Clear Mountain Monastery Project

In this session, Ajahn Vinita, longtime attendant and student of Luang Por Sumedho, speaks with deep devotional warmth and sweetness about his affection and love for his teacher, the "simplest, most ordinary human" he's ever met. The talk, given on the Saturday preceding Luang Por Sumedho's 93rd birthday, is made especially poignant in that it was given at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral where Lu...

Gratitude Retreat Part 1: https://youtu.be/Bs-ymolbjqs In this second portion of the daylong gratitude retreat given in June of 2026, Bhante Rahula speaks about the essential practice of cultivating gratitude for the blessings in our life, and the blessings we give to others. Such recollections represent a great support in practice, and our lives, and can be cultivated through practical means. Bri...

Gratitude Retreat Part 2: https://youtu.be/RJ1mAYVhJ-Y In this first talk of the daylong gratitude retreat given in June of 2026, Bhante Rahula speaks about how to use practice to take stock of our moment in life, and use it skillfully to cleanse the mind and heart. To learn more, visit www.bhanterahula.com. Bio Bhante Rāhula, born in Mexico, has spent the last 22 years in Asia in various periods,...

00:00 Intro & THAI Part-1: On Merit, Meditation, Impermanence, and Karma 15:10 ENGLISH TRANSLATION Part-1 24:25 Question: Expressing Gratitude and Asking About Sitting Together 25:24 Ayya Anandabodhi Gratitude and Luang Por Damrong Sucitto Response 29:43 ENGLISH TRANSLATION Part-2 32:38 Question: Requesting a Monastic Blessing In this talk, Luang Por Damrong Siribadaddho, one of the most senio...

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo will be interviewing Ajahn Nyaniko—abbot of Abhayagiri Monastery in California—about the Thai Forest methods of training the heart as found in the teachings of Luang Por Chah, Luang Por Baen, and in his own experience leading a monastic community of sincere seekers. The interview is organized around the teachings and "korwat" (monastic training protocols) found in the...

00:00 Intro and THAI Part-1: On Taking Precepts 07:13 ENGLISH TRANSLATION Part-1 10:28 THAI Part-2: Main Talk 21:47 ENGLISH TRANSLATION Part-2 In this talk, Luang Por Damrong Sucitto, one of the most senior disciples of Ajahn Chah, speaks about the importance of keeping sīla, or virtue, and of finding the deeper truths of the heart through observing the breath. Bio Luang Por Damrong Sucitto (หลวงพ...

00:00:00 THAI - Luang Por Jandee on Three Types of Drunkenness 00:15:46 ENGLISH TRANSLATION 00:32:40 Q1 - Practicing Right View as a layperson 00:33:31 THAI - Right View 00:34:36 ENGLISH TRANSLATION 00:36:08 THAI - Luang Por Chah on Right View 00:36:44 ENGLISH TRANSLATION 00:37:48 Q2 - Cultivating good health vs. getting drunk on health 00:39:06 THAI - Good Health 00:41:03 ENGLISH TRANSLATION 00:4...

In this Q&A session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho discuss seclusion of body (kāya-viveka) and seclusion of mind (citta-viveka), how to apply the fourth establishment of mindfulness (mindfulness of dhammas) in meditation, ways of dealing with aversion, skillful means of nonviolent communication, and the benefits of retreat versus stays at monasteries. ----- Tune in with fellow practitioners f...

In this talk—given on July 4th, 2026—Ajahn Kovilo speaks about dependence (nissaya, paccaya), interdependence (aññāmaññapaccaya), and independence (anissita) in their various Theravāda Buddhist contexts. 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 Medi...

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with Kaira Jewel Lingo, teacher, author, and former nun whose work integrates the traditions of Zen and Vipassana with a focus on social, racial, and environmental justice ( http://www.kairajewel.com/). 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:38 Discussion on the dichotomy of softness and directness in teaching 00:02:35 Personal history: Growing up in spir...

In this interview, Ahahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with early Google engineer and author Chade-Meng Tan ( https://chademeng.com/). He is also the founder of Buddhism.net ( https://buddhism.net/). 00:01:21 Meng's early life and path to Buddhism 00:06:21 Integrating Buddhist inspiration into Google 00:16:15 Scaling transformation and transcendence in society 00:23:15 The accessibility of joy an...

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo speaks about bringing loving-awareness and creativity to one's practice of the Five Subjects for Frequent Recollection: 1) "I am of the nature to age. I have not gone beyond aging." 2) "I am of the nature to sicken. I have not gone beyond sickness." 3) "I am of the nature to die. I have not gone beyond dying." 4) "All that is mine, beloved and pleasing, will become ot...

