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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Shin-Jin-Mei (Verses on the Faith-Mind) by Sosan, Part 3 of 3
June 18, 20151 min read
Episode Description: Henry continues to explicate Sosan’s Shin-Jin Mei and incorporates the Three Treasures—Buddha, Dharma and Sangha--into the meaning of the poem. The Shin-Jin-Mei is an example of Dharma, a teaching or guidance, which helps us find our core, the heart/mind of ourselves (Buddha) and our universe (Sangha). Henry also discusses another meaning of Dharma, as "natural law," intangible but vividly experienceable, always with us, and in us, right now. The other 2 parts of this...
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Life is worth living … full flow! {VIDEO}
June 11, 20151 min read
"...life, ... for all it's bruises and false starts, it's blind alleys and reversals, it's failures, ... is worth living ... full flow ..." This YouTube video, below, is being posted in lieu of this week's podcast episode. Regular weekly (every Thursday) publishing of podcast episodes will recommence with the next episode on Jun 18th. Bill Broyles, who is not a meditator but a friend of Henry’s and supporter