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.clearmountainmonastery.org.
Episodes
In this compelling dialogue, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with Amma Thanasanti about what’s missing from traditional Dharma when it comes to trauma, attachment, and nervous system regulation. They explore how trauma-informed tools, the window of tolerance, and developmental wounding intersect with meditation practice—and why understanding these dynamics can open the door to real healing and freedom.
In this session, Ajahn Nisabho and Ajahn Kovilo interview brother and sister Ajahn Cunda and Rabbi Sydney Mintz.
Bio of Ajahn Cunda:
Ajahn Cunda was raised in a warm and loving family in the Northern suburbs of Chicago and moved to California in 1996. Ajahn Cunda moved to Abhayagiri in late 2005, and after two years training as an Anagārika and Sāmaṇera, ordained as a Bhikkhu on May 22, 2008. Under Luang Por Pasanno and Ajahn ...
Ayyā Suvijjānā & Ayya Niyyānika of Passaddhi Vihara (https://passaddhivihara.org/) speak about developing the Five Indriyā, or Mental Faculties in our practice. The five, including saddhā (faith), viriya (energy), sati (mindfulness), samādhi (concentration), and pañña (wisdom) must be developed in a balanced manner for practice to progress. The Buddha's description of the Five Faculties may be found here: https://www.dhammatalk...
In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho talks about the Mahānāma Sutta (AN 11:12) (https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN11_12.html), and the six recollections recommended by the Buddha as ways of tuning to the quiet note of Dhamma, and to finding refuge.
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)
- Saturda...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview psychiatrist Dr. Judson Brewer MD PhD about the confluence between neuroscience and Theravāda Buddhism.
For more information about Dr. Jud, visit:
- https://www.mindshiftrecovery.org/
Dr. Jud's Bio:
Dr. Judson Brewer, MD, PhD (aka Dr. Jud), is a New York Times best-selling author and pioneering psychiatrist blending cutting-edge neuroscience wit...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Rodney Smith, author and founder or the Seattle Insight Meditation Society, about resting in an ever-present silence, his work in hospice, how to be with the dying, and more. For more on Rodney, visit: https://seattleinsight.org/teacher/rodney-smith-founding-teacher/
Rodney's Bio:
Rodney Smith spent eight years in Buddhist monastic settings, both at the Insight Meditatio...
In this talk, Ajahn Kaccāna, ordained at Abhayagiri Monastery but currently residing at Chithurst Monastery in England, speaks about finding refuge in the quality of knowing rather than the objects of awareness.
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, &a...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview renowned meditation teacher Shaila Catherine about the practice of jhāna, the breath nimitta, digital hygiene on retreat, and more.
To learn more about Shaila, visit: https://shailacatherine.com/
You may access more of her teachings at Insight Meditation South Bay (https://www.imsb.org/) and Bodhi Courses (https://bodhicourses.org/).
Bio:
Shaila Catherine is the foun...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo relates his experience being assaulted in downtown Seattle on March 30th, 2025.
Suttas Referenced:
- Dhammapada vv 3-5:
- Dhammapada vv 197-200:
- Puṇṇovāda Sutta (MN 145)
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Venerable Ayyā Mārajinā about her experience creating Saṅgha in Cuba. Learn more at https://www.theravadacuba.org or at the links below.
Ayyā Mārajinā's biography:
Ayyā Mārajinā Bhikkhunī received pabbajja (2010) and upasampadā (2012) at Aranya Bodhi Hermitage, California, with Venerable Tathālokā Maha Therī as pavattinī. She has practiced meditation for over 15 years, i...
In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho describes the 5 khandhas, or "aggregates" onto which we posit a self: 1) form (rūpa) 2) feelings (vedanā) 3) perception (sañña) 4) mental formations (sankhara) and 5) consciousness (viññāna). He further describes how we can skillfully use each as a factor on the path rather than clinging to it as a locus of self.
Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events!
...
In this Q&A session, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about body contemplation, monastics' apolitical stance, dispassion (virāga), benefits of the holy life, and more.
The link to the 6:45-7:30 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 Eve...
In this session, Ayyā Santacittā of the Āloka Earth Room visits and shares reflections on the hummus-ness of humans.
Ayyā Santacitta's Biography:
Santacitta Bhikkhuni was born in Austria and did her graduate studies in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on dance, theatre and ritual. She also worked in avant-garde dance theatre as a performer and costume designer. In 1988 she met Ajahn Buddhadasa in southern Thailand, who sparked h...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Ajahn Jotipālo about the practice of loving-kindness, "Sauntering Into Silence", and a mention of Buddhist iconography.
- Visit Ajahn Jotipālo's YouTube channel - "Sauntering Into Silence" here: https://www.youtube.com/@UC66r5NBcFDf4opY0PAPHdrw
- Watch Ajahn Sujāto's Metta series here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HREe6phLMpU&list=PLTcGMzIEhlsa0maPxIduPyYSNonn0_umT...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo asks the question: What is your inner governing-principle (ādhipateyya)? Is it a "Dhamma-cracy" (based on a solid foundation of truth, morality, and wisdom) or a "Māra-tocracy" (based on the shaky foundation of craving)? Further, he asks which of the "four P's" (Pleasure [vs Pain]; Profit [vs Loss)]; Praise [vs Censure]; or Prestige [vs lowliness]) is your primary idol obsession (i.e. inner autocrat).
...In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview the Chinese-born, Thai Forest Maechee Paññāsirī about her life and practice.
Maechee Paññāsirī's Biography:
Sister Maechee Paññāsirī is a Chinese-born, Thai forest nun in the tradition of Ven. Ajahn Chah.
Born in 1967 and grew up in Shanghai, China, Sister has worked many years as a writer/creative director, a teacher of yoga, pranayama and meditation, as well as travel...
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 http...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Ajahn Dhammasīha, abbot of Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage in Brisbane, Australia. To learn more about Ajahn Dhammasīha and Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage, visit: https://www.dhammagiri.net/
Ajahn Dhammasiha's Biography:
Born in West Germany in 1966, Ajahn Dhammasīha studied Business Administration in West Berlin during the fall of the Berlin Wall. After encountering the Dhamma...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo examines the refrain from the Foundations of Mindfulness Sutta (https://suttacentral.net/dn22/en/sujato?lang=en) in light of the slang-based meditation instructions: "Stop Frontin'!"
That refrain is as follows:
Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sammāsati?
“And what, bhikkhus is Right Mindfulness?
(1) Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati
Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu abides contemplating th...
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview author, psychologist, and meditator Rick Hanson Ph.D. For more information about Rick Hanson, visit: https://rickhanson.com/
Rick Hanson Bio:
Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages, and include Making Great Relationships, ...
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