Clear Mountain Monastery Project – Details, episodes & analysis

In this interview, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Āyasmā Ariyadhammika, spiritual director of Sāsanārakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS) (https://sasanarakkha.org/).

BIO

Ven. Ariyadhammika is an Austrian Buddhist monk who ordained in 2005 in Myanmar with Pa-Auk Sayadaw as his preceptor and meditation teacher. He maintained a very simple lifestyle, living out in the open and under trees, dedicating himself to mindfulness of breathing and later also to many other meditation subjects. He was initiated into the meditation techniques of Mogok, Mahasi, Shwe Oo Min/U Tejaniya and Sunlun.

He went to Thailand in 2010, where he stayed for 3 years at Wat Pah Nanachat, undergoing the traditional training of a Thai forest monk of the Ajahn Chah lineage. He stayed in Malaysia from 2013 to 2015, studying Pāli, Suttanta and the Vinaya under the guidance of Ven. Aggacitta Mahāthera. From 2015 to 2018 he stayed in Sri Lanka and returned to Malaysia in Jan. 2018 where he was appointed Saṅghanāyaka of SBS Monk Training Centre, dedicated to guiding and supporting fellow monastics.

You can find out more about Āyasmā Ariyadhammika and Sāsanārakkha at the links below:

- https://sasanarakkha.org/

- https://www.youtube.com/@ariyadhammikabhikkhu5385

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.or....

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_mona... for details. Welcome!

In this session, given just after a visit home for Thanksgiving, Ajahn Kovilo speaks about several of the "highest blessings" found in the Mangala Sutta (https://suttacentral.net/kp5/en/sujato?lang=en), namely:

- "providing for mother and father’s support" (mātāpitu upaṭṭhānaṃ)

- "cherishing family" (puttadārassa saṅgaho)

- "ways of work that harm no being," (anākulā ca kammantā).

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 interview, Leigh Brasington speaks about the various interpretations of jhāna, practical steps to access it, becoming "indistractible", and more.

Bio

Leigh Brasington has been practicing meditation since 1985 and is the senior American student of the late Ven. Ayya Khema. Leigh began assisting Ven. Ayya Khema in 1994, and began teaching retreats on his own in 1997. He is also authorized to teach by Jack Kornfield.

Leigh has taught the jhanas, along with multiple insight practices, at over one hundred and fifty residential retreats throughout the United States and Europe. He is the author of the books Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas and Dependent Origination and Emptiness: Streams Of Dependently Arising Processes Interacting.

For more information, visit https://www.leighb.com/

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!

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 "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!

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 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!

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!