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Dharma Talk: “Taking Care of the One Who is Not Ill” Valerie Forstman

Zen practice invites us to sit in the midst of things just as they are without being tossed about by difficulties. As the waves settle, it can happen – in

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Dharma Talk: “Taking Care of the One Who is Not Ill” Valerie Forstman

Zen practice invites us to sit in the midst of things just as they are without being tossed about by difficulties. As the waves settle, it can happen – in

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Dharma Talk: “Opening the Floodgates” with Shana Smith

Shana delves into Case 9 of the Hekiganroku and Case 15c of the Miscellaneous Koans as pointers to navigating the polycrisis. Recorded on February 5th, 2026 Please consider supporting Mountain

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Dharma Talk: “Opening the Floodgates” with Shana Smith

Shana delves into Case 9 of the Hekiganroku and Case 15c of the Miscellaneous Koans as pointers to navigating the polycrisis. Recorded on February 5th, 2026 Please consider supporting Mountain

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Dharma Talk: “Sun-faced Buddha, Moon-faced Buddha” with Valerie Forstman

This talk begins with the question of how to embody the freedom and ease of Zen’s empty hands while being fully attuned to the cries of the world – including

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Dharma Talk: “Sun-faced Buddha, Moon-faced Buddha” with Valerie Forstman

This talk begins with the question of how to embody the freedom and ease of Zen’s empty hands while being fully attuned to the cries of the world – including

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Dharma Talk: “The ‘Such-as-this’ Sutra” with Valerie Forstman

Opening with a reading of Mountain Cloud’s Land Acknowledgment, this talk is framed by a tribute to Joanna Macy through poetry that helped to inspire her deep and abiding support

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Dharma Talk: “The ‘Such-as-this’ Sutra” with Valerie Forstman

Opening with a reading of Mountain Cloud’s Land Acknowledgment, this talk is framed by a tribute to Joanna Macy through poetry that helped to inspire her deep and abiding support

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Dharma Talk: “Sitting in the Midst of Tragedy” with Scott Thornton

Scott takes up Case 6 of the Blue Cliff Record, Unmon’s “Every Day is a Good Day.” Recorded on January 15th, 2026 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation

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Dharma Talk: “Sitting in the Midst of Tragedy” with Scott Thornton

Scott takes up Case 6 of the Blue Cliff Record, Unmon’s “Every Day is a Good Day.” Recorded on January 15th, 2026 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation

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Dharma Talk: “Begin Again: The timeless gift of a new day” with Valerie Forstman

In this first Dharma talk of the new year, Valerie reads from a recently published collection of poetry, Begin Where You Are, then turns to the question, ‘Where Are You?’

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Dharma Talk: “Begin Again: The timeless gift of a new day” with Valerie Forstman

In this first Dharma talk of the new year, Valerie reads from a recently published collection of poetry, Begin Where You Are, then turns to the question, ‘Where Are You?’

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Dharma Talk: “One Treasure – Endlessly Functioning” with Valerie Forstman

In the wake of the Rohatsu sesshin at Mountain Cloud and our deep dive into Hakuin’s Song of Zazen, Valerie begins this talk with a painting by Hakuin, an image

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Dharma Talk: “One Treasure – Endlessly Functioning” with Valerie Forstman

In the wake of the Rohatsu sesshin at Mountain Cloud and our deep dive into Hakuin’s Song of Zazen, Valerie begins this talk with a painting by Hakuin, an image

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Henry Shukman: Breakthroughs

Henry begins with the question “is there such a thing as a breakthrough?” Maybe. Maybe not! The dharma is everywhere, you cannot escape it, and to realize this one simply

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Message from Henry: Surrender

Life uses us and does not care how we feel about it. It lives through us, as us. We object and resist, or concur and are pleased – it makes

Message from Henry: Koan Exchange

If I truly talked about Zen, then there wouldn’t be a single companion at your side. Koans are not riddles. They are not talking points for discussion. They are not

Message from Henry: The Great Space

At its best Zen leads us out of the hell of self-obsession, by showing us that what we took to be the seat of our self was a chimera, a

Message from Henry: Whole Ox Zen

The intention of Zen is not to rescue us from life but to bring us into the midst of our human experience. The closer we get to life, to our

Message from Henry: Languages

We are opening up the possibility of life without language. When language drops away, so does self. Then we find that there are other languages in which things speak. Breath

Message from Henry: Mindful Presence

Why mindfulness? Why does it matter? Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh framed Buddhist concepts in relevant ways that illuminate questions about mindfulness and presence. Thich Nhat Hanh had three

Message from Henry: Momentum

Notice the feeling of momentum that pushes and pulls you through your day, your week, your year. You can sense this pull in the body, perhaps in the chest or

Message from Henry: Origins of Mindfulness

Mindfulness meditation comes directly out of Buddhism. Meditation, prior to Buddhism, was about connecting with something super-human or divine. Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, immersive meditation practice allowed him to understand

