Clear Mountain Monastery Project

In this talk, Ajahh Nisabho speaks to how we can approach the political upheavals of the modern world with loving-kindness.

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, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview renowned Buddhist teacher Roshi Joan Halifax about her path to Buddhism, finding "compassion in the charnel ground" of the world, balancing compassion towards oneself and towards others, the difference between healthy and unhealthy empathy, and many other subjects. It was a joy! To learn more, visit https://www.joanhalifax.org/ and https://www.upaya.org/

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction

01:30 - What moments of faith led you to Buddhism?

12:35 - Tell us about finding compassion in a charnel ground on Mount Kailash

24:40 - How do you balance compassion for yourself with compassion for others?

31:50 - Tell us about how your experience caring for a burnt girl at the Nomad clinic taught you about the difference between emotionally-regulated empathy with unhealthy empathy.

45:20 - Tell us about the "edge states" of altruism, empathy, integrity, respect, and engagement, and what can they tell us about internal and external work.

57:03 - How can we be good friends to women in the Dhamma world, and what is your relationship with the Buddha like now?

1:03:00 - Farewell and blessings!

Bio

Roshi Joan Halifax, Ph.D., is a Buddhist teacher, Founder of Upaya Zen Center, social activist, and author. A pioneer in end-of-life care, she has lectured globally and received honors like the Pioneer Medal for Health Care Leadership. She worked with dying cancer patients (1972-75) and continues teaching caregivers about end-of-life care. She directs the Project on Being with Dying, founded the Upaya Prison Project and Nomads Clinic in Nepal. Her books include _The Human Encounter with Death_ and _Being with Dying_, and *Standing at the Edge*. She has been involved with the Mind and Life Institute since its inception and is founder of the Varela International Symposium. To learn more, visit https://www.joanhalifax.org/ and https://www.upaya.org/

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In this interview, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Roshi Joan Halifax of Upaya Zen Center.

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!

https://www.friendsofclearmountain.org/land/

We found land! These video updates serve to keep Clear Mountain's wider community informed about the ongoing process of Due Diligence—a 3 month period, ending March 22, 2026, where where we assess if the land is suitable for a monastery and the community gathers in support. Please feel free to dedicate the goodness of your practice towards the realization of this dream; a refuge for all sentient beings! You may add to our "Recitations of Refuge" page at https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/recitations-of-refuge/ and learn more about the land at https://www.friendsofclearmountain.org/land/

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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!

In this session, Ajahn Kovilo speaks about the "Ten Subjects For Frequent Recollection" (AN 10.48 - Amaravati Chanting book page 57 - https://suttacentral.net/an10.48/en/sujato?lang=en AND https://cdn.amaravati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/30/Chanting-Book-Vol-1-Web.pdf):

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 find 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?’

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 interview James Baraz about his extensive meditation experience, his passion for climate and engagement, and his teachings on awakening joy in the face of difficulty. To learn more about James' work, and upcoming "Awakening Joy" course, visit https://www.awakeningjoy.info/.

Biography of James Baraz:

James Baraz has been a meditation teacher since 1978 and is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center. James started the Community Dharma Leader program, the Kalyana Mitta Network, the Spirit Rock Family Program and helped create the Heavenly Messengers Training Program. James has been leading the online course "Awakening Joy" since 2003. He serves as a guiding teacher to One Earth Sangha, a Virtual EcoDharma Center devoted to Buddhist responses to Climate Change. He co-authored Awakening Joy and Awakening Joy for Kids.

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The link to the 7:00-7:45 pm PT 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 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!