
Residency at Mountain Cloud
Flexible Emersion for Lay Practitioners
Mountain Cloud Zen Center is a space for practitioners, seeking to deepen their relationship to zen practice.
Perched on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Mountain Cloud is an adobe Zendo offering common areas for meditation, outdoor trails for contemplative walks, and an array of private accommodations. The residency program embodies the ethos that spiritual awakening is a daily practice that invites all individuals, and that one can deeply embrace their practice without having to abandon the ordinary facets of life.
Under the direct guidance of Sanbo Zen teacher Scott Thornton, our residency program is designed to be approachable for practitioners at various levels of experience, and structured to allow participants to seamlessly integrate their Zen practice into their existing routines.
Scroll down for more information and an initial intake form to indicate your interest. Please direct any inquiries to our Senior Resident Grant Goulet at residency@mountaincloud.org.
What Makes Our Residency Unique

- Our center has capacity for six residents, making for a uniquely personal experience.
- As a lay practice lineage, our residency is uniquely flexible, with a morning block followed by self-directed afternoons. This is a great schedule for meditators at various levels of experience and with a variety of intentions for this time.
- All are welcome. Ours in an interfaith practice that emphasizes the power of sitting over strict forms and ritual.
- Meditate and Study with our Assistant Sanbo Zen Teacher in 1-1 sessions. Our Teachers are a regular presence in the Zendo — joining community breakfasts and leading weekly talks.
Our residency operates in monthly units but you are welcome to stay for multiple months. If you’d like to stay less than one month, you might consider a personal retreat instead. Each month of residency is a little different because of our retreat and event schedule. Residents receive courses and retreats as a part of their residency fee.
Due to the size of the program, residents are responsible for their own meals and transportation. Mountain Cloud Zen Center is a 15-minute drive from the Sante Fe town square and about 12-minutes to the nearest grocery store.
In accordance with MCZC’s values, all residents are expected to adhere to the organization’s equity and inclusion principles, as well as follow the and COVID-19 Protocols.
The Residency Team

Scott Thornton is an authenticated Assistant Teacher in the Sanbo Zen lineage and Advisor for Mountain Cloud’s residency program.
Since 2000, Scott has been a student of Ruben Habito Roshi at The Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas, TX. He has also been a Clinical Psychologist for 34 years. His first career was in Theater, and he is still an active singer/songwriter and performer.
Scott joins residents most mornings for sitting and breakfast, leads the Wednesday Book group and Sunday Intro to Zen classes, and sometimes offers the Wisdom Wednesday or Thursday Dharma Talk. He is available to provide guidance and addresses questions about Zen and your residency experience. He co-facilitates the Monday “Logistics & Integration” meetings and offers each resident weekly 1:1 sessions, or Dokusan*. You can schedule your Dokusan time directly with Scott during the morning schedule.
Learn more about Scott through his interview with Richard McDaniel about his journey into meditation.
Grant Goulet is our Senior Resident. Following several years of online practice with Mountain Cloud, while based in Detroit, Michigan, Grant joined the Residency program in January 2024, and, since May, has enjoyed the role of Senior Resident, providing operational management of on-site programs, assisting with facility and grounds caretaking, and leading hospitality for guests.
Grant is deeply interested in the supportive tripod of spiritual, philosophical, and scientific disciplines, with particular emphasis on metaphysics and the nature of consciousness. After several years of self-directed inquiry and contemplative practices, Grant was drawn to Zen through the writings and talks of Alan Watts, and has since deepened his appreciation for the tradition as the “the sword so sharp it cuts two into one.” Prior to taking up residency at Mountain Cloud, Grant utilized his PhD in Biomedical Engineering as faculty in academia, and executive leader in industry.
Off the cushion, Grant can be found running wild in the mountains around Santa Fe, taking pictures, writing down his philosophical musings, and traveling around with his partner, Kayla, and their dog, Maple, in their tiny house on wheels.

Schedule
Residency at Mountain Cloud provides an immersive Zen experience that includes:
- Morning schedule: Monday to Friday; 7-11am, includes Zazen, community breakfast, Samu (work-practice), and a variety of discussion group opportunities
- Participation in Mountain Cloud’s weekly Dharma talks and evening meditations
- Each month will include at least one retreat — a daylong, weekend, or weeklong
- Weekly practice guidance with Assistant Sanbo Zen Teacher Scott Thornton
- An open schedule for other work, personal projects, and community
Weekly Schedule

Monthly Special Events

January: 30 Days of Zen + Zazenkai (Daylong Retreat)
February: Weekend Sesshin + Zazenkai
March: 6-day Sesshin (Silent Retreat)
April: 30 Days of Zen + Zazenkai
May: Ecodharma Residency (includes Zazenkai, Weekend Sesshin, and a 6-day Sesshin)
June: 5-day North American Sanbo Zen (NASZ) Sesshin
July: 30 Days of Zen + Zazenkai
August: Zazenkai
September: 6-day Sesshin
October: 30 Days of Zen + Zazenkai
November: Weekend Sesshin
December: 6-day Sesshin
Accommodations and Pricing
Application
Please fill out the initial intake form below to share a bit about yourself. A member of our team will follow up with you to schedule a one-on-one interview to answer questions you may have and ensure this residency is a good fit for you.

