Dhamma Talks
Dealing with Difficult Emotions | Ven. Sangye Khadro

Dealing with Difficult Emotions | Ven. Sangye Khadro
A talk and Q&A with Ven. Sangye Khadro of Sravasti Abbey (https://sravastiabbey.org/)
“Your Heart Was Made for This” | Oren Jay Sofer Q&A






“Your Heart Was Made for This” | Oren Jay Sofer Q&A
In this interview, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with Oren Jay Sofer on the topics (among others) of:
– his new book “Your Heart Was Made for This” (https://www.orenjaysofer.com/your-heart)
– insights to be gained by monastics from lay Dhamma teachers
– insights to be gained by lay Dhamma teachers from monastics
– structural sources of dukkha
– body contemplation as a lay practitioner
– advice for lay practitioners on how to deepen their practice
Dependent Origination, Thusness, & the Drum of the Deathless | Ajahn Nisabho






Dependent Origination, Thusness, & the Drum of the Deathless | Ajahn Nisabho
In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho describes the twelve links of Dependent Origination, or Paṭiccasamuppāda, the Buddha’s articulation of how we move from ignorance to suffering, and the sense of “Thusness” that emerges from its understanding. A description of the process, and of the “Orderliness of Dhamma” can be found in SN 12.20.
Why Buddhism Isn’t a Cult, Dhamma Parenting, & the University of Ordination | Ayyā Ahiṃsā Q&A






Why Buddhism Isn’t a Cult, Dhamma Parenting, & the University of Ordination | Ayyā Ahiṃsā Q&A
In this interview, Ayyā Ahiṃsā of the Canmore Theravada Buddhist Community speaks about leaving a fundamentalist religious community, falling in love with the spiritual path, Dhamma parenting, advice for women hoping to ordain, making one’s entire life one’s practice, rebirth, and… the nature of existence itself(?!)
Transforming Tragedy: The Power of Spiritual Friendship | Clear Mountain Community






Transforming Tragedy: The Power of Spiritual Friendship | Clear Mountain Community
In this “Community Stories” session, Cheryl, Aruna, Trenton, Grace, Jeremy, Kristen, Noah, Sooz, and Miles share how they came to the Dhamma and how their journeys have unfolded this past year.
Archive
Being Dhamma (with Tigers) | Ajahn Pasanno Q&A
Being Dhamma (with Tigers) | Ajahn Pasanno Q&AIn this Q&A session, Luang Por Pasanno speaks about his journey into robes and faith in Luang Por Chah, encounters with tigers, the path as a progression from "knowing" to "seeing" to "being" Dhamma, the Noble...
These Are a Few of My Favorite Buddhist Things | Ajahn Kovilo
These Are a Few of My Favorite Buddhist Things | Ajahn KoviloAjahn Kovilo makes a joke, and talks about a mnemonic device along the lines of "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music! Followed by Q&A with Ajahns Nisabho and Kovilo.
Non-Self vs. Nun-Self | Venerables Candā and Upekkhā Q&A
Non-Self vs. Nun-Self | Venerables Candā and Upekkhā Q&AIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview Venerable Candā and Venerable Upekkhā of the Anukampā Bhikkhunī Project. For more information about the Anukampā Bhikkhunī Project visit:...
The Transformative Power of Gratitude | Ajahn Nisabho
The Transformative Power of Gratitude | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho discusses the effect gratitude can have on a life, and how it can make the mundane sacred.
“This is peaceful, this is sublime – that is … Nibbāna” | Ajahn Kovilo
"This is peaceful, this is sublime - that is … Nibbāna" | Ajahn KoviloIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo speaks on the Canonical recollection of Nibbāna: “Etaṃ santaṃ, etaṃ paṇītaṃ - yadidaṃ sabba-saṅkhāra-samatho, sabb-ūpadhi-paṭinissaggo, taṇhā-kkhayo, virāgo, nirodho,...
Neutral Feeling and Creativity | Ajahn Jotipālo
Neutral Feeling and Creativity | Ajahn JotipāloIn this talk, Ajahn Jotipālo, a monk of over twenty years ordained at Abhayagiri Monastery, speaks about the benefits of attending to neutral feeling, which comprises so much of our experience, and of pursuing the...
Advice for Ordination | Ajahn Nisabho
Advice for Ordination | Ajahn NisabhoIn this session, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about what one should consider when deciding if, when, and where to go forth as a monastic. Reflections can be applied to the lay life as well, and address the path as a whole.
