Teachings
You can find all of our weekly Dharma talks for free right here on this page, as well as on our YouTube channel and podcast. Live talks take place every Thursday from 5:30–7:00pm MT, both in-person and on Zoom (sit.mountaincloud.org — password: mountain22). Members receive access to some special archival materials.
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Teisho: “In the Wake of Sesshin: Wash your bowls” with Valerie Forstman
March 31, 20261 min read
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 Mumonkan or Gateless Gate, "Joshu's 'Wash Your Bowls.'" A monk arrives at the monastery and asks for instruction. On the surface, Joshu's response is a word of practice guidance to the monk and to us. Deeper still, Joshu's every word presents the world where there...
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Path(less): Intro
March 28, 20261 min read
Welcome to a new converation series, titled "Path(less)," on the "in the Cloud" podcast. In this introductory episode, host, Grant Goulet, provides a brief orientation to the theme of the series: the pathless path of practice and life. 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 out to grant@mountaincloud.org with any comments or suggestions....
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Teisho: “A Person of Great Strength” with Carolyn Seburn
March 17, 20261 min read
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: https://vimeo.com/1173388557?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Recorded on March 12, 2026 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/
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Teisho: “On the Way Without Ever Leaving Home” with Valerie Forstman
March 10, 20261 min read
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 a single step? And what are we to make of this homecoming when the suffering of the world is fully included? As a way of exploring these questions, the talk turns to a koan: Blue Cliff Record or Hekiganroku Case 69, "Nansen Draws a Circle."...
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Dharma Talk: “No Choosing (This is it!)” with Scott Thornton
March 5, 20261 min read
In Case 2 of The Blue Cliff Record, Master Joshu instructs us that, “The Supreme Way is not difficult; it simply dislikes picking and choosing.” How can this actually apply to a human life, especially in such trying times, since we seem to be faced with nothing but choices every day, from the most mundane to the most heart wrenching? Scott takes up this koan and these questions in his talk. Watch or listen below:...
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Dharma Talk: “The Oak Tree of Life” with Maria Habito
February 24, 20261 min read
This talk is in reference to the Biblical “Tree of Life,” from which we disconnected when we ate from the “Tree of Knowledge.” How does our Zen practice help us to reconnect? Does Joshu's “Oak tree in the garden” give a hint? Recorded on February 19, 2026 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member:...
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Dharma Talk: “The Oak Tree of Life” with Maria Habito
February 24, 20261 min read
https://vimeo.com/1167547550/20e1043d42?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci This talk is in reference to the Biblical “Tree of Life,” from which we disconnected when we ate from the “Tree of Knowledge.” How does our Zen practice help us to reconnect? Does Joshu's “Oak tree in the garden” give a hint? Recorded on February 19, 2026 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a...
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Dharma Talk: “Taking Care of the One Who is Not Ill” Valerie Forstman
February 17, 20261 min read
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 one unguarded moment – that the world suddenly falls open. The long imagined scaffolding of separation falls away. And we discover: right there in the vicissitudes of our lives there is ONE who is completely free and untroubled. Dogen called it “untrammeled.” In this talk,...
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Dharma Talk: “Taking Care of the One Who is Not Ill” Valerie Forstman
February 17, 20261 min read
https://vimeo.com/1164698448?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci 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 one unguarded moment – that the world suddenly falls open. The long imagined scaffolding of separation falls away. And we discover: right there in the vicissitudes of our lives there is ONE who is completely free and untroubled. Dogen called it “untrammeled.” In this...
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Dharma Talk: “Opening the Floodgates” with Shana Smith
February 10, 20261 min read
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 Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/
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Dharma Talk: “Opening the Floodgates” with Shana Smith
February 10, 20261 min read
https://vimeo.com/1162840446?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci 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 Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/
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Dharma Talk: “Sun-faced Buddha, Moon-faced Buddha” with Valerie Forstman
February 3, 20261 min read
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 the cries of our own hearts. As a prelude to a koan, the talk turns to the great lay disciple of the Buddha, Vimalakirti, who lies ill and says, “I am sick because the whole world is sick.” What wholeness has Vimalakirti seen that allows...
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Dharma Talk: “Sun-faced Buddha, Moon-faced Buddha” with Valerie Forstman
February 3, 20261 min read
https://vimeo.com/1161507381?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci 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 the cries of our own hearts. As a prelude to a koan, the talk turns to the great lay disciple of the Buddha, Vimalakirti, who lies ill and says, “I am sick because the whole world is sick.” What wholeness has Vimalakirti seen that...
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Dharma Talk: “The ‘Such-as-this’ Sutra” with Valerie Forstman
January 27, 20261 min read
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 for the earth and all forms of life. Within this frame, Valerie turns to a koan about Prajnatara, teacher of Bodhidharma and an ancestor who may well have been a woman. Case 3 of the Shoyoroku or Book of Equanimity presents Prajnatara embodying the way...
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