Sayadaw U Jagara's Dharma Talks
at Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge
Sayadaw U Jagara
Born in Canada, Sayadaw U Jagara, originally named Martin Boisvert, embarked on his spiritual journey in the mid-1970s under the guidance of Robert H. Hover. In 1979 he received ordination as a monk from the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw in Burma. For the next 15 years, he resided in Sri Lanka, where he blended the practice of meditation with the study of Buddhist scriptures. He also made intermittent trips to India and Thailand for meditation retreats. During the 1980s, he assumed the role of a meditation guide, conducting retreats in the tradition of S.N. Goenka across India, North America, Europe, and Asia. In 1995, he began training under the esteemed Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, a revered Burmese meditation master known for his commitment to the Visuddhimagga. This text serves as both a practical roadmap to deep states of meditation (jhāna) and a meticulous guide to the direct analytical approaches of vipassanā. Sayadaw U Jagara began assisting Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw in teaching the dhamma in the early 2000s and sustained his support up to the early 2010s. In the past decade, he has independently shared his wisdom and experiences across North America, collaborating with various meditation teachers. His teachings focus on life as continuous meditation, guiding students toward liberation through observation, wisdom, and compassion.
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Select from Sayadaw U Jagara's
142
talks
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VIEW ALL
2011-08-13
"Catch The Mind"
2011-10-08
"Face The Will"
2008-10-04
"Mickey Mouse" with Q&A - part 1
2008-10-04
"Mickey Mouse" with Q&A - part 2
2020-01-13
"What Is Meditation"
2017-03-01
All Handouts from Retreat - pdf file attached
2011-09-03
Altitude / Perspective
2015-03-06
Approach to Meditation seen From Danta Bhumi Sutta, MN: 125
2011-09-10
Attitude/Perspective
2025-07-21
Back from Space
2017-03-27
Balancing the practice
2025-07-12
Be an Island for yourself
2025-07-14
Body-directed mindfulness
2011-10-15
Brief Explanation of the 24 Paccaya (causal relationship)
2011-07-02
Brief Introduction
2011-10-17
Causal Relationship - continued
2017-03-04
Clear Comprehension and Working with Thoughts
2017-03-30
Commitment to Awakening
2011-08-06
Cross The Atlantic
2011-10-29
Crossing The Flood Like A Polynesia Seafaring Canoe
2011-08-27
Different different types of sensations that arise in the body
2008-10-11
Do It Now
2025-07-18
Elephant's Training
2011-10-22
Emptiness / Sunnata
2008-09-06
Four Elements with Q&A
2008-09-13
Four Elements with Q&A
2025-07-25
From Patience to Equanimity
2015-03-02
General Introduction
2011-07-16
Good Friendship and How To Calm Down The Thinking Mind.
2025-07-07
GPS Meditation
2011-07-09
Gradual Training
2025-07-09
Guarding the mind
2017-03-26
Guided Meditation on the Body
2015-03-13
How New Discoveries Are Made
2020-01-06
How Turtles Find Their Way Back Home
2008-10-18
Independence And Freedom, Q&A - part 1
2008-11-18
Independence And Freedom, Q&A - part 2
2017-03-02
Introduction to the Gradual Training
2008-08-30
Jhana Skills with Q&A #1
2008-08-30
Jhana Skills with Q&A #2
2008-07-26
Knowledge with Q&A - part 1
2008-07-26
Knowledge with Q&A - part 2
2017-03-20
Listening to the Mind
2025-07-30
Loving Kindness Reflection
2015-03-10
Medicine, Diet and the Five Hinderances
2017-03-08
Meditation Overview
2008-09-20
Meditation Practice Annd Q&A - part 1
2008-09-20
Meditation Practice with Q&A
2020-01-08
Metta and the Seven Enlightenment Factors
2017-03-03
Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension - Mode 2
2020-01-07
Morning Instructions
2020-01-09
Morning Instructions
2018-07-13
Morning Instructions - Body Scan
2020-01-21
Morning Instructions.
