Clear Mountain Monastery Project

Clear Mountain Monastery
  • 4.9 (49)
  • Buddhism
  • Updated Weekly

Dharma talks from monastics at Clear Mountain, an aspiring Buddhist Forest monastery in the greater Seattle area. The Forest Tradition represents a return to the simple way of life taught by the Buddha. Monastics aspire to live as the early disciples did: dwelling in the forest, studying the teachings, and devoting themselves to meditation. To learn more, visit https://www.clearmountain.org.

  1. 1d ago

    Finding (Stevie) Wonder in Your Practice: Joy as an Indispensible Spiritual Tool | Bhante Rāhula

    In this talk, Bhante Rahula, visiting from Paññabhumi Monastery in Jalisco, Mexico, speaks about joy as an essential spiritual tool which we may access by appreciating all the good we've done. To pause now, and appreciate the great care that's gone into finding Clear Mountain a home, can serves a cause for great wellbeing, and a happiness that outlasts the world. Sadhu! Visit bhanterahula.com or https://dhamma-pb.org/en to learn more. Bio Bhante Rāhula, born in Mexico, has spent the last 22 years in Asia in various periods, where he has practiced and studied the Dhamma.He was ordained in Myanmar by Sayadaw Dr. Nandamālābhivaṃsa, who is his preceptor. Since 2004 he has received meditation guidance from Sayadaw U Tejaniya. For 6 years, Bhante studied Suttas and Abhidhamma with Sayadaw Dr. Ukkamsacara in Macau. In 2019, he completed a course on Buddhist scriptures from Harvard University. He underwent monastic Vinaya training for 2 years in Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary in Malaysia under the guidance of Ven. Ariyadhammika, where he also led retreats and Dhamma activities for the local community. Currently, Bhante is constructing the Mexican Buddhist Center (Paññābhūmi) to introduce and propagate the Buddha’s teaching in South America. He is also actively involved in diverse programs to aid parts of the society in overcoming drug addiction and alcoholism, as well as supporting educational campaigns for children and teens to prevent such problem in this region. Visit bhanterahula.com or https://dhamma-pb.org/en to learn more. --- 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!

  2. 3d ago

    Talking Back at Māra: ”I Hate to Waste a Perfectly Good Disaster” | Ayya Sudhamma Q&A

    In this session, Ayya Sudhamma, abbess of Charlotte Buddhist Vihara (https://www.charlottebuddhistvihara.org/), joins Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho for a conversation. Read her renderings of the Therigatha at: https://therigatha.org/ Ayya's biography: Venerable Sudhammā is one of a handful of Theravada Mahātherīs born in the West. After receiving her initial monastic training under the renowned teacher Bhante Gunaratana of the Bhavana Society, West Virginia, Ayyā Sudhammā has since gone on to become a beloved Buddhist teacher and pioneer of Buddhism in America. She was the first Western women to become fully ordained in Sri Lanka, she co-founded the North American Bhikkhuni Association, and hosted the first-ever Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha proceeding in the USA. In 2013 Ayya founded the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara in her hometown of Charlotte, NC, where she continues to offer regular Dhamma programs. ----- The link to the 7:00-7:45 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 - 7:45 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom) - Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11:00 am PT, Online & In-Person) - Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6:00 pm PT, Online) See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

  3. Oct 3

    Recalibrating Sanity Through Unbounded Space | Ajahn Kovilo

    In this session, Ajahn Kovilo discusses various skilful means—specifically ones related to a felt sense of spaciousness—for relating to the 5 hindrances of: 00:00 Introduction to unbounded mind vs little mind 08:12 (1) sensual desire 11:45 (2) ill-will 17:21 (3) sloth and torpor 20:35 (4) restlessness and worry 24:50 (5) doubt An overarching relationship is drawn between: (a) the Buddha's comparison of a vast, lakelike mind with a constricted, confined, salty mind (https://suttacentral.net/an3.100/en/sujato) and (b) the Buddha's comparison of the mind afflicted with the five hindrances to various types of unclean water (https://suttacentral.net/an5.193/en/sujato). 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!