Body Contemplation: A Core Teaching the West Forgot | Ajahn Nisabho
Body Contemplation: A Core Teaching the West Forgot | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho describes body contemplation, a practice emphasized throughout the suttas but neglected in the West. By using the calm mind to investigate the body in terms of the...
Wandering Tudong in California | Tan Jāgaro
Wandering Tudong in California | Tan JāgaroIn this session, Tan Jāgaro speaks about his wandering up the California coast on monastic "tudong", depending on the kindness of strangers for food and often the side of the road for rest. His stories inspire faith in the...
Guided Meditation: Breath as Nourishment | Ajahn Kaccāna
Guided Meditation: Breath as Nourishment | Ajahn KaccānaIn this meditation, Ajahn Kaccāna guides listeners through how to maintain awareness with breathing by finding pleasure in this simplest of activities. For more in-depth instructions, see Luang Por Sucitto's...
A Hierarchy of Blessings: The Mangala Sutta | Ajahn Kaccāna
A Hierarchy of Blessings: The Mangala Sutta | Ajahn KaccānaIn this talk, Ajahn Kaccāna speaks about the Mangala Sutta https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/khp/khp.5.nara.html which describes the various blessings or protections one may cultivate through...
Finding Faith in Nibbāna | Ajahn Kovilo & Ajahn Nisabho
Finding Faith in Nibbāna | Ajahn Kovilo & Ajahn NisabhoIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak about finding faith in Nibbāna. See Chapter 6 of P.A. Payutto's Buddhadhamma: https://buddhadhamma.github.io/nibbana-supreme-peace.html
Demystifying the 10 “Bases of Merit” (Puññakitiyavatthu) | Ajahn Kovilo
Demystifying the 10 "Bases of Merit" (Puññakitiyavatthu) | Ajahn KoviloIn this session Ajahn Kovilo speaks about the 10 "Bases of Merit" or "Rituals of Richness" (Puññakitiyavatthu) as skillful means for a good life.
In Six Facets of Awakening | Ajahn Kovilo
In Six Facets of Awakening | Ajahn KoviloIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo introduces and reads 155 names for/facets of Nibbāna.
How to Take the Monastery Back to Your Job | Clear Mountain Community
How to Take the Monastery Back to Your Job | Clear Mountain CommunityIn this Community Stories session, Mark, Mike, and Dennis speak about their path to the monastery and back to the world (for now), and what lessons they take with them. Steve reflects on the special...
Building Buddhist Community (not a 70’s Commune) | Ajahn Nisabho
Building Buddhist Community (not a 70's Commune) | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho describes the six principles of communal harmony laid out by the Buddha in MN 48: https://suttacentral.net/mn48/en/sujato
5 Fantastic Theravāda Websites | Ajahn Kovilo
5 Fantastic Theravāda Websites | Ajahn KoviloIn this video, Ajahn Kovilo will give a guided introduction to five powerful online Sutta study resources:1) Reading Faithfully - readingfaithfully.org2) Access to Insight - accesstoinsight.org3) Sutta Central -...
The Persistence of Mindfulness – Mālas in Daily Life | Ajahn Kovilo
The Persistence of Mindfulness - Mālas in Daily Life | Ajahn KoviloIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo speaks on the practice of using māla-beads: how he has used them, how others use them, and how they can be a symbol for life's phases.
How to Quit Your Job & Go to a Monastery | Clear Mountain Community
How to Quit Your Job & Go to a Monastery | Clear Mountain CommunityIn this Community Stories session, three community members, Xander, Adam, and Daniel, speak about the meaningful steps they have taken towards aligning their lives with Dhamma and possibly...
Finding Joy on the Road of Tudong | Ajahn Kovilo & Ajahn Nisabho
Finding Joy on the Road of Tudong | Ajahn Kovilo & Ajahn NisabhoIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho discuss finding joy on the road of tudong (walking pilgrimage on faith).
Is Buddhism True (And Which Sect)? | Ajahn Nisabho
Is Buddhism True (And Which Sect)? | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho describes the Buddhist conception of truth and means for discerning the path, especially as outlined in the Kalama Sutta (https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN3_66.html) and Canki Sutta...
The Freedom of Morality: Psychological Development in Buddhism | Ajahn Sādaro & Ajahn Kovilo
The Freedom of Morality: Psychological Development in Buddhism | Ajahn Sādaro & Ajahn KoviloIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo speaks with Ajahn Sādaro (https://www.bsv.net.au/ajahn-sadaro/) on the topics of sīla (morality), self, society, and salvation.
