Make Mountain Cloud your

practice-home through membership.

Here at Mountain Cloud, the Dharma is shared freely through countless programs — daily meditations both in person and online, a public archive of dharma teachings, weekly talks workshops and study groups, and monthly sangha gatherings. 

But for those who want to engage more deeply in this practice path, we have our membership program. This ongoing program is designed for both local and global sangha to get additional support and opportunities throughout the year including:

• 1-1 Practice Guidance with authentic Sanbo Zen teachers
• Discounts on Retreats, Courses, and Stays!
• Priority Registration for events
• Special Study and Practice Opportunities
• Special Sangha Events and Community Forum Connections
• Input and shared leadership

So what does it cost? We want to ensure that this extra level of support and continuity for your practice is accessible, so a few years ago we dropped our membership fees. (Note, ours is not a charitable donation membership model, but a “fee for service” model, because this allows us to provide a special mode of engagement with our sangha year-round.)

• Local Membership: $25.00 monthly, or $250 annually
• Global Membership: $15.00 monthly, or $150 annually

* If finances interfere with your ability to become a member, please contact us so that we can work to remove any barriers to participation in this deeply meaningful program.

Membership and the 3 Pillars

At Mountain Cloud, we care for the whole meditator. We invest in our members by offering additional opportunities to deepen into the Three Treasures — Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Our practice needs ebb and flow throughout our lives, and this structure creates a sustainable sangha that will be here for you across your lifetime of practice.

• 1-1 Practice Guidance: Members are connected with on of our authenticated Sanbo Zen teaching team for dokusan (koan study) or more general practice guidance. Our team includes Associate Master Valerie Forstman, Teacher Carolyn Seburn, Teacher Scott Thornton, and Assistant Teacher Shana Smith
• Discounts: In order to support sustained and deep practice, Members receive 50% off of our 30 Days of Zen courses and a standing 15% off all sesshin, weekends, and zazenkai as well as discounted Personal Retreat stays at the center!
• Additional Study and Practice Opportunities currently include:
  • MembersLab: A weekly co-created hour to experiment with topics and activities near to members’ hearts; examples include art-making and sharing, member teach-ins on Buddhist art, show and tell, and Dharma text discussion.
  • Aging Buddhas: Sanbo Zen teacher Scott Thornton facilitates group explorations on various themes related to the aging process; a chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges of aging in the Dharma.
• Special Sangha Connections
  • Members’ Brunch/Gathering 2X a year to connect with fellow members
  • Members’ Zone online community forum for shared resources and conversation.
• Inpute and Shared Leadership
  • Members are invited to share their input on important organizational decisions– they vote on our Board of Directors, provide input through polling opportunities, and have the opportunity to participate in our sangha leadership group, the Mountain Cloud Stewardship Team.