  4. Oct 1

    Punk Rock Dhamma: Bringing Down the Edifice With Curiosity, Humility ... But Not AI | Bhante Sujato

    This is PART TWO of Clear Mountain's interview with Bhante Sujāto, co-founder of SuttaCentral.net and abbot of Lokanta Vihara. Watch PART ONE here: https://youtu.be/dJvntE6aw-s 00:00:00 Introduction & Textual Curiosity Across Buddhist Genres 00:16:51 Comparative Studies of the Creation of the Bhikkhuni Order 00:24:59 The Trojan Horse Simile of Picking and Choosing & How to Hold Varrying Views 00:31:51 The Buddha, Bodhisattva, and Arahant Awakenings 00:38:18 The Buddha as Distinct From Arahants? 00:41:08 Maintaining Inter-Tradition Epistemological Humility? 00:47:00 A Buddhist Perspective on Artificial Intelligence - "Start Generating" 01:01:22 What Mendicant Would Grace the Gosinga Sal Tree Grove? Bhante Sujāto's Biography: Born in Perth in 1966, Bhante Sujato left a career as a musician to become a Buddhist monk at Wat Nanachat in 1994. Some years later, he returned to Perth to study with Ajahn Brahm at Bodhinyana Monastery, before going on to found Santi Forest Monastery in New South Wales in 2003. In 2005 he, together with Rod Bucknell and John Kelly, founded SuttaCentral which has become the unchallenged juggernaut of Early Buddhist Textual Study. In 2015, seeing the need for a complete, accurate, plain English translation of the Pali texts available entirely for free, he undertook the task, spending nearly three years in isolation and completing the four main Nikāyas in 2018, and the early books of the Khuddaka Nikāya by 2021. In 2019, Bhante Sujato moved to Sydney to establish Lokanta Vihara (the Monastery at the End of the World) to explore what it means to follow the Buddha’s teachings in an era of climate change, globalised consumerism, and political turmoil. 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!

  5. Sep 27

    What’s To Give Light Must Endure Burning: Suffering’s Alchemy in Theravāda Practice | Aj. Nisabho

    In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about the definitions of "dukkha", and the importance of understanding its various meanings in order to practice skillfully towards its ending. To truly embody the directive of the First Noble Truth is to initiate the alchemy of release. Chapters 00:00 - Understanding Dukkha (Translations & Etymology) 02:11 - The Malunkyaputta Sutta & Leaves in the Hand 04:33 - The Four Noble Truths as a Path of Practice 10:10 - The Two Types of Dukkha: Characteristics vs. Clinging 16:44 - Suka, Dukkha, and Nibbāna 19:50 - Turning Towards Suffering with Gratitude & Khanti 31:02 - Pain Meditation as a Direct Practice 33:45 - Rumi Poem: Fire and Water 36:17 - Q&A Session 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!

  6. Sep 24

    Into the Mire of Buddhist Controversy? How Christian Jealousy Birthed SuttaCentral | Bhante Sujato

    This is PART ONE of Clear Mountain's interview with Bhante Sujāto, co-founder of SuttaCentral.net and abbot of Lokanta Vihara. Watch PART TWO being premiered next Wednesday here: https://youtu.be/h1RotjMuH_M 00:00 Introduction 01:56 Bhante Discovers the Suttas 07:01 The Origin Story of SuttaCentral 13:52 How Comparative Agama Study Supports Pāli Sutta Practice 20:59 Key Insights Uncovered Through Comparative Text Studies 29:45 Navigating the Impact of Text-Critical Studies on Faith 36:38 The Necessity of Jhāna and Its Role on the Path to Awakening 48:00 Layering Text-Critical Study with Traditional Pāli Canon Study Bhante Sujāto's Biography: Born in Perth in 1966, Bhante Sujato left a career as a musician to become a Buddhist monk at Wat Nanachat in 1994. Some years later, he returned to Perth to study with Ajahn Brahm at Bodhinyana Monastery, before going on to found Santi Forest Monastery in New South Wales in 2003. In 2005 he, together with Rod Bucknell and John Kelly, founded SuttaCentral which has become the unchallenged juggernaut of Early Buddhist Textual Study. In 2015, seeing the need for a complete, accurate, plain English translation of the Pali texts available entirely for free, he undertook the task, spending nearly three years in isolation and completing the four main Nikāyas in 2018, and the early books of the Khuddaka Nikāya by 2021. In 2019, Bhante Sujato moved to Sydney to establish Lokanta Vihara (the Monastery at the End of the World) to explore what it means to follow the Buddha’s teachings in an era of climate change, globalised consumerism, and political turmoil. 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!

