Clear Mountain Monastery Project

In this talk, Tan Jāgaro speaks about how our individual Dhamma practice ripples out into the world around us, in particular referencing his experience wandering monastic "tudong" and walking for alms these past several years. 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 Gregory Kramer, founder of the Insight Dialogue Community. To learn more about Gregory, visit: https://gregorykramer.org/ Brief Bio of Gregory: Gregory Kramer is the Founder and Guiding Teacher of the Insight Dialogue Community, and has been teaching Insight Meditation since 1980. He developed the practice of Insight Dialogue and has been teaching it since 1995, offering retreats in North America, Asia, Europe, and Australia. He has studied with esteemed teachers, including Anagarika Dhammadina, Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Mahanayaka Thero, Achan Sobin Namto, and Ven. Punnaji Maha Thero. Gregory is the author of: _Insight Dialogue: The Interpersonal Path to Freedom_ (2007), _Seeding the Heart: Lovingkindness Practice with Children_ (1997), _Meditating Together, Speaking from Silence: the Practice of Insight Dialogue_ (2003), and _Dharma Contemplation: Meditating Together with Wisdom Texts_ (2011). His newest book is _A Whole-Life Path: A Lay Buddhist’s Guide to Crafting a Dhamma-Infused Life_ (2020). Gregory lives in Washington State, in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. 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 given during Clear Mountain's New Year's All-Night Vigil, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about how we can use an understanding of conditionality to help us forgive. 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, Tan Tejadhammo, visiting from Wat Marp Jan, speaks about the body as not-self, and how to cultivate the brahmavihāra of muditā, or sympathetic joy, even towards those we have aversion to. 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!

CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 00:22 Welcome 00:40 Biography of Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo 01:58 The Background of Atisha’s Lojong 03:58 Atisha’s First Verse and Jetsunma’s Dream of the Prison of Samsara 09:50 Viewing Atisha’s Lojong Training as “Precepts” 11:55 The Glimpse of the Mind and the Divine Resonance of the First Verse – Is this equivalent to Theravada Stream Entry? 14:14 Advice for anyone who thinks Stream Entry or the Glimpse of the True Nature of the Heart is beyond them 16:38 Are there glimpses before this utterly life-transforming deep glimpse that may be Stream Entry? 18:53 The Second Verse – Taming the Mind: What is the requisite effort for achieving Samatha? Retreats, approaches… 22:44 The Second Verse – Altruism: And the Theravada Firebrand – working for one’s own benefit versus working for the benefit of others 25:32 The Ninth Verse – Supreme Generosity: Who has embodied this most in your life? 28:05 The Sixth Verse – The Supreme Conduct is Being in Disharmony with the World! How does one do this in a healthy manner? 30:12 Living in Partnership with a Non-Dhamma Person – How to navigate beautifully and with a compassionate heart 32:16 The Seventh Verse – The Continual Decrease of Disturbing Emotions: Is it feasible to never, ever be sad? 34:19 Verses Fifteen and Sixteen – Hidden Flaws: Meeting your root teacher for the first time – What gave you confidence? 38:22 The Fourth Refuge/Jewel in Tibetan Buddhism – The Guru: How necessary, safe, or feasible is it? 42:27 Bridging the Theravada Concept of Nibbana and the Mahayana Concept of Bodhicitta 46:24 The Twelfth Verse – Supreme Effort is “Letting Go” of Activity vs. Engaged Buddhism 49:08 Jetsunma’s Comment on Atisha’s Lojong: “The Ego is Happy to Be Miserable…” 50:05 The Goal to Save All Beings – Skillful Means or Beyond Language, in the Bodhicitta? 53:06 Words of Guidance for Ajahns Nisabho and Kovilo 55:33 Invitation to Himachal Pradesh and to Seattle 56:13 Outro In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo about "Atisha's Lojong Root Verses on Training the Mind", delving into these powerful teachings as tools towards breaking free from the prison of saṃsara, and realizing ultimate Awakening. To support the nun's community Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo founded and guides, along with her other initiatives, please visit https://dgli.org/tsunma-projects/ Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo's Biography: https://tenzinpalmo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jetsunmatenzinpalmo https://www.instagram.com/jtenzinpalmo/ https://www.facebook.com/dglnunnery https://www.instagram.com/dglnunnery/ To support nuns not in the Himalayas, please visit https://allianceofnonhimalayannuns.org/ **Atisha's Lojong Root Verses on Training the Mind** The Supreme understanding is to realize the meaning of selflessness The Supreme spiritual discipline is to tame ones own mind The Supreme great quality is altruism The Supreme oral instruction is to observe the mind at all times The Supreme remedy is to know that nothing has self nature The Supreme conduct is to be in disharmony with the world The Supreme accomplishment is a continuos decrease of disturbing emotions The Supreme sign of accomplishment is a continuos decrease of wishes and wants The Supreme generosity is non attachment The Supreme ethical conduct is to pacify one’s mind The Supreme patience is to take the lowest place The Supreme effort is letting go of activity The Supreme concentration is not altering the mind. The Supreme wisdom is to not grasp onto anything as the self The Supreme spiritual teacher is the one who exposes our hidden flaws and The Supreme instruction is the one that help us to strike at those flaws The Supreme companions are mindfulness and alertness The Supreme inspiration is enemies, hindrances, disease and suffering The Supreme method is to be natural The Supreme way of benefiting is to help others enter the Dharma The Supreme benefit is a mind that turns toward the Dharma You can listen to a series of Jetsuma Tenzin Palmo's talks on the verses here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS38s8prqQU

In this "Q&A and Community Stories" session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho are joined by Tan Budhisaro from Thailand, answering questions about balancing worldly obligations and Dhamma, the practice of "Buddho" as samatha and vipassanā practice, and following one's calling to the Path. In the "Community Stories" section, Clear Mountain community members Nit-Noi, Jean, Sam, Eugene, and Miles share how they came to the Dhamma and what it's meant to 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 session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with their friend Tan Tejadhammo of Wat Marp Jan about the existence of celestial beings (deva) and the utility of such a belief, as they each share stories of uncanny light. 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 and Ajahn Nisabho discuss various aspects of the community dynamic and support being fostered in the Clear Mountain community in Seattle, Washington, specifically through the framework of the 6 "Principles of Cordiality" (Sāraṇīya-dhammas"): 1) acting with loving-kindness by body – in public and private; 2) acting with loving-kindness by speech – in public and private; 3) acting with loving-kindness by mind – in public and private; 4) sharing and being generous with what one has; 5) maintaining the same precepts; 6) having the same view (Right View). 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 speaks about the Four Noble Truths, and how to orient our practice based on which Truth we are experiencing. 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!

Leigh Brasington, a seasoned meditation teacher and author, shares insights from his extensive journey in mindfulness. He uncovers the intriguing interpretations of jhāna, discussing altered states of consciousness and the concept of 'one-pointedness' in meditation. Practical advice on nurturing concentration through pleasant sensations is highlighted. Brasington also challenges conventional views on jhāna's fluid nature, encouraging a personal engagement with Buddhist teachings. His approach emphasizes the balance between breath, jhāna, and insight, offering a roadmap to becoming indistractible in meditation.