Friends of Clear Mountain Monastery

07/31/2026

This past Saturday, our Clear Mountain community had the pleasure of welcoming Ajahn Vinita, a long-time attendant of Luang Por Sumedho, to our Saturday gathering, where he gave a beatiful dhamma talk on Luang Por Sumedho and having a teacher. It's amazing to have these dhamma connections within our community, thank you Ajahn Vinita for visiting us!

07/30/2026

P.S. - A Freely Accessible Version of Clear Mountain's Tricycle Article - https://mailchi.mp/clearmountainmonastery/july2025-10989379

07/30/2026

Catch up with Clear Mountain in our latest newsletter! August ’26 - Summer Reflections and Upcoming Vassa - https://mailchi.mp/clearmountainmonastery/july2025-10989324

07/28/2026

Simplest and Humblest Human Being | Ajahn Vinita

Born in Sri Lanka, Ajahn Vinita ordained as a novice at the age of 17 in the tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw. After ten years of training there, he had the opportunity to serve as the upaṭṭhāka (attendant) to Luang Por Sumedho during one of Luang Por's visits to the island.
Before returning to England, Luang Por invited Ajahn Vinita to join him at Amaravati Monastery and undertake higher ordination. Since then, Ajahn Vinita has trained closely with Luang Por Sumedho and has devoted more than two decades to serving the Western Sangha.

In this heartfelt excerpt, Ajahn Vinita speaks with deep devotion and tenderness about his love and gratitude for his teacher, whom he describes as "the simplest, most ordinary human being" he has ever met.

This clip is taken from the interview "There Won't Be a Second: A Devotional to Luang Por Sumedho, the Most Ordinary Human".
You can listen to or watch the full talk on Spotify or YouTube.

For further Dhamma teachings, please visit clearmountainmonastery.org

07/28/2026

In this session, Ajahn Vinita, longtime attendant and student of Luang Por Sumedho, speaks with deep devotional warmth and sweetness about his affection and love for his teacher, the "simplest, most ordinary human" he's ever met. The talk, given on the Saturday preceding Luang Por Sumedho's 93rd birthday, is made especially poignant in that it was given at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral where Luang Por served as alter boy while growing up in Seattle.

Ajahn Vinita Biography:
Born in Sri Lanka, Ajahn Vinitha ordained as a novice at age 17 in the tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw. After ten years training in Sri Lanka, he had the opportunity to attend to (upaṭṭhāk) Luang Por Sumedho on one of Luang Por's visits to the island. Before returning to England, Luang Por invited Ajahn Vinita to come to England to ordain under him at Amaravati Monastery. Since that time, Ajahn Vinita has diligently lived and trained with Luang Por Sumedho and served the Western Sangha for over 20 years. Ajahn Vinita is currently staying at the Alberta Insight Meditation Centre in Canada.

In this session, Ajahn Vinita, longtime attendant and student of Lu...

07/27/2026

Gratitude Retreat Part 2: The Miraculous Nature of the Ordinary | Bhante Rahula
Gratitude Retreat Part 1: What Do You Want to Do with the Time You Have Left? The Radical Courage of Practice | Bhante Rahula https://youtu.be/Bs-ymolbjqs?si=0oTBgbM3K1UXK1eT

In this second portion of the daylong gratitude retreat given in June of 2026, Bhante Rahula speaks about the essential practice of cultivating gratitude for the blessings in our life, and the blessings we give to others. Such recollections represent a great support in practice, and our lives, and can be cultivated through practical means. Bring a pen and paper! Special thanks to Luis Navarro (Memo) for inserting the wonderful visuals. To learn more, visit www.bhanterahula.com.

