

Clear Mountain Monastery Project
Clear Mountain Monastery
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
Mentioned books

Jul 26, 2025 • 51min
When the Sit Hits the Fan: Practice When Practice Fails | Ajahn Kovilo
Ajahn Kovilo offers transformative strategies for moments when practice feels stagnant. He introduces six psycho-physical gestures for liberation, emphasizing concepts like letting go and unhooking from attachments. The discussion highlights the delicate balance of cultivating joy while confronting discomfort in meditation. Additionally, the power of loving kindness and self-compassion is explored, shedding light on how these practices can enhance relationships and personal well-being amid life's challenges.

Jul 24, 2025 • 51min
Forays into Multi-yāna Fauna: The Many Modes & Toads of Practice | Ayyā Sucittā Q&A
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Ayyā Sucittā about her path into the Theravāda, Koan practice, her encounters with nature, Natural Law, and other aspects of her teaching and path.
To learn more or support Ayya Sucitta's hermitage, contact her steward, Jason Bartlett, at info@luminousdharma.org, Jason.c.bartlett@gmail.com, or through his website, luminousdharma.org, noting that dāna given should be given to Ayya Sucitta's project.
Ayyā Sucittā's Biography:
Ayyā Sucittā grew up in South Korea, studied and traveled in the United States and after a while, back in Korea, became a monastic in the Korean Mahayana tradition. That was 30 years ago. She attended one of the bhikkhunī universities in Korea. After her initial training she had a thirteen year retreat with a Satipaṭṭhāna focus. About twenty years into her monastic life she visited the UK and met Theravada bhikkhus in Oxford. She found a resonance with the Early Buddhist teachings and forms of practice. Ayyā was encouraged to learn some Paḷī and chanting, she also began reading all the Early Buddhist Suttas. They sponsored her to study in Myanmar for six months. After Myanmar, she attended Amaravati's Vassa and the Winter Retreat. In 2017 she came to California and formally transitioned to the Theravada with a Daḷhīkamma Ordination with Ayyā Tathālokā as preceptor and with the support of bhikkhunīs from several communities and the Sri Lankan bhikkhus in the Bay Area. After about three years, Ayyā returned to Korea to take care of some health issues. She is now strong and healthy and will be starting Dhammadhārinī branch in South Korea in summer of this year.
To learn more or support Ayya Sucitta's hermitage, contact her steward, Jason Bartlett, at info@luminousdharma.org, Jason.c.bartlett@gmail.com, or through his website, luminousdharma.org, noting that dāna given should be given to Ayya Sucitta's project.
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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 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!

Jul 20, 2025 • 48min
One Excellent Night–Every Day: Thirteen Years of Dhamma from a Korean Mountain | Ayyā Sucittā
In this talk, Ayyā Sucitta, visiting from South Korea, speaks about her path into Theravāda robes, her love of the early texts, and lessons learned from her pre-dawn pilgrimagse to a mountain stream during her thirteen years of retreat.
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!

Jul 17, 2025 • 1h 3min
The Freedom of Wandering: Reflections of an Itinerant Monk | Guṇavīro Bhikkhu Q&A
In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Guṇavīro Bhikkhu on the topic of "tudong" - wandering on faith. They speak about his learning in the Goenka tradition, advice for would-be wanderers, & experiences with hardship and blessing.
Gunaviro Bhikkhu's Biography:
Gunaviro Bhikkhu (Jeffrey Hancuff) is a Buddhist monk. He began practicing Buddhism in 2001, began monastic training in 2015, and received full ordination in 2018 with Luang Por Pasanno as his preceptor. Since 2022 he has been travelling independently, primarily in California, trying to follow the rules the Buddha laid down as closely as possible.
Contact Gunaviro Bhikkhu at gunavirobhikkhu@gmail.com
You can find out more at https://samanasevana.org/ or ema
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 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!

