Clear Mountain Monastery Project

Satipaṭṭhāna: A Theravāda Heart Sutta – Stop Frontin’! Come Back to the Back | Ajahn Kovilo

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo examines the refrain from the Foundations of Mindfulness Sutta (https://suttacentral.net/dn22/en/sujato?lang=en) in light of the slang-based meditation instructions: "Stop Frontin'!"That refrain is as follows:Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sammāsati? “And what, bhikkhus is Right Mindfulness? (1) Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu abides contemplating the body as a body, Ātāpī sampajāno satimā, Ardent, fully aware, and mindful, Vineyya loke abhijjhā-domanassaṁ Having put away covetousness and grief for the world. (2) Vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati One abides contemplating feelings as feelings, Ātāpī sampajāno satimā, Ardent, fully aware, and mindful, Vineyya loke abhijjhā-domanassaṁ Having put away covetousness and grief for the world. (3) Citte cittānupassī viharati One abides contemplating mind as mind,Ātāpī sampajāno satimā, Ardent, fully aware, and mindful, Vineyya loke abhijjhā-domanassaṁ Having put away covetousness and grief for the world. (4) Dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati One abides contemplating mind-objects as mind-objectsĀtāpī sampajāno satimā, Ardent, fully aware, and mindful, Vineyya loke abhijjhā-domanassaṁ Having put away covetousness and grief for the world. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sammāsati. This, bhikkhus, is called Right Mindfulness.- 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!

The Neural Correlates of Jhāna & Three Ways to Engage the Unconditioned | Rick Hanson Q&A

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview author, psychologist, and meditator Rick Hanson Ph.D. For more information about Rick Hanson, visit: https://rickhanson.com/Rick Hanson Bio:Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages, and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain, and Mother Nurture – with over a million copies in English alone. He's the founder of the Global Compassion Coalition and the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, as well as the co-host of the Being Well Podcast – which has been downloaded over 15 million times. His free newsletters have over 260,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those i need. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in Northern California and have two adult children. He loves the wilderness and taking a break from emails.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!

Coming Together When Things Fall Apart | CMM Community

In this Community Stories session, we hear from Clear Mountain community members about their path to Dhamma and how it's impacted their life in this past year.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!

Artificial Intelligence Is Not ”The One Who Knows” | Ajahn Anan Q&A

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Luang Por Anan, abbot of Wat Marp Jan monastery in Thailand, about "the One Who Knows", practice at various stages of Awakening, artificial intelligence, body contemplation, and the nature of the Enlightened Mind.BioAjahn Anan Akiñcano was born in Saraburi, central Thailand, in 1954 and received ordination under the renowned monk, Venerable Ajahn Chah, in 1975. Residing at Ajahn Chah’s main monastery of Wat Nong Pah Pong for his first four years, Ajahn Anan had the opportunity to serve frequently as Ajahn Chah’s personal assistant, which provided him the opportunity to develop a close connection to his teacher. After this first intensive training period, the young Anan wandered the forests of Thailand for several years seeking out secluded places to meditate. In 1984, he was offered land in the Rayong province on which to start a monastery, which became known as Wat Marp Jan.Over thirty years later, Ajahn Anan’s reputation as an accomplished meditation teacher has grown, along with the number of monks coming to live under him. His instruction has attracted a large following of foreigners, with monks from Australia, Brazil, Sri Lanka and elsewhere residing at Wat Marp Jan and its branches.To learn more, visit https://watmarpjan.org/en/---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!

Unbound Radiance: Levels of Awakening & Light that Lands on Nothing | Ajahn Nisabho

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!

Titrating Thai Training: Teachers & Tigers & 7-Hour Sits, Oh My! | Ajahn Kalyano Q&A

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Ajahn Kalyano, abbot of Buddha Bodhivana Monastery in Australia, about the practice of meditating all night, long sits, vegetarianism, spirits, training with a teacher, Abhidhamma study, and... tigers!BioVen. Ajahn Kalyano (Daniel Jones) was born in London in 1962. His interest in Buddhism awakened while still a student. After completing his university degree at Bristol University, he travelled to Thailand. In 1985 received ordination in the forest tradition of Ajahn Chah.He has trained for many years with Venerable Ajahn Anan, one of several disciples of Ven. Ajahn Chah who have become highly regarded as meditation masters in their own right. In 2000, Ven. Ajahn Kalyano was invited to establish the forest tradition in Australia. He is now the abbot of Buddha Bodhivana Monastery in East Warburton, Melbourne, Australiahttps://www.buddhabodhivana.org/His biography can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19dwI6JBiwI9kEXSCU3s3Wgz4Kvd8lw5w/view---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!