In this series of five talks given on June 20 for Clear Mountain's fourth annual Almsgiving Ceremony, we hear from 5 monastics: 00:00:00 - Ayya Niyyānika on how practice begins now, rather than when the monastery is finished; 00:02:45 - Ajahn Pandit on the story of Anaruddha, and the relentlessness of worldly life; 00:09:38 Ajahn Cunda on the wisdom of finishing work internally every day; 00:13:43...

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Steve James, meditation teacher & host of the Guru Viking Podcast ( https://www.guruviking.com/). 00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:01:32 Formative faith moments and vocation 00:06:18 Life on an English canal boat 00:08:40 The rhythm of travel and interviewing 00:10:59 Interviewing the same guest over time 00:14:20 Most moving and lu...

In this talk given on June 20 on the occasion of Clear Mountain's fourth annual Almsgiving Ceremony, Ajahn Sudanto—abbot of The Pacific Hermitage in White Salmon, WA—speaks about moving past the initial "romantic phase" of spiritual life into a resilient commitment. Celebrating Clear Mountain Monastery's new land, he warns that longing for flawless conditions is a delusion, reminding us that true...

In this talk given on June 20 on the occasion of Clear Mountain's fourth annual Almsgiving Ceremony, Ayya Ānandabodhi—abbess of Pārāyana Vihara in Port Townsend, WA—speaks about the joy of spiritual community, the danger of letting an untethered mind wander into modern-day 'hell realms,' and how to anchor ourselves in the present moment through the dual foundations of ethical living (sīla) and som...

In this session, Ajahn Cunda—Abhayagiri-ordained senior monk and good friend of Ajahns Kovilo and Nisabho—speaks about cultivation as a garden and a tool kit ... and how to use a shovel and washing machine! Ajahn Cunda's Bio: Ajahn Cunda was raised in a warm and loving family in the Northern suburbs of Chicago and moved to California in 1996. His interest in Buddhism began in high school, continue...

In this interview, Ajahn Nisabho speaks with Amanda Knox, who was falsely convicted of murder in 2009, about her journey to find meaning in prison and forgiveness afterwards. The conversation delves into Amanda's practice of meditation, loving-kindness (metta), and advice for those struggling to forgive. Bio Amanda Knox is an exoneree, journalist, public speaker, author of the New York Times best-...

In this three-way talk, Ajahn Kovilo, Ajahn Nisabho, and Maechee Paññasiri speak about the Three Characteristics/Perceptions (tilakkhaṇa), or perceptions: 00:00:00 Introduction & Ajahn Kovilo on Dukkhatā - Pain/Suffering/Unsatisfactoriness 00:11:58 Maechee Paññāsiri on Anattatā - Not-Self 00:27:51 Ajahn Nisabho on Aniccatā - Impermanence 00:43:14 Questions and Answers By contemplating these sk...

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Paul Harrison, professor of religious studies at Stanford University ( https://religiousstudies.stanford.edu/people/paul-harrison). 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:23 Balancing academic scholarship and personal spiritual practice 00:04:09 Exploring the spiritual dimension of studying Buddhist texts 00:05:55 How early Mahayana Buddhism emerged 0...

In this talk, Maechee Paññasiri, visiting from Thailand, speaks about the urgency and profundity of the path of practice, and how the mundane moments of life, such as washing a robe, can catalyze the deepest insights. By purifying our sila (virtue) and relying on spiritual friends, we can see what stains remain in the heart and devote ourselves to their purification. When we understand the truth o...

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with Ajahn Achalo, abbot and founder of Ānandagiri Monastery in Pechabun, Thailand ( https://www.peacebeyondsuffering.org/) 00:00:00 Welcome and introduction of Ajahn Achalo 00:01:27 Connection with the local village and global uncertainty 00:07:53 Advice for navigating dark or distressing times 00:08:36 Internal practices for holding the heart...

In this session, Ayya Niyyānika explores how we can discover true inner security and cultivate a 'smiling heart' of endless kindness, even when navigating an overwhelming and messy world. Grounding in the Maṅgala Sutta, they challenge us to move beyond the illusion of perfectly guaranteed external 'safe spaces' and instead build brave communities where we can hold our vulnerabilities, challenges,...

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with Terry Real, therapist, author, and creator of Relational Life Therapy (RLT) ( https://terryreal.com/). 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:49 Coming out of the closet as a long-term meditator 00:04:46 Three parts of the brain and the psyche in RLT 00:05:42 Explaining the survival instincts of fight, flight, and fawn 00:06:22 Defining the "wounded...

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Ajahn Sukhito, Israeli-born abbot of Poo Jom Gom Forest Monastery in Ubon, Thailand and ( https://ketkamala.org/). 00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction of Tan Ajahn Sukito 00:00:26 Biography: Early Life and Journey to Buddhism 00:01:04 Service at Wat Phu Chong Gom and the Gamala Foundation 00:01:38 Personal Connection and Reflections on Practi...