Bio
Bhante Rāhula, born in Mexico, has spent the last 22 years in Asia in various periods, where he has practiced and studied the Dhamma.He was ordained in Myanmar by Sayadaw Dr. Nandamālābhivaṃsa, who is his preceptor. Since 2004 he has received meditation guidance from Sayadaw U Tejaniya. For 6 years, Bhante studied Suttas and Abhidhamma with Sayadaw Dr. Ukkamsacara in Macau. In 2019, he completed a course on Buddhist scriptures from Harvard University. He underwent monastic Vinaya training for 2 years in Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary in Malaysia under the guidance of Ven. Ariyadhammika, where he also led retreats and Dhamma activities for the local community. Currently, Bhante is constructing the Mexican Buddhist Center (Paññābhūmi) to introduce and propagate the Buddha’s teaching in South America. He is also actively involved in diverse programs to aid parts of the society in overcoming drug addiction and alcoholism, as well as supporting educational campaigns for children and teens to prevent such problem in this region. To learn more, visit www.bhanterahula.com.

Gratitude Retreat Part 1: https://youtu.be/Bs-ymolbjqsIn this sec...

07/27/2026

Bhante Rahula on time, attention, and what we're becoming. Referencing the Buddha's words in MN 19, he reminds us that wherever the mind inclines, that becomes our destination — and leaves us with two questions to sit with in our own intimacy.

07/26/2026

Are you truly patient, or have you simply never been tested?

In **MN 21 – The Simile of the Saw**, the Buddha challenges us to cultivate a mind that remains grounded even in the face of hostility. One of the most memorable stories in this discourse is that of **Vedehikā**, who was praised as a gentle and patient woman, and her servant **Kālī**, who decided to test whether that reputation was genuine. When pushed beyond her comfort, Vedehikā's anger was revealed, showing that true patience isn't measured when life is easy, but when we're challenged.

The Buddha then takes this teaching even further, encouraging us to develop such profound goodwill that even in the harshest circumstances, we guard the mind against hatred and respond with compassion.

This timeless discourse invites us to ask: Is our peace dependent on favorable conditions, or is it something we've truly cultivated?

May this teaching strengthen your practice.

07/24/2026

"No matter what you are thinking about or how you are feeling, or in what posture you are, you should always try to maintain tenderness in your heart. A gentle and kind heart is a quality heart."

Ajahn Chatchai, "A Flower Called Mettā"

07/23/2026

Gratitude Retreat Part 1: What Do You Want to Do with the Time You Have Left? The Radical Courage of Practice | Bhante Rahula
Gratitude Retreat Part 2: The Miraculous Nature of the Ordinary | Bhante Rahula | https://youtu.be/RJ1mAYVhJ-Y?si=wQ29gdWWSPpx_lPp

In this first talk of the daylong gratitude retreat given in June of 2026, Bhante Rahula speaks about how to use practice to take stock of our moment in life, and use it skillfully to cleanse the mind and heart. To learn more, visit www.bhanterahula.com

Bio
Bhante Rāhula, born in Mexico, has spent the last 22 years in Asia in various periods, where he has practiced and studied the Dhamma.He was ordained in Myanmar by Sayadaw Dr. Nandamālābhivaṃsa, who is his preceptor. Since 2004 he has received meditation guidance from Sayadaw U Tejaniya. For 6 years, Bhante studied Suttas and Abhidhamma with Sayadaw Dr. Ukkamsacara in Macau. In 2019, he completed a course on Buddhist scriptures from Harvard University. He underwent monastic Vinaya training for 2 years in Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary in Malaysia under the guidance of Ven. Ariyadhammika, where he also led retreats and Dhamma activities for the local community. Currently, Bhante is constructing the Mexican Buddhist Center (Paññābhūmi) to introduce and propagate the Buddha’s teaching in South America. He is also actively involved in diverse programs to aid parts of the society in overcoming drug addiction and alcoholism, as well as supporting educational campaigns for children and teens to prevent such problem in this region. To learn more, visit www.bhanterahula.com.

Gratitude Retreat Part 2: https://youtu.be/RJ1mAYVhJ-YIn this fir...