”Can I Delight in Solitude, or Not?” – 10 Reflections to Help | Ajahn Kovilo

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo speaks about the balancing reflections of the "Ten Subjects for Frequent Recollection" (Pabbajita Abhiṇha Sutta - AN 10.48 - https://suttacentral.net/an10.48/en/sujato?lang=en):“Bhikkhus, there are 10 dhammas which should be reflected upon again and again by one who has gone forth. What are these 10?(1) ‘I am no longer living according to worldly aims and values.’ …(2) ‘My very life is sustained through the gifts of others.’...(3) ‘I should strive to abandon my former habits.’...(4) ‘Does regret over my conduct arise in my mind?’...(5) ‘Could my spiritual companions fnd fault with my conduct?’...(6) ‘All that is mine, beloved and pleasing, will become otherwise, will become separated from me.’...(7) ‘I am the owner of my kamma, heir to my kamma, born of my kamma, related to my kamma, abide supported by my kamma; whatever kamma I shall do, for good or for ill, of that I will be the heir.’...(8) ‘The days and nights are relentlessly passing; how well am I spending my time?’(9) ‘Do I delight in solitude or not?’...(10) ‘Has my practice borne fruit with freedom or insight so that at the end of my life I need not feel ashamed when questioned by my spiritual companions?’...Bhikkhus, these are the ten dhammas to be reflected upon again and again by one who has gone forth.”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!

Jewels Among Gems: Ten Top Treasures in the Middle-Length Discourses | Ajahn Kovilo & Ajahn Nisabho

In this conversation, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho discuss their favorite suttas in the Majjhima Nikāya and suggest ways you can do the same!Useful Resources: Access to Insight: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/index.htmlReading Faithfully Index: https://index.readingfaithfully.org/Discuss & Discover on SuttaCentral: https://discourse.suttacentral.net/Norbu AI: https://norbu-ai.org/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!

Unspoken Questions: Bhikkhunis, Affinity Groups, & Gendered Community | Ajahn Nisabho

In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about some of the more fraught issues in the Sangha today, including the different conceptions of bhikkhunis in the Theravāda Buddhist world, the place of affinity groups in Buddhist spaces, and how to hold change alongside harmony.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!

The Neuroscience of the Samādhi & the Biofeedback of Bliss | Jonas Mago Q&A

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Jonas Mago, PhD candidate at McGill University, about his research dealing with the neuroscience of jhāna meditation.BIOJonas Mago is a cognitive neuroscientist and wellbeing aficionado, deeply invested in understanding the cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms underlying human flourishing. His research explores contemplative practices designed to cultivate wholesome states of mind—spanning meditation, prayer, collective cultural rituals, and psychedelic therapies. I approach these topics from an interdisciplinary perspective, integrating cognitive science, neurobiology, computational modeling, and phenomenology to investigate mechanisms of self-regulation and transformation. He is currently pursuing my doctoral studies in Neuroscience at McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Michael Lifshitz, with co-supervision from Prof. Dr. Karl Friston. His academic journey includes a master’s degree in Mind, Language, and Embodied Cognition from the University of Edinburgh (UK) and undergraduate studies in Liberal Arts and Sciences at University College Maastricht (Netherlands). Research into the Neuroscience of Jhāna Meditation:Jhana meditation represents a unique and profound set of states achieved through deep concentration. My research focuses on the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these states, working with expert Jhana practitioners in North America, Myanmar, Thailand, and India. Using fMRI, EEG, and computational modeling, I aim to develop a comprehensive neuro-computational model that elucidates how these states emerge, their underlying mechanisms, and their impact on other cognitive functions.Learn more at https://www.jonasmago.com/A recent podcast with Jonas Mago may be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-jhana-meditation-facilitates-insight-and/id1680606350?i=1000681849225The 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!