The annual 3-month monastic retreat will begin Feb. 5th
Monastic Winter Retreat Begins February 5th
The Buddha required monastics to, for three months of every year, stay in one location and put aside traveling for a time. Though traditionally the Rains Retreat, or vassa, takes place during India’s monsoon season, in the US and Europe this period of retreat is generally observed during the winter months. As a time of practice and study, it represents an important period of stepping back for monastics during which they can focus on formal meditation.
Clear Mountain hopes to continue this tradition, and Ajahn Nisabho will be observing the winter retreat from Feb. 5th until May 5th. While alms round, Saturday gatherings, and Wednesday livestreams will continue as usual, most other events and teachings will be put aside, and he will also step back as much as possible from online communication and email. The encouragement many of you have given for the monastics to look after their practice through such periods of retreat and pulling back has been deeply heartening. Sadhu!
Sat. June 17th: “Finding a Home” Robe Offering Ceremony: Celebrating Community & Welcoming Luang Por Pasanno & Ayyā Anandabodhi!
Join the Clear Mountain community from 9:30 am – 2 pm on Sat. June 17th, in celebrating the past two years of a growing community, gathering support for the next phase of the monastery, and welcoming Luang Por Pasanno, founder of Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, and Ayyā Anandabodhi, founder of Alokā Vihāra Forest Monastery.
Traditionally, Kathina and Robe Offering Ceremonies (ผ้าป่า “Pah Bah” in Thai) are the primary events initiated and organized by the lay community in support of monasteries. Every year, many in the community come forward as “sponsors” to champion the event among their friends and family, spreading the word and getting the wider community excited and engaged. We come together in celebration and support of the monastics, their practice and their service to the community by offering food, cloth, and other requisites. Clear Mountain’s 2023 Robe Offering Ceremony, “Finding a Home”, is being held this year to gather support for the purchase of land and buildings for the future monastery. You can find a more detailed description of robe offering ceremonies here. To learn more, step forward as a sponsor, or help as a volunteer, you may contact Ladawan Kongkarat at [email protected].
Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in all or any part of the Robe Offering festival. Feel free to offer food at the potluck, and participate in the joyful feast! Those unable to attend in-person are welcome to tune in via Zoom or YouTube livestream. To learn more, click here.
Save the Date: June 24th & 25th: The Seven Factors of Awakening: A Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Nisabho (In-person in Twisp, WA)
Join Ajahn Nisabho for two days of meditation and teachings, 9 am – 5 pm on Saturday, June 24th, and Sunday, June 25th, at the Twisp Valley Grange in Twisp, WA (344 W 2nd Ave, Twisp, WA).
Beginning with mindfulness and ending with equipoise, the Seven Factors of Awakening, or bojjhaṅgā, represent aids to the bright and balanced mind. Relying on more than a decade of practice in the Thai Forest tradition, Ajahn Nisabho describes how to cultivate these qualities in formal practice and daily life, emphasizing breath meditation as a basis. You can learn more here.
Clear Mountain’s Land Visioning Meeting – Recording Available
On January 8th, Clear Mountain held an open Zoom community meeting in which the monastics and Land Search Committee shared their vision of the monastery’s future home, outlined the search’s progress so far, and invited those in the wider communiity to share their hopes, questions, and thoughts. A detailed description of Clear Mountain’s search may be found on the Land & Building Fund page. You can view a recording of the meeting here. Enjoy!
New! Daily Morning (4:30 – 5:30 am) & Evening (5:15 – 5:45 pm) Silent Meditation Sittings
Clear Mountain Monastery is happy to be expanding our digital presence with two daily group meditations via Zoom – a Daily Morning Meditation from 4:30-5:30 am; and a Daily Late Afternoon Meditation from 5:15 pm to 5:45 pm. These Zoom rooms will be open to everyone and all are welcome to join for the entirety or for part of that time and to have your cameras either on or off. Without chanting or group conversation, the Zoom rooms will be muted for all and will be a place for simply sitting “together” from the comfort of our own spaces. Ajahn Kovilo will be present for most all sittings with his camera on, serving as a kind recollection of Sangha. To learn more, click here.