Paths to Joy: A Weekend Monastic-Led Retreat with Ajahn Kovilo & Ajahn Nisabho (In-person in Twisp, WA)

Though the Buddha repeatedly emphasized joy, or pāmojja, as an essential aspect of the path to awakening, many of us find our sitting practice lacking brightness. By exploring different routes to joy (paths to pāmojja), especially those emphasizing meditation on breath, loving-kindness, and objects of faith, the retreat aims to help participants rediscover happiness in their practice.

Ajahn Nisabho and Ajahn Kovilo will offer talks, meditation instructions, and interviews. This retreat is suitable for meditators of all experience levels. Join for two days of meditation and teachings, 9 am – 5 pm on Saturday, June 8th, and Sunday, June 9th, at the Twisp Valley Grange in Twisp, WA (344 W 2nd Ave, Twisp, WA).

Note that Clear Mountain’s weekly Saturday gathering in Seattle will still be held as usual with Ajahn Kovilo present.

To learn about future monastic teachings in the area, check out the website and newsletter of Cascade Hermitage, the event’s host and a nascent monastic retreat in the Winthrop, WA. 

To register, email [email protected].  

Rideshare board. 

Note: People may come for one day if unable to attend the full two. On Sunday, those coming from out-of-town may leave at 3:30 pm in order to have time to return home.

Schedule
9 – 10 am: Brief welcome, introduction, & guided meditation.
10 – 10:30 am: Dhamma talk
10:30 – 11:30 am: Sitting & walking meditation
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Potluck lunch
12:30 – 1 pm: Rest/ free time
1 – 1:30 pm: Dhamma talk
1:30 – 2 pm: Group Q&A
2 – 3:30: Walking & sitting meditation (and individual interviews)
3:30 – 4 pm: Group Q&A
4 – 4:30 pm: Walking & sitting meditation (and individual interviews)
4:30 – 5 pm: Closing comments, and spreading blessings
5 – 6 pm: Informal Teatime, clean-up, and general hobnobbing with old and new friends!

Meal
Participants are invited to bring a dish for a potluck lunch. This is turning into a delicious tradition! We have the use of the grange’s kitchen to warm things or put things together but don’t expect to “cook” at the Grange. Vegetarian dishes are preferred as we also feed the monastics. Some folks are gluten-free, some dairy-free, some peanut-free, so it is helpful if you have a small sign for your dish that indicates the contents. Thank you so much!

What to Bring

• A meditation cushion (some spare cushions and chairs are available for sitting at the venue)
• A blanket if you get chilly sitting still
• A dish for a shared meal!
  
• A sun hat and sunscreen for outdoor walking meditation
• Your intention to practice in community!
  

Lodging & Camping

For camping and lodging options, see the “Camping and Lodging Options in the Methow Valley” document. 

Donations
All teachings are offered completely free of charge, with no expectation of anything in return. However, those attendees who feel inspired to donate may do so at the event or visiting Friends of Clear Mountain. Such contributions help support future offerings and the growth of Dhamma.

Biographies
Ajahn Kovilo
Ajahn Kovilo is an Ohio-born monk who, having been introduced to meditation through the Goenka tradition, first entered the monastery in 2006. After receiving full ordination from Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in California in 2010, Ajahn Kovilo spent the next decade training at monasteries in the Ajahn Chah tradition in America and Thailand. In 2020, after a year practicing at a Pa Auk Sayadaw monastery, Ajahn Kovilo enrolled at the Dharma Realm Buddhist University in Ukiah, California where he is currently studying Pali and Sanskrit among other courses. Until the end of his formal studies, Ajahn Kovilo will be participating in the growing Clear Mountain Monastery community remotely and during Winter and Summer breaks. After finishing his studies, Ajahn Kovilo will join the community in person on a more regular basis.

Ajahn Nisabho
After finishing college in 2012, Ajahn Nisabho left his native Washington to go forth as a Buddhist monk in Thailand. He received full ordination the following spring under Ajahn Anan, a senior disciple of renowned meditation master, Ajahn Chah, and spent the following years training in forest monasteries throughout Thailand, Australia, and the US. While staying with some of the lineage’s most respected teachers, he grew to believe the Thai Forest Tradition’s balance of communal life with solitary forest dwelling, careful adherence to the monastic precepts, and focus on meditation represented a faithful embodiment of the original Buddhist path. Moreover, his time with contemporary masters such as Ajahn Anan, Ajahn Pasanno, and Ajahn Jayasaro, convinced him that such a path could yield great fruit in the heart even amidst the complexities of modern life. He currently resides in Seattle as part of Clear Mountain Monastery’s aspiration.

For news of upcoming retreats and teachings, subscribe to our YouTube channel, Facebook page, Discord Server, or newsletter. If you live in the greater Seattle area, you may join our “Mitta Meetups” Community Calendar and WhatsApp group for locals.