Clear Mountain Monastery Project

In this talk, Ajahn Nisabho the Buddha's directions towards developing jhāna through mindfulness of breathing, as articulated in the Ānāpānassati Sutta (MN 18 - https://suttacentral.net/mn118/en/bodhi?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false). Taoist articulations of how to refine the body's energies provide practical tools for practitioners looking to refine the mind through these stages. Specifically, Jason Bartlett's "Awakening Alchemy" methodology, described in the talk and essay below, give in-depth guidance about the approach.

Video: Buddhist Lotus, Taoist Roots: An Ancient Blueprint for Modern Practice | Jason Bartlett Q&A: https://youtu.be/qlU00qmHq1E

Awakening Alchemy Essay: http://Luminousdharma.org/awakening-alchemy/

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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!

ESSAY: http://Luminousdharma.org/awakening-alchemy/

PAIRED VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_GUvwlg8bHI

DESCRIPTION

Awakening Alchemy is a system of body, breath, energy, and spirit practices that cultivate and transform our being on multiple levels. Its concepts and approach are rooted in principles found within East Asian medicine, Taoist cultivation, and Buddhism. In this discussion we establish the principles and working points that serve as the foundation for this style of practice.

As with all techniques, these practices affect each person differently. If you experience problematic symptoms or stress while trying them, please discontinue the practice and consult a skilled practitioner of traditional East Asian medicine as needed. To learn more, visit https://luminousdharma.org/.

BIO

Jason Bartlett teaches a practical, cross-traditional approach to Buddha Dharma centered on "returning to nature" — a method of releasing the sense of self by entrusting whatever arises spontaneously and uncontrolled to nature itself, drawing on prajñāpāramitā, tathāgatagarbha, and early Taoist teachings. He began meditating in 1993 at age 17, and his practice expanded over the years to include Chan, Korean Seon, and Theravāda traditions, along with study of the Pāli suttas and Mahāyāna sūtras. Following his brother's death in 2019, he founded Luminous Dharma to offer teachings freely. His mentors include Venerable Sucitta Mahātherī, Santikaro Upāsaka, Leigh Brasington, and Venerable Wu Kai Shīfù. To learn more, visit https://luminousdharma.org/.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and guest biography

01:59 How did the Awakening Alchemy approach develop?

05:35 What are the Three Treasures (jing, qi, shen)?

09:29 How do the Three Treasures map onto satipatthana and the four jhanas?

11:58 How do heaven, earth, person and fire and water map onto the body?

16:26 How do we practically work with the Three Treasures?

18:44 Phase one: how do we settle into yin until yang is born?

26:06 How do you find the dantian by feel?

32:40 What is bellows breathing and how is it practiced?

35:33 Phase three: what happens when we "steam the medicine"?

41:10 What are the microcosmic orbit and the magpie bridge?

44:27 How do the three phases cycle together (the firing cycle)?

48:51 How do we use dantian awareness with difficult emotions in daily life?

51:29 What are warrior fire and scholar fire?

53:21 How do the three dantians wire together?

58:52 What is the postural shift that opens the heart center?

1:03:08 Which phase does the wiring of the dantians belong to?

1:04:34 What happens when the dantians connect into an "antenna"?

1:09:41 How would one know they've touched this antenna phase?

1:11:04 What is the "ball of medicine" that gathers with practice?

1:16:05 How should practitioners handle setbacks, timelines, and support?

1:21:00 Can you demonstrate the opening and closing practices?

1:28:19 What about standing meditation (zhan zhuang) and shaking practice?

1:32:21 Why does ethical restraint (sila) matter for this practice?

1:38:05 How does this system map onto the Anapanasati Sutta's 16 steps?

1:44:33 Where does jhana fit into this framework?

1:51:16 How do the jhana similes describe these body experiences?

1:54:03 What is the nada sound (the "sound of silence") and how do you find it?

1:56:17 How does this practice fuel metta and the Brahmaviharas?

2:00:16 How do capacity and merit affect spiritual development?

We are especially grateful for the work of Chetan Raj in filming and editing, and of Alex Haynes in creating the instructive imagery. Sadhu!

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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 four doors to entering into the perception of space (ākāsa-saññā or ākāsānañcāyatana-saññā):

1) transcending form (rūpasaññānaṃ samatikkamā);

2) setting down resistance (paṭighasaññānaṃ atthaṅgamā);

3) unhooking duality (nānattasaññānaṃ amanasikārā);

4) resting in space (‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṃ upasampajja viharati).