Message from Henry: Mindfulness and Self-Regulation

All spiritual traditions, in one way or another, seek ways to calm the heart and mind, usually by seeking a supernatural power. Mindfulness, coming from the Buddhist tradition, did away

Message from Henry: Honoring Intentions

I want to respect and honor the different intentions many of us have for our practice. Sure, for some it may be about full-on enlightenment. For others, a bit of

Message from Henry: Original Nature

This practice we’re doing is ancient. But what it’s really about at its heart is not ancient. It’s right here. Right now. Always. It’s something that we don’t seem to

Message from Henry: Self Care

Is it self-absorbed and self-centered to be seeking inner peace? Just consider how many interactions you have with others during your typical week. It doesn’t actually matter how many people

Message from Henry: Wanting Things

Let’s say I suddenly remember that I need another cap for my head. I can order it for $12 instantly. It will arrive the next morning. The gap between the

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Valerie Forstman: Zen’s Subverting Impulse: Overturning the One

This week’s talk was offered by Mountain Cloud’s Guiding Teacher, Valerie Forstman. It was recorded on October 31st at the Zendo in Sante Fe. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with

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Kali Basman: Cultivating Wonder

Kali invites us to examine the wide array of features that comprise “The Practice Field,” the many aspects of our path of practice. She states that as a species we

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Only as Sick as our Secrets: the Urgency of Nuclear Disarmament, Archbishop John C. Wester

Archbishop John Wester joins Jay Coghlan, Executive Director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, and MCZC guiding teacher Valerie Forstman, to pull back the veil on nuclear business as usual. The

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In the Seeing, Only What is Seen, Diana Clark

Guest teacher Diana Clark gives loving attention to the koan-like Bahiya Sutta of early Buddhism, imaginatively walking in the protagonists’ shoes quite as one might do for a koan. The

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Spring Retreat Talk 4, Gathering the Heart Mind with Valerie Forstman

Dwelling no-where, mind comes forth~ from the Diamond Sutra Heart mind directs us to the fundamental point of who and what we are. In Chinese there is one term for

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Mu: the World in a New Light, Maria Habito

Maria Habito offers warm and deep encouragement, and lush context, for the practice of Mu. She encountered Mu amidst her Christian doubts about God’s love in the face of an

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Cause and Effect Cannot be Obscured: Carolyn Seburn

Maybe a “mistake” is a characteristic of separation, while perfection is a characteristic of oneness – yet ”mistake” and “perfection” describe one and the same world. Case 2 in the

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Spring Retreat Talk 3, The Boat is on the River with Valerie Forstman

Valerie explores the clarity and simplicity of Master Hogen who came to be known as the dharma eye of deep clarity. Focusing on Case 51 from Book of Equanimity, Valerie

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The Essential World and Total Circumstance, Valerie Forstman (Video)

How does just-sitting nourish the positive samadhi of activity? How to step off the 100-foot pole of cessation into everywhere, everyone? Ryoun Roshi says “the dewdrop world must be forgotten

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Message from Scott: Knowing Yourself

It’s good to sit alone Outdoors sometimes Listen to the wind…This is how to know yourself It’s also good to sit with others In the zendo deeplyFor an hour, a day, a week…This

Spring Retreat Talk 2, The Stone Bridge: Crossing Over with Valerie Forstman

Something puts our feet on this path, starting from the ordinary dualistic world. Gradually, as we practice and practice, in some unguarded moment, everything falls away, and it’s just this.

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Lack, David Loy Dharma-talk (Video)

Sanbo Zen teacher, author, activist and scholar, David Loy’s recent talk begins with Shayamuni’s core realization about essential nature. He saw that because he was never born, he cannot die.

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Spring Retreat Talk 1, Joshu’s Dog: Crossing Over, Fully Arrived with Valerie Forstman

Crossing over to the other shore is the heart of our practice and the heart of Buddha’s teaching. Eventually we realize that we were always on the shore, here and

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Message from Valerie: Flowing

Sitting in zazen, we embody the silence in all sound and the stillness in all movement. We come home, again and again, to the here and now. Dogen call this

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MC Podcasts

Path(less): Henry Shukman

What a pleasure and a privilege to sit down with Henry Shukman for a conversation in the Study at Mountain Cloud. Henry’s app, The Way, is a single-path meditaton program designed

The Origin of Path(less)

Written by Grant Goulet If you’ve tuned into our podcast lately, you might have noticed some changes. We’ve officially rebranded the Mountain Cloud podcast to in the Cloud. It’s a

Dharma Talk: “Waking into Wholeness” with Vanessa Zuisei Goddard

Many of us come to spiritual practice because of a persistent feeling that there’s something wrong—something off about us or about the world. Perhaps we struggle with loneliness or a

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Path(less): Light Watkins

A real joy chatting Light Watkins from his home in Mexico City. Light’s latest book, The Year You Transform, is a wonderfully practical guide to how small, daily behaviors can

Dharma Talk: “Abundance in an Undivided World” with Valerie Forstman

In this talk, Valerie begins with a look into Dogen’s phrase, “mountain-still sitting,” asking how this practice of divesting ourselves – “dropping away body and mind” – is, at the