Culture War Pacifism (The Dhamma of Dolly Parton) | Ajahn Nisabho
Culture War Pacifism (The Dhamma of Dolly Parton) | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about how, like the uniquely politically-transcendent figure of Dolly Parton, we can become conscientious objectors in the culture wars. While we may engage in...
32 Marks of a Buddha Explained! Part 2 – The Face | Ajahn Kovilo
32 Marks of a Buddha Explained! Part 2 - The Face | Ajahn KoviloIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo will continue speaking on the 32 "Marks of a Great Person" (specifically those from the neck up) as discussed in the Lakkhaṇa Sutta (DN 30) and will suggest ways to make...
Stages of Awakening | Ajahn Nisabho
Stages of Awakening | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho details the stages of Awakening described by the Buddha, and emphasizes the importance of practicing for Stream Entry, the first stage of Enlightenment.
Arahant or Bodhisattva Path? | Q&A with Ajahn Nisabho
Arahant or Bodhisattva Path? | Q&A with Ajahn NisabhoIn this session, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about the figures of the Bodhisattva and Arahant as presented in different traditions, and whether or not the two ideals can harmonize.
Addiction, Motorcycle Accidents, & Teddy Bears as Dhamma Doors | Clear Mountain Community
Addiction, Motorcycle Accidents, & Teddy Bears as Dhamma Doors | Clear Mountain CommunityIn this session, members of Clear Mountain's community share how they came to the Dhamma, and what it's meant to them.
Finding Heart in the Intellectual | Aj Kovilo & Aj Nisabho
Finding Heart in the Intellectual | Aj Kovilo & Aj NisabhoIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho discuss how to bring embodiment, intuition, and insight into seemingly heady Buddhist study.
The Dhamma of George Constanza | Ajahn Nisabho
The Dhamma of George Constanza | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about how practice involves a radical flip of our worldly perceptions, where we lean into suffering as a source of learning and difficulty as a ground for practice. Just like in the...
32 Marks of a Buddha Explained! Part 1 – The Body | Ajahn Kovilo
32 Marks of a Buddha Explained! Part 1 - The Body | Ajahn KoviloIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo speaks on the 32 "Marks of a Great Person" (specifically those from the neck down) as discussed in the Lakkhaṇa Sutta (DN 30) and will suggest ways to make sense and use of...
Guided Meditation: Letting Go into Death | Ajahn Nisabho
Guided Meditation: Letting Go into Death | Ajahn NisabhoThis guided meditation, based on one by Ajahn Brahmali, helps one move towards letting go of the world into a place of stillness.
Maraṇasati: Mindfulness of Death | Ajahn Nisabho
Maraṇasati: Mindfulness of Death | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho describes maranasati, or mindfulness of death, both as a clarifying recollection in one's daily life and a meditation object.
Line-For-Line: Ovāda-Pāṭimokkha | Ajahn Kovilo
Line-For-Line: Ovāda-Pāṭimokkha | Ajahn KoviloIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo continues to discuss the Buddhist holiday Māgha Pūjā or "Sangha Day" (Mach 6th, 2023) - commemorating when the Buddha taught the "Ovāda-Pāṭimokkha" to 1250 fully Enlightened disciples during...
How does Kamma Work? | Ajahn Nisabho
How does Kamma Work? | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about how kamma works, and the Buddha's instructions on how we can cultivate that kamma which leads to the ending of all kamma.
Saṅghānussati: Recollection of Saṅgha – Meditating with “Saṅ-gho” | Ajahn Kovilo
Saṅghānussati: Recollection of Saṅgha - Meditating with "Saṅ-gho" | Ajahn KoviloIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo gives a talk and Q&A focusing on the upcoming March 6th, 2023 Buddhist holiday Māgha Pūjā or "Sangha Day" - commemorating when the Buddha taught the...
Beautiful in the Beginning | Ajahn Kovilo
Beautiful in the Beginning | Ajahn KoviloIn this talk given on New Year's Eve 2022, Ajahn Kovilo speaks about three qualities that are especially helpful for new starts: 1) Saddhā (Faith)2) Dāna (Generosity)3) Sīla (Virtue)And how these qualities lead from being...
Is Rebirth Real? | Ajahn Nisabho
Is Rebirth Real? | Ajahn NisabhoSome resources for those who are interested in looking deeper into the issue: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/truth_of_rebirth.html https://www.amazon.com/Before-Childrens-Memories-Previous-Lives/dp/1250781779/...
