Teachings
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Rohatsu 2022: Day 1, Light Sitting in Light with Valerie Forstman
January 3, 20231 min read
In this talk from the first day of the Rohatsu sesshin, 2022, Valerie offers a tribute to Sr. Elaine MacInnes, Roshi, who died a week ago and whose celebration of life will be December 8. Drawing on the experience Sr. Elaine described as “light sitting in light,” Valerie turns to the koan, Mu – a tiny spark that can ignite an inexhaustible flame, opening our eyes to a world of boundless clarity and infinite love. And,...
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Rohatsu 2: What Matters Most? Henry Shukman (Video)
January 2, 20231 min read
Henry asks the question, what matters most? When you reflect on this question, having an open mind is important, seeing beyond ordinary or day to day concerns. Henry asks, what is this experience and what is it to be alive? And... who is having this experience? Watch this exploration of what actually matters and why. https://youtu.be/RQPGTw78aS8
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Rohatsu 1: Light Sitting in Light, Valerie Forstman (Video)
January 2, 20231 min read
Light Sitting in Light: the tiny spark of Mu In this talk from the first day of the Rohatsu sesshin, 2022, Valerie offers a tribute to Sr. Elaine MacInnes, Roshi, who died a week ago and whose celebration of life was December 8. Drawing on the experience Sr. Elaine described as “light sitting in light,” Valerie turns to the koan, Mu – a tiny spark that can ignite an inexhaustible flame, opening our eyes to a...
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Dharmatalk: Zen Jhanas with Stephen Snyder
December 13, 20222 min read
Guest speaker Stephen Snyder of the Jhana tradition visits Mountain Cloud and offers a teisho on the Buddha’s first and last practice. Jhana practice predates the Buddha by at least 1000 years and is the origin of our Sanbo Zen lineage. Stephen offers an introduction: what is Jhana practice? How are the lineages entwined? And, here's a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Thursday Evening EventsDecember 22, Thursday evening hybrid...
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Dharmatalk: Life is Not Suffering with Rick Hanson
December 8, 20221 min read
It is said that the Buddha teaches only suffering and its end, but what is suffering? Guest speaker Rick Hanson attempts to define this suffering, challenging that suffering is only a small part of everything that exists. Understanding this can help break the pattern of seeing meditation and mindfulness practices as a solution to suffering, rather than a practice worth immersing yourself in. While there is suffering in this world, this world is not all...
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Dharmatalk: Towards Healing with Peggy Sheehan
November 29, 20221 min read
"We don't study koans, we use koans to investigate our life." ~ Maezumi Roshi Guest teacher Peggy Sheehan from Zen Center Denver says that koans have been a life long practice, for her. In this talk she explores Case 3 from the Gateless Gate, Gutei's Finger. Peggy's work as a pediatrician informs her interest in this koan. Babies become interested in their finger from a young age; first simply pointing upward then, then pointing at things...
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Complete Exposure of the Golden Wind: Teshin Matt Sweger
November 16, 20221 min read
On this first day of Fall, Teshin takes up case 27 of the Blue Cliff Record, Unmon’s Complete Exposure. The Case reads as follows: A monk asked Unmon, "What is it when the tree withers and the leaves fall?" Unmon answered, "Complete exposure of the golden wind”. https://youtu.be/zWSueaxBwJI Teshin Matt Sweger is the resident teacher at the North Carolina Zen Center. He began his Zen practice in 1993 at the Rochester Zen Center in...
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Dharmatalk: Complete Exposure of the Golden Wind with Matt Sweger
November 15, 20221 min read
On this first day of Fall, Teshin takes up case 27 of the Blue Cliff Record, Unmon’s Complete Exposure. The Case reads as follows: A monk asked Unmon, "What is it when the tree withers and the leaves fall?" Unmon answered, "Complete exposure of the golden wind”. And, here's a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Thursday Evening EventsNovember 23, Thanksgiving Day, no eventDecember 1, Maria Habito guest speaker, online...
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Amoda Maa with Henry Shukman
November 13, 20222 min read
Two Different Paths, One Awakening In this episode, Amoda Maa is in conversation with Zen teacher Henry Shukman. The conversation is facilitated by Kavi who asks questions about the profound awakening experienced by both of these teachers, Henry within the path of Zen and Amoda without any tradition or teacher. Were these experiences the same or different? And what impact did these experiences have on how life was lived since that time? These questions and more...
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