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Path(less): Sarah Giffin

So nice to chat with Sarah Giffin, the Executive Director of Mountain Cloud Zen Center. Sarah’s had an interesting pathless path to her current role at the Center, and has

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Meditative Story Podcasts

A conversation and reading with Henry Shukman and Meditative Story host Rohan Gunatillake Meditative Story is a first-of-its-kind podcast listening experience that combines the emotional pull of immersive storytelling with

Simplicity Zen Podcast Features Valerie Forstman

Simplicity Zen is a Zen and mindfulness themed blog and podcast started by Gambo Berry Crawford. Enjoy Berry’s interview with Valerie Forstman. Image by Takeshi Shimizu

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The Wisdom Podcast: Radical Simplicity

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features poet, writer, and Sanbo Zen teacher Henry Shukman. Henry is Guiding Teacher at Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, studying primarily with Joan Rieck

Surpassing the Master: Rupert Spira and Henry Shukman

Steve James of the Guru Viking Podcast hosts a dialogue with Rupert and Henry. Rupert Spira is a teacher of the direct path method of Advaita and an internationally acclaimed

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Recent Podcasts Featuring Henry

Henry has recently been featured on three podcasts, First Human, ManTalks, and Orthogonal. Links to each podcast and a short description are below. Enjoy… First Human with Richard AthertonFinding Zen

Round Two: Henry Shukman on the Tim Ferriss Show

Through koans, you can meet in the boundless wonder of this other dimension of our experience. — Henry Shukman Henry returns to the Tim Ferriss Show: 20 Minutes of Calm, Plus the

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Dharma Talk: “Waking into Wholeness” with Vanessa Zuisei Goddard

Many of us come to spiritual practice because of a persistent feeling that there’s something wrong—something off about us or about the world. Perhaps we struggle with loneliness or a

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Dharma Talk: “Abundance in an Undivided World” with Valerie Forstman

In this talk, Valerie begins with a look into Dogen’s phrase, “mountain-still sitting,” asking how this practice of divesting ourselves – “dropping away body and mind” – is, at the

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Dharma Talk: “A Message from the Oneness World” with Valerie Forstman

This talk begins with pointers to the “Oneness world” – responses to the earthquake in Mindanao, experiences following on a recent 27-day sesshin or ‘mini-ango,’ and the first line of

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Dharma Talk: “In coming and going we never leave home” with Valerie Forstman

Returning to the zendo after co-leading a monthlong ‘mini-ango’ at a beautiful Zen center in the Black Forest region of Germany, Valerie reflects on travel and long sitting and Zen’s ever-present invitation to come

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Dharma Talk: “Wild Thing!” with Scott Thornton

Scott explores Case 53 of the Blue Cliff Record or Hekiganroku: “Hyakujo and the Wild Ducks.” Watch or listen below: Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming

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Dharma Talk: “Touching the Earth” with David Loy

When the Buddha touched the Earth (bhumisparsha), was the Earth touching him? What does our nonduality with the Earth really mean? David Robert Loy is a professor, writer, and Zen

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Dharma Talk: “The Circle Game: Reflections on Earth Awareness Teacher Training and This One Precious Life” with Shana Smith

Shana Smith is an Assistant Teacher of Sanbo Zen based in Florida. Shana provides online 1-1 practice support to our members, and provides workshops for our 30 Days of Zen Course

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Dharma Talk: “Where the Active Wheel Revolves” with Valerie Forstman

In this talk, Valerie begins with an Earth Day reflection, acknowledging and honoring what Hakuin Zenji calls “this earth where we stand.” The talk then turns to case 8 in

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Dharma Talk: “Flower Garland Buddhism” with Ben Connelly

Ben’s talk is based on his new book, Inside the Flower Garland Sutra: Huayan Buddhism and the Modern World. Huayan Buddhism arose in the sixth century in China rooted in

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Dharma Talk: “No Merit” with Scott Thornton

Watch or listen below: Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member, so we can continue to offer these programs freely. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Membership: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/ Reach

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Dharma Talk: “The Nonduality of Good and Evil?” with David Loy

Ukraine…Gaza…Iran…Can Buddhist teachings help us understand what is happening, and how we might respond? Watch or listen below: Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member,

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Teisho: “In the Wake of Sesshin: Wash your bowls” with Valerie Forstman

In this first dharma talk following the Spring Sesshin, Valerie begins with a poem that whimsically maps the trajectory of practice. The talk then turns to Case 7 in the

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Teisho: “A Person of Great Strength” with Carolyn Seburn

In this Teisho, Carolyn takes up Mumonkan Case 20: A Person of Great Strength – Seeing Shôgen’s World From the Midst of Fire. Watch or listen below: Recorded on March

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Teisho: “On the Way Without Ever Leaving Home” with Valerie Forstman

Valerie begins this talk with an exploration of Zen’s invitation to ‘come home’ to who we truly are. What kind of path is it that can arrive fully without taking

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