  7. Sep 21

    The Key of Compassion: Finding Meaning Behind Bars | Thubten Chodron

    The Key of Compassion (Free Download): https://sravastiabbey.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The_Key_of_Compassion_v2026-04-09_ClearMtn_Secured.pdf In this interview, Ven. Chodron speaks about the new book, "The Key of Compassion: Finding Meaning where In The Key of Compassion, incarcerated men articulate how they landed in prison, the reality of life behind bars, the benefits of educational programs, and how the Buddha’s teachings on nonviolence and compassion changed them. Through evocative stories, poetry, and artwork, they show us that compassion is possible, no matter where you are. Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron shares her experience of introducing inmates to these teachings and the revolutionary effect it has had on their lives. You can find out more about the Sravasti Abbey prison project at https://sravastiabbey.org/who-we-are/how-we-help/ 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!

  8. Sep 20

    From Uganda to the Dalai Lama: The Chronicles of an African Seeker in India | Bhante Buddharakkhita

    In this talk, Bhante Buddharakkhita, visiting from Uganda, speaks about his journey from Africa into Buddhism, and how the first four blessings described by the Buddha in the Maṇgala Sutta (Discourse on Blessings - https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/ChantingGuide/Section0051.html) can help keep us on the path. Learn more at https://bhantebuddharakkhita.org/ and https://ugandabuddhistcenter.org/ Bio Bhante first encountered Buddhism in 1990 while studying and living in India. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk by the late Most Venerable U Silananda in 2002 at the Tathagata Meditation Center in San Jose, California. He then spent eight years under the guidance of Bhante Henepola Gunaratana at the Bhavana Society, West Virginia. He is the founder and Abbot of the Uganda Buddhist Center in Uganda. Learn more at https://bhantebuddharakkhita.org/ and https://ugandabuddhistcenter.org/ Chapters 00:00:00 - Chanting & Opening Blessings 00:01:08 - The 4 Wheels of Success (Mangala Sutta) 00:02:49 - Early Journey: Discovering Buddhism in India 00:06:29 - Traveling to Dharamshala to Meet the Dalai Lama 00:08:57 - Private Audience with the Dalai Lama & "Find Friends" 00:11:08 - Returning to Uganda & Scuba Diving in Thailand 00:13:33 - Finding Meditation Teachers & Starting the Uganda Buddhist Center 00:14:47 - 1. Associating with the Wise vs. Unwise 00:17:22 - Meeting Difficult People & Compassion in Action 00:21:44 - 2. Staying in a Suitable Place 00:23:20 - 3. Meritorious Deeds Done in the Past 00:26:46 - 4. Establishing Oneself in the Right Path (Kusala) 00:32:01 - VISA, Mastercard & American Express: Remembering the Noble Eightfold Path 00:36:56 - Story of the Uganda Monastery, Forgiveness & Bullet Hole 00:41:02 - Q&A: Key Friends & Early Spiritual Influences (Mother, Teachers, Animals) 00:49:16 - Q&A: 5 Techniques to Overcome Unwholesome States of Mind ---- 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!

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About

Dharma talks from monastics at Clear Mountain, an aspiring Buddhist Forest monastery in the greater Seattle area. The Forest Tradition represents a return to the simple way of life taught by the Buddha. Monastics aspire to live as the early disciples did: dwelling in the forest, studying the teachings, and devoting themselves to meditation. To learn more, visit https://www.clearmountain.org.

Information

  • Creator
    Clear Mountain Monastery
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Clear Mountain Monastery Project

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