Demons to Devas: A Tour of the Buddhist Cinematic Universe | Ajahn Nisabho
Demons to Devas: A Tour of the Buddhist Cinematic Universe | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho explains the realms of rebirth described in Buddhist cosmology, elaborating on how each can be used as a metaphor for the mind and its states.
Joy as Path – Pāmojja! | Ajahn Kovilo
Joy as Path - Pāmojja! | Ajahn KoviloOn the broad topic of the law of kamma as discussed in Chapter 5 of P.A. Payutto's Buddhadhamma, in this session, Ajahn Kovilo will speak on various "Paths to/through Pāmojja" or gladness/joy such as: 1) faith; 2) virtue; 3)...
Breathing as Brahmā: Fundamentals of Breath Meditation| Ajahn Nisabho
Breathing as Brahmā: Fundamentals of Breath Meditation| Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about the fundamentals of breath meditation as described by Luang Por Sucitto in "Breathing Like a...
Balance (Seven Factors of Awakening I) | Ven. Nisabho
Balance (Seven Factors of Awakening I) I Ven Nisabho In this talk, Tan Nisabho speaks about the Seven Factors of Awakening, focusing on how to balance the factors of investigation and equipoise using mindfulness.
“Practice” and “practice”? | Ajahn Kovilo and Ven. Nisabho Q&A
"Practice" and "practice"? | Ajahn Kovilo and Ven. Nisabho Q&A In this conversation, Ajahn Kovilo and Ven. Nisabho discuss the relationship between Capital-P "Practice" (formal sitting and walking meditation) and lowercase-p "practice" (present moment awareness...
Ajahn Achalo – Full Interview | Intuiting Home; Love and Rest Between Vehicles; and Shrine Practice
Ajahn Achalo - Full Interview | Intuiting Home; Love and Rest Between Vehicles; and Shrine Practice This is the full interview of Ajahn Achalo's conversation with Ajahn Kovilo and Tan Nisabho on topics including "intuiting home", "love and rest between vehicles", and...
Buddhism Is About Suffering! Buddhism Is About Happiness! | Ajahn Cunda
Buddhism Is About Suffering! Buddhism Is About Happiness! | Ajahn Cunda In this talk Ajahn Cunda, visiting from Abhayagiri, speaks about the path as both one of comprehending stress and as one of moving towards happiness. The talk is followed by a Q&A with him,...
Spreading the Love: An Intro to the Four “Saṅgaha-vatthu” | Ajahn Kovilo
Spreading the Love: An Intro to the Four "Saṅgaha-vatthu" | Ajahn KoviloOn the broad topic of the law of kamma as discussed in Chapter 5 of P.A. Payutto's Buddhadhamma, in this session, Ajahn Kovilo introduces the the four "Bases for Harmony" (saṅgaha-vatthu): 1)...
Pilgrimage & the Language of Faith | Ajahn Nisabho at Wat Marp Jan
Pilgrimage & the Language of Faith | Ajahn Nisabho at Wat Marp JanA Dhamma talk by Tan Ajahn Nisabho, given on 13 Dec 2022 at Wat Marp Jan, Rayong, Thailand.
Tales from Thailand and Bodh Gaya | Clear Mountain Pilgrims
Tales from Thailand and Bodh Gaya | Clear Mountain PilgrimsParticipants from the recent pilgrimage reflect on their experiences, sharing what they took from the journey to Thailand and India. Detailed reflections from the pilgrimage may be found on Clear Mountain's...
Doubt Intelligently | Ajahn Kovilo
Doubt Intelligently | Ajahn KoviloA Dhamma talk on doubting faith; faith in doubt; faith in faith; and faith in doubt by Ajahn Kovilo given on 12 Dec 2022 at Wat Marp Jan, Rayong, Thailand.
Māra | Ajahn Nisabho
Māra | Ajahn NisabhoIn this talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about Māra, the Buddhist embodiment of death and spiritual stagnation, and how we can confront him in our lives and practice.
Live from Clear Mountain | Dhamma Q&A with Ajahn Nisabho (1.25.2023)
Live from Clear Mountain | Dhamma Q&A with Ajahn Nisabho (1.25.2023)In this session, Ajahn Nisabho speaks about the Loss languages, the Buddhist Uposatha, how to navigate love and attachment, and more.
27 Topics of Animal Talk | Ajahn Kovilo
27 Topics of Animal Talk | Ajahn KoviloIn this session, Ajahn Kovilo will give a deep dive on 27 topics of conversation that the Buddha warned practitioners to be wary of. See the "Pointless Talk Sutta" (SN 56.10 https://suttacentral.net/sn56.10/en/bodhi).