Clear Mountain Monastery Project

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo asks us to reflect on what each of the three refuges means to us; and examines the first three of the twelve steps of AA in light of the three characteristics (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, & not-self) and in view of the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha): 1. We admitted we were powerless over impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and not-self— and that our lives had become unmanageable. 2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of the Triple Gem, as we understood them. 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, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho offer advice for those interested in exploring monastic life. From finding the correct monastery to uncovering joy in a life of renunciation, the lessons offered for those seeking robes remain relevant even for one living a lay life of devoted practice. Resources Mentioned - Thus Should You Train Yourselves: https://www.clearmountain.org/2024/06/11/thus-should-you-train-yourselves/ - Buddhist Monastic Code I: https://www.dhammatalks.org/vinaya/bmc/Section0001.html - 10 Subjects for Frequent Recollection: https://amaravati.org/audio/recollection-ten-subjects-for-frequent-recollection-by-one-who-has-gone-forth-pali-and-english-page-48-50-2/ - Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery: https://www.abhayagiri.org/ - Sāsanārakkha Buddhist Sanctuary: https://sasanarakkha.org/ - Wat Pah Nanachat: https://www.watpahnanachat.org/ - Wat Marp Jan: https://watmarpjan.org/en/ - Empty Cloud Monastery: https://emptycloud.org/ - Karuna Buddhist Vihara: https://www.karunabv.org/ - Dhammadharini: https://www.dhammadharini.net/ - Sati Saraniya: https://satisaraniya.ca/ - Canmore Theravāda Buddhist Community: https://www.canmoretheravadabuddhism.ca/ ----- 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, 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 -------- 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 --- 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 ----- 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 ---- 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. ----- 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. ----- 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