Clear Mountain Monastery Project

In this session, Ayya Santacittā of Aloka Earth Room (https://alokavihara.org/aloka-earth-room/), speaks about the traditional four vipallāsas (distortions across perception, mind, and view) and proposes a "fifth vipallāsa"—the illusion of separation from the Earth—urging an embodied, earth-connected Buddhist practice rooted in interdependence, ecological awareness, and cultural reckoning.

00:00 Dhamma Talk

32:56 Diné Elder's Teaching on Earth Bodies

35:54 Insight into Non-Self vs. Non-Duality

38:52 Connecting with First Nations in Western Culture

46:35 Sending Loving-Kindness Into the Earth (from the Anuruddha Sutta MN 127: https://suttacentral.net/mn127/en/sujato?lang=en)

Ayya Santacitta's Biography:

Santacitta Bhikkhuni was born in Austria and did her graduate studies in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on dance, theatre and ritual. She also worked in avant-garde dance theatre as a performer and costume designer. In 1988 she met Ajahn Buddhadasa in southern Thailand, who sparked her interest in Buddhist monastic life. She trained as a nun in England and Asia from 1993 until 2009, primarily in the lineage of Ajahn Chah. Since 2002, she has also received teachings in the lineage of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Santacitta Bhikkhuni co-founded Aloka Vihara in 2009 and received Bhikkhuni Ordination in 2011. She is committed to Gaia as a living being and resides at [Aloka Earth Room](https://alokavihara.org/aloka-earth-room/), currently located in San Rafael, CA.

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!

A conversation with Ajahn Appamādo, abbot of Sumedhārāma Monastery in Ericeira, Portugal (https://sumedharama.pt/en/home-en/).

00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:01:52 Faith Moments Leading to Buddhism and Monasticism

00:09:04 The Role of Thailand and the Thai Forest Tradition

00:12:20 Suttas That Resonate Deeply

00:16:15 Practical Steps to Access Open Awareness

00:20:23 Overcoming Ill Will in Community Life

00:24:13 Balancing External Asking and Internal Reflection

00:28:49 Communal Structures for a Harmonious Monastery

00:31:42 Tapping into Boundless Space and Consciousness

00:36:55 Maintaining Brightness and Presence in Spacious Practice

00:40:43 How Taking on the Role of Abbot Changes Practice

00:48:26 Building Cohesion and Identity in European Monasteries

00:52:23 The Meaning and Impact of Being a "Samaṇa"

00:54:53 Discipline as a Pathway to Freedom

01:00:42 Aligning Everyday Lay Life with the Dhamma

Biography of Ajahn Appamado:

Ajahn Appamado was born in Portugal in 1976. Studying Marine Biology and Environmental Engineering at the University of Faro, his research and spiritual approach to life came to take an increasingly prominent role eventually leading him to take an interest in Western and Eastern meditation and spiritual practices. Becoming increasingly curious about the Ajahn Chah lineage of Theravada Buddhism, Ajahn Appamado visited Amaravati Monastery in England in 2005 and went on to ordain as Bhikkhu in 2009, with Luang Por Sumedho as his preceptor. After several years at Amaravati, Ajahn Appamado moved back to Portugal, serving an integral role along with Ajahn Vajiro the founder and first abbot, in the establishment of the Sumedharama Buddhist Monastery. Earlier this year, with Ajahn Vajiro stepping down from role as abbot, Ajahn Appamado has taken up the mantel and now serves as the Abbot of Sumedharama.

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 asks us to reflect on what each of the three refuges means to us; and examines the first three of the twelve steps of AA in light of the three characteristics (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, & not-self) and in view of the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma, Saṅgha):

1. We admitted we were powerless over impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and not-self— and that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of the Triple Gem, as we understood 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 Q&A, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho offer advice for those interested in exploring monastic life. From finding the correct monastery to uncovering joy in a life of renunciation, the lessons offered for those seeking robes remain relevant even for one living a lay life of devoted practice.

Resources Mentioned

- Thus Should You Train Yourselves: https://www.clearmountain.org/2024/06/11/thus-should-you-train-yourselves/

- Buddhist Monastic Code I: https://www.dhammatalks.org/vinaya/bmc/Section0001.html

- 10 Subjects for Frequent Recollection: https://amaravati.org/audio/recollection-ten-subjects-for-frequent-recollection-by-one-who-has-gone-forth-pali-and-english-page-48-50-2/

- Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery: https://www.abhayagiri.org/

- Sāsanārakkha Buddhist Sanctuary: https://sasanarakkha.org/

- Wat Pah Nanachat: https://www.watpahnanachat.org/

- Wat Marp Jan: https://watmarpjan.org/en/

- Empty Cloud Monastery: https://emptycloud.org/

- Karuna Buddhist Vihara: https://www.karunabv.org/

- Dhammadharini: https://www.dhammadharini.net/

- Sati Saraniya: https://satisaraniya.ca/

- Canmore Theravāda Buddhist Community: https://www.canmoretheravadabuddhism.ca/

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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!

In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about the critical imbalance underlying many Western and modern practitioners' approach to practice. When we lean into a narrow, ascetic vision of practice without understanding the Buddha's emphasis on joy, we risk the heart's withering. To nourish the mind, the Buddha provided us powerful teachings on generosity, faith, community, and even creativity.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Bringing Nourishment to the Heart

01:24 Thanatos & The Super-Ego: The Trap of Practice Violence

03:26 Returning Home: Intuiting Truth vs. Excessive Renunciation

06:05 The Dry Heart (Chetokhila Sutta)

09:06 Gladness as the Basis for Samadhi

12:39 Cultural Context & "Acid Mixed with Acid"

18:07 Chanda (Zeal) and the 19 Beautiful Qualities of Mind

20:41 A Holistic Ecosystem: Generosity, Chanting, & Dharmanusati

25:43 The Role of Art & Beauty on the Path

37:49 Q&A & Story: Walking Out of the Mountains with Guan Yin

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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!