2020-01-28
Morning Meditation Instructions
2018-07-14
Morning Refelctions
2018-07-12
Morning Reflection
2018-07-19
Morning Reflection
2018-07-20
Morning Reflection
2018-07-21
Morning Reflection - Meditation on the Four Elements
2020-01-14
Morning Reflections
2020-01-25
Morning Reflections
2023-07-12
Morning Reflections #10: Sukka (Step 6)
2023-07-14
Morning Reflections #12: The Four Elements
2023-07-17
Morning Reflections #14: Steps 9 & 10
2023-07-19
Morning Reflections #16: Concentrating the Mind (Step 11)
2023-07-21
Morning Reflections #18: Liberating the Mind (Step 12)
2023-07-22
Morning Reflections #19: Meditation Subjects for Rahula
2023-07-03
Morning Reflections #2
2023-07-25
Morning Reflections #21: Fading Away (Step 14)
2023-07-27
Morning Reflections #23: Being Here Like a Mountain
2023-07-29
Morning Reflections #25
2023-07-31
Morning Reflections #26: Sharing of Merit
2023-07-05
Morning Reflections #4
2023-07-07
Morning Reflections #6: Similes, the nimitta, rama rupa
2023-07-10
Morning Reflections #8: Calming Bodily Formations (Step 4)
2017-03-22
No Title
2017-03-28
No Title
2015-03-01
Notes and Transcripts from Retreat - pdf file attached
2018-07-13
Object + Objective
2017-03-13
Object and Objective
2017-03-16
Observation and Adjustment
2011-07-30
Orientation Of Purpose
2017-03-15
Pana - Wisdom
2011-08-20
Planes of Existence. How do we see the universe - Why we are here?
2017-03-05
Possibilities for Practicing Metta
2018-07-02
Practical Causality: Seeing Causes and Conditions Intimately.
2008-08-23
Practice And Theory with Q&A - part 1
2008-08-23
Practice And Theory with Q&A - part 2
2011-07-23
Purpose, goal and how to balance the practice.
2017-03-26
Q & A
2018-07-11
Q/A Session
2015-03-04
Q&A
2017-03-15
Q&A
2017-03-29
Q&A
2020-01-24
Q&A
2011-08-31
Questions & Answers
2011-09-07
Questions & Answers
2011-07-13
Questions And Answers
2011-07-20
Questions and Answers
2011-07-27
Questions and Answers
2011-08-03
Questions and Answers
2011-08-10
Questions and Answers
2011-08-17
Questions and Answers
2011-08-24
Questions and Answers
2011-09-14
Questions and Answers
2011-09-21
Questions and Answers
2011-09-28
Questions and Answers
2011-10-05
Questions and Answers
2011-10-12
Questions And Answers
2011-10-19
Questions And Answers
2011-10-26
Questions And Answers
2017-03-21
Rahulovada Sutta and the Simile of the Ocean
2011-09-17
Reading of a Sutta on the elements and questions and answers
2008-07-19
Refining The Mind
2024-07-26
Reflections: All the 7 Bojjhangas in one moment
2025-07-28
Samadhi: Samatha vs Vipassana
2008-07-12
Sila with Q&A
2008-09-27
Simile Of The Elephant's Foot Print with Q&A #1
2008-09-27
Simile Of The Elephant's Foot Print with Q&A #2
2017-03-10
Simile of the Wheel: Observation and Adjustment
2024-07-19
Skills in Samadhi
2025-07-19
Start with a nice day
2023-07-26
Talk #10: Reflections on Aspects of Formations
2023-07-03
Talk #3: Gradual Training Continued (part 2)
2023-07-08
Talk #4: All of Life in One Breath
2023-07-12
Talk #6: The Second Tetrad
2023-07-19
Talk #8: Anapanasati & Satipatthana Comparisons (Steps 11 & 12)
2023-07-02
The Buddha's Teachings to Rahula
2020-01-27
The Four Nutrients Of Life
2018-07-25
The Simile of the Cloth (Majjhima Nikaya) and The Four Noble Truths in short
2011-09-24
Understanding How One Thing Leads To Another
2011-10-01
What and Why = Defining Mind and Matter Plus Their Causes
2017-03-14
What is Happening
2008-08-09
What Path To Take? with Q&A - part 1
2008-08-09
What Path To Take? with Q&A - part 2
2017-03-07
Why is the Path a Multi-lane Highway?
2017-03-04
Why Metta Practice?
2008-08-16
Why We Practice - part 1
2008-08-16
Why We Practice - part 2
2008-08-16
Why We Practice with Q&A - part 2
2025-07-16
Wisdom, Panna as the strongest tree
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Select one of Sayadaw U Jagara's 12 retreats
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2008-07-01
July 2008 at IMS - Forest Refuge
2008-08-01
August 2008 at IMS - Forest Refuge
2008-09-01
September 2008 at IMS - Forest Refuge
2008-10-01
October 2008 at IMS - Forest Refuge
2011-07-01
July through October 2011 at IMS - Forest Refuge
2015-03-01
March 2015 at IMS - Forest Refuge
2017-03-01
March 2017 at IMS - Forest Refuge
2018-07-01
July 2018 at IMS- Forest Refuge
2020-01-01
January 2020
2023-07-01
July 2023
2024-07-01
July 2024
2025-07-01
July 2025 at IMS - Forest Refuge
