Clear Mountain Monastery Project

Shaila Catherine, founder of Insight Meditation South Bay, shares her extensive meditation journey. She delves into the nuances of jhāna, emphasizing its evolution in Western practice. Digital distractions, especially cell phones, are discussed as barriers to deep meditation. Shaila also highlights the importance of self-inquiry in understanding true desires and explores the ethical aspects of spirituality, including diet. Her insights offer listeners practical strategies for cultivating mental clarity and engaging fully with their meditation practice.

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo relates his experience being assaulted in downtown Seattle on March 30th, 2025. Suttas Referenced: - Dhammapada vv 3-5: https://www.digitalpalireader.online/_dprhtml/index.html?loc=k.1.0.0.0.0.0.m|ati://kn/dhp/dhp.01.budd.html - Dhammapada vv 197-200: https://www.digitalpalireader.online/_dprhtml/index.html?loc=k.1.0.0.14.0.0.m|ati://kn/dhp/dhp.15.budd.html - Puṇṇovāda Sutta (MN 145) https://suttacentral.net/mn145/en/sujato?lang=en - Four Types of People (AN 4.85) https://www.digitalpalireader.online/_dprhtml/index.html?loc=a.3.0.0.1.3.4.m|bt://an/an_e_4.htm#s85 Tune in with fellow practitioners every Wednesday evening from 6 - 6:45 pm or Saturday morning from 9:30 am - 11 am for a Dhamma Talk and Q&A with Ajahn Kovilo or Ajahn Nisabho. Saturday mornings begin with a thirty-minute meditation. Wednesday evening Q&A's are followed by a discussion on Zoom from 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm. See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome! To participate in the Saturday chanting, use the pdf found here: https://www.abhayagiri.org/media/books/abhayagiri_monastic_foundation_chanting_book_revision_2010.pdf

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, initially to manage bipolar disorder, now seeing the Dhamma as the highest blessing. Dedicated to practicing and teaching the Satipatthāna and Brahmavihāras, she shares the transformative power of the Dhamma in Spanish and English. A Cuban-American, Ayya works to establish the first Theravāda temple in Cuba and is involved in creating a bhikkhunī monastery in Mexico. She translates Loku Hamuduruwo Pemasiri Thera’s teachings into Spanish and leads a Sunday meditation and sutta study livestream. Her first book “Pa’ alante es pa’ lla” is currently being edited. Residing at Bhava Nirodha Nilaya in Florida, she also cares for her mother. Learn more about Theravāda Cuba: https://www.theravadacuba.org Join the WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BQQnBjDOITn2jWbtQjJ4cb To give, write “For Cuba” here: https://www.dhammadharini.net/financial-donations Donation instructions + info: https://www.theravadacuba.org/support Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ayya.marajina.buddha.dhamma Answers and further assistance can be received at TheravadaCuba@gmail.com or bhikkhuni.marajina@gmail.com To learn more about the history of Buddhism in Cuba, watch: https://youtu.be/dKl07tXxl3g?si=I_IWF9wZ0-uP5yWD --- 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!

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! - 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 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 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!

Ayyā Santacittā, a Buddhist nun and cultural anthropologist, shares her journey from avant-garde dance theatre to monastic life. She discusses our deep connection with Earth, emphasizing mindfulness and the importance of recognizing our interdependence with nature. Ayyā highlights the urgency of slowing down in a fast-paced world and explores the complexities of anger and its potential for constructive change. Through personal reflections and insights, she invites listeners to nurture their spiritual paths within community, fostering compassion and awareness.

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&ab_channel=SamitaASBL - Watch videos in Thai of Ajahn Mahā ChatChai here: https://www.youtube.com/@%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%89%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%95/videos 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!

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). 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, 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 travelling the world, with a deep spiritual pursuit which she was born with. Finally this lifelong inner quest tuned her into the path of Dhamma. In 2018 She became a student of Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro and started the training in various forest monasteries in Thailand as a eight precept Upāsikā. In 2020 she became a Maechee with Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro as her preceptor and was instructed to go on almsround and not to receive or use money. Sister Maechee Paññāsirī currently remains in a nuns’ hermitage near the Khao Yai mountain in Thailand. 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!

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!