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.
What is your aim in life? Find out! How to reach it? Balance body and mind. Simile of Bath Attendant describing experience experiences of 1st jhana explained
Friendship is necessary in life for the support of psychological and educational growth. It can equal the Dhamma or eight fold path. How to make our mind our friend, tentative exploration owith " Vitaka SanThona
Sutta" MN -19 + MN -20
Tentative elaboration of the gradual Training found in the suttas. Starting with Sila and Samadhi and sub-divisions. Simple description of guarding the sense doors. Full understanding and the five hindrances.