Bhikkhu Sujato Translation:

"With the...surmounting of perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, one enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space."

Bhikkhu Bodhi Translation:

"With the...surmounting of perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of sensory impact, with non-attention to perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite,’ some bhikkhu enters upon and abides in the base of infinite space."

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 talk, Ajahn Nisabho speaks the importance in practice of directing attention and intention to shape our path and experience. The word "adhiṭṭāna" ("determination" or "vow") describes such training, as does the Buddha's frequent admonishment to his discples, "Evañhi vo … sikkhitabbaṃ" ("Thus you should train yourselves...").

Some Suttas where the Buddha speaks about this setting of intention include the Mahāgosiṅga Sutta (MN 32 - https://suttacentral.net/mn32/en/bodhi?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false), AN 2.5 (https://suttacentral.net/an2.5/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin)

Ajahn Kovilo and others have compiled an anthology of the Buddha's other encouragements towards training in "Thus Should You Train Yourselves" (https://www.clearmountain.org/2024/06/11/thus-should-you-train-yourselves/)

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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 and Ajahn Nisabho interview Ajahn Brahm, abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery (https://bswa.org/). The discussion delves into Ajahn's path to ordination, advice for achieving deep samādhi, thoughts on Stream Entry, stories of devas, tales of Luang Por Chah, and more.

00:00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:00:27 Humor in Meditation and Teaching

00:01:50 Key Moments and Faith leading to Ordination

00:02:43 Joining the Cambridge University Buddhist Society

00:05:15 Psychic Research and Hunting Ghosts

00:07:18 The Impact of Deep Meditative Experiences

00:07:52 Instructions for Mindfulness of Breathing

00:10:29 Frequency of Deep Experiences in Students

00:11:34 Guiding Students Through the "Beautiful Breath"

00:13:35 The "Cheshire Cat" Simile for Deep Meditation

00:14:54 Addressing the Fear of Attachment to Bliss

00:15:35 Advice for Those Struggling to Reach Deep States

00:18:16 Reflections on Cultural Advice and Identity

00:19:44 Defining "Nibbidā" (Disenchantment or Disgust)

00:21:41 Teaching Mindfulness in Prisons

00:23:51 The Story of the Imprisoned Thai Monk

00:26:26 Avoiding Overwhelm in Monastic Administrative Roles

00:26:49 Lessons from a Monastery Bushfire

00:29:12 The Story of the Nine Bottles of Pepsi

00:36:41 Rational Belief in Devas and Making Determinations

00:38:21 The Story of the Winning Horse in Singapore

00:41:58 Thoughts on Bodhisattvas and Enlightened Beings

00:44:27 Comparing the Bodhisattva Ideal and the Theravada Path

00:46:47 Addressing Skepticism Toward Rebirth and Devas

00:49:00 Recalling Early Life and Past Life Memories

00:52:03 Ending Doubt and the Experience of Stream Entry

00:53:39 Reflecting on a False Experience of Enlightenment

00:59:29 Advice for a Younger Self at Key Junctures

01:02:18 Finding Hope Amidst Suffering and World Events

01:04:09 Lightning Round: Cleaning vs. Meditation

01:04:57 Lightning Round: The Biggest Test of Patience

01:05:27 Lightning Round: On Sitting Quietly Alone

01:05:49 Lightning Round: Favorite Sutta

01:06:15 Lightning Round: Most Influential Teacher After Ajahn Chah

01:09:45 Final Reflection: A Favorite Memory of Ajahn Chah

01:14:52 Closing Advice for Young Monastics

Ajahn Brahm's Biography in Brief:

Ajahn Brahm (Ajahn Brahmavamso Mahathera), born in London in 1951, is a Theravada Buddhist monk. Ajahn Brahm grew up in London and earned a degree in Theoretical Physics from Cambridge University. Disillusioned with the world of academe, he trained as a monk in the jungles of Thailand under Ajahn Chah. A monk for over thirty years, Ajahn Brahm is the abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery, in Serpentine, Western Australia—one of the largest monasteries in the southern hemisphere; and he has also been influential in establishing Dhammasara Nuns' Monastery northeast of Perth. He is the Spiritual Director of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia, and spiritual adviser for various Buddhist centers throughout Asia and Australia. His books include "Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond: A Meditator's Handbook", "Who Ordered this Truckload of Dung", "The Art of Disappearing," and "Don't Worry Be Grumpy".

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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!