Jul 12, 2025 • 47min
Entering ”Buddhist Lent”: A 90-Day Uplevel Challenge in Three Pillars | Ajahn Kovilo
In this talk, Ajahn Kovilo speaks about the power of habit in a Buddhist context and speaks about specific ways we can upgrade our practice of generosity, integrity, and meditation during the upcoming 3-month Rains Retreat (vassa). The "habit-loop" framework of "cue-routine-reward" from Charles Duhigg's "The Power of Habit" is introduced as a methodology for cultivating healthy habits for this "Buddhist Lent" period of intensified practice based on the Buddha's foundational teaching on "faith" (saddhā) that:
"It is possible to abandon the wholesome ... It is possible to abandon the unwholesome." (Anguttara Nikāya 2.19)
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!

Jul 5, 2025 • 44min
No Westerners, No Thais: Just the Five Aggregates | Luang Por Damrong
00:09 Thai Original Talk
22:41 English Translation
In this talk - in Thai with English translation - Luang Por Damrong Siribhaddho, abbot of Wat Pah Nam KamGeung, Thailand speaks of
Luang Por Damrong Biography:
Luang Por Damrong Siribhaddo has been a bhikkhu for 56 years. He acts as the preceptor for many of Luang Por Chah’s disciples in Thailand.
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!

Jul 5, 2025 • 35min
”Take the Normal ... and Attain the Highest Peace” | Luang Por Khoon Aggadhammo
00:10 - Thai Original Talk
21:07 - English Translation
In this talk - in Thai with English translation - Luang Por Khoon Aggadhammo, abbot of Wat Pah PoSuwan, Thailand speaks about the power of the Triple Gem, the Five Precepts, Three Types of Wisdom, the Eight Worldly Winds, and the Eightfold Noble Path.
Luang Por Khoon Biography:
Luang Por Khoon Aggadhammo has been a monk for 59 years. Having lived and studied for years under Luang Por Chah and having trained with Luang Por Sumedho for many years, Luang Por Khoon is currently the abbot of Wat PhoSuwan in Piboon Mangsahan district, Ubon Province.
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!

Jul 4, 2025 • 44min
”This Body is Just a Hotel ... You Don’t Own It!” | LP Damrong Siribhaddo
In this interview - in Thai with English translation - Ajahn Kovilo speaks with and translates the teachings of Luang Por Damrong Siribhaddho, abbot of Wat Pah Nam KamGeung.
Luang Por Damrong Biography:
Luang Por Damrong Siribhaddo has been a bhikkhu for 56 years. He acts as the preceptor for many of Luang Por Chah’s disciples in Thailand.
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!

Jul 4, 2025 • 50min
”Death is Normal” – How to Take the Dhamma as Your Secure Refuge | LP Khoon Aggadhammo
In this interview - in Thai with English translation - Ajahn Kovilo speaks with and translates the teachings of Luang Por Khoon Aggadhammo, abbot of Wat Pah PoSuwan.
Luang Por Khoon Biography:
Luang Por Khoon Aggadhammo has been a monk for 59 years. Having lived and studied for years under Luang Por Chah and having trained with Luang Por Sumedho for many years, Luang Por Khoon is currently the abbot of Wat PhoSuwan in Piboon Mangsahan district, Ubon Province.
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!

Jul 1, 2025 • 60min
Freedom Behind Bars: Buddhist Prison Chaplaincy | Thubten Chodron & the Sravasti Prison Project
In this video, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Ven. Jigme, Ven. Ngawang, Ven Gyatso, & Thubten Chodron on the subject of the Sravasti Abbey Prison Dharma Project. For more information about Sravasti Abbey and the Prison Dharma Project, visit: https://sravastiabbey.org/who-we-are/how-we-help/
Short Description of the Prison Dharma Project:
The Prison Dharma Outreach supports over 1,000 incarcerated individuals by sending Dharma books, videos, newsletters, and offering spiritual guidance, including through prison visits by Abbey monastics. Around 200 inmates participate annually in the Abbey’s Retreat from Afar, engaging in daily practice and receiving weekly teachings. Many prisoners express deep gratitude through donations, artwork, and poetry, despite their challenging financial circumstances.
More ways to connect with Clear Mountain:
- 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!