahn Nisabho — Path as Duty: Monastery as Container
26:59 Question: Navigating Career Transitions
31:53 Question: Managing Boredom in Relationships
37:25 Question: Balancing Duty and Presence
In this session, directly preceding their three-day pilgrimage from St...
ESSAYS
Return to Simplicity Through Wuwei: https://luminousdharma.org/return-to-simplicity-through-wuwei/
Returning to Nature: https://luminousdharma.org/returning-to-nature-advanced-dharma-practice/
PAIRED VIDEO: https://youtu.be/qlU00qmHq1E
DESCRIPTION
Returning to Simplicity is an approach to Buddhist practice based on radical surrender. What we set down is the whole apparatus of impulse, obsession, discriminating, rumina...
In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho the Buddha's directions towards developing jhāna through mindfulness of breathing, as articulated in the Ānāpānassati Sutta (MN 18 - https://suttacentral.net/mn118/en/bodhi?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false). Taoist articulations of how to refine the body's energies provide practical tools for practitioners looking to refine the mind through these stages. Specifically, Jason Bartlett's "Awak...
ESSAY: http://Luminousdharma.org/awakening-alchemy/
PAIRED VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_GUvwlg8bHI
DESCRIPTION
Awakening Alchemy is a system of body, breath, energy, and spirit practices that cultivate and transform our being on multiple levels. Its concepts and approach are rooted in principles found within East Asian medicine, Taoist cultivation, and Buddhism. In this discussion we establish the principles and working points tha...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo speaks about four doors to entering into the perception of space (ākāsa-saññā or ākāsānañcāyatana-saññā):
1) transcending form (rūpasaññānaṃ samatikkamā);
2) setting down resistance (paṭighasaññānaṃ atthaṅgamā);
3) unhooking duality (nānattasaññānaṃ amanasikārā);
4) resting in space (‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṃ upasampajja viharati).
Bhikkhu Sujato Translation:
"With the...sur...
In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks the importance in practice of directing attention and intention to shape our path and experience. The word "adhiṭṭāna" ("determination" or "vow") describes such training, as does the Buddha's frequent admonishment to his discples, "Evañhi vo … sikkhitabbaṃ" ("Thus you should train yourselves...").
Some Suttas where the Buddha speaks about this setting of intention include the Mahāgosiṅga...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Ajahn Brahm, abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery (https://bswa.org/). The discussion delves into Ajahn's path to ordination, advice for achieving deep samādhi, thoughts on Stream Entry, stories of devas, tales of Luang Por Chah, and more.
00:00:00 Introduction and Greetings
00:00:27 Humor in Meditation and Teaching
00:01:50 Key Moments and Faith leading to Ordination
00:02:43...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Brother Pháp Lưu, the eldest non-Vietnamese American monk in the Plum Village tradition who is currently at Deer Park Monastery (https://deerparkmonastery.org/).
Biography of Brother Pháp Lưu:
Ordained as a monk since December 13, 2003, Brother Chân Pháp Lưu (Brother Stream) received Transmission of the Lamp from Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh to teach in 2011. He helped star...
In this interview, Ajahn Kovilo & Ajahn Nisabho speak with Mingyur Rinpoche (https://tergar.org/)
00:00 Introduction
03:29 Monastic Background and Biography
06:22 Motivation for the Wandering Pilgrimage
10:30 Utility and Traps of the Self-Image
15:36 Near-Death Experience in Kushinagar
24:48 Dynamic Between Effort and Non-Effort
30:36 Innate Qualities of Awareness, Love, and Compassion
40:56 Pointing-Out Instructions an...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo speaks about the Four Noble Truths and the Discourse on Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dhamma in honor of Āsāḷha Pūjā.
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...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho celebrate Āsāḷha Pūjā by speaking about the Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma Sutta (SN 56.11 - Dhammacakkappavattanasutta), and its articulation of the Four Noble Truths. They they take questions dealing with topics ranging from the difference between Bodhisattvas and Arahants, to the nature of Nibbāna, to the benefits of memorization. Sadhu!
In this session, Ajahn Nisabho speaks with Kim Grose Moore and Tommy "Shakur" Ross from the GRIP (Guiding Rage Into Power) Training Institute (https://grip-traininginstitute.org/) about their work in prisons teaching inmates to transform trauma and anger into meaningful internal change. The program, inspired by Dhammic principles and practices, has helped almost 2000 graduates move towards genuine freedom of heart, even while behin...
In this session, Ajahn Vinita, longtime attendant and student of Luang Por Sumedho, speaks with deep devotional warmth and sweetness about his affection and love for his teacher, the "simplest, most ordinary human" he's ever met. The talk, given on the Saturday preceding Luang Por Sumedho's 93rd birthday, is made especially poignant in that it was given at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral where Luang Por served as alter boy while g...
Gratitude Retreat Part 1: https://youtu.be/Bs-ymolbjqs
In this second portion of the daylong gratitude retreat given in June of 2026, Bhante Rahula speaks about the essential practice of cultivating gratitude for the blessings in our life, and the blessings we give to others. Such recollections represent a great support in practice, and our lives, and can be cultivated through practical means. Bring a pen and paper! Special thank...
Gratitude Retreat Part 2: https://youtu.be/RJ1mAYVhJ-Y
In this first talk of the daylong gratitude retreat given in June of 2026, Bhante Rahula speaks about how to use practice to take stock of our moment in life, and use it skillfully to cleanse the mind and heart. To learn more, visit www.bhanterahula.com.
Bio
Bhante Rāhula, born in Mexico, has spent the last 22 years in Asia in various periods, where he has practiced and st...
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