The Start of a Path

Episode #337: U Jagara's journey is characterized by a deep commitment to spiritual practice, resilience, and the pursuit of authenticity. Growing up in a small town in Quebec, his early life was marked by a desire to find meaning beyond the material world. Inspired by his brother, U Jagara took his first vipassana meditation course with S.N. Goenka, and eventually traveled to Europe, India, and Burma, where he ordained as a monk under Mahasi Sayadaw. He persevered in this endeavor despite the challenges posed by cultural differences and an unstable, political climate.

Visa issues forced U Jagara to leave Burma, prompting him to continue his monastic journey in Sri Lanka. There, U he lived a simple ascetic lifestyle, re-incorporating the Goenka meditation method into his practice as he also ventured to India for long retreats, and spending time in isolated, mountain hermitages. He emphasizes the importance of embodying spiritual principles in all aspects of daily life, not just during formal meditation sessions.

After 15 years, U Jagara took a break from monastic life, moving to France where he disrobed, lived a lay lifestyle, and fell in love. This phase offered insights into attachment, intimacy, and the balance between worldly and spiritual commitments. Eventually, Burma's reopening led him back; he re-ordained, focusing on cultivating advanced meditative states at Pa Auk Monastery.

A key theme throughout his journey is balancing structure and freedom in spiritual practice. U Jagara stresses the importance of critical inquiry and creativity, cautioning against rigid attachment to any one tradition. He acknowledges the human vulnerabilities of monks, advocating for a realistic understanding of spiritual life. His story encourages embracing both discipline and freedom, while maintaining an urgency to pursue true liberation—a journey that requires resilience, openness, and a willingness to question and adapt.

As U Jagara puts it, “Sometimes we need a slap from reality that helps us to wake up to the fact that we are going to die, and that the sickness and all these things are just part of our existence. When we are aware of that, then we will keep that kind of eagerness just to keep our life in that direction. It's a sense of urgency, saṃvega, that dimension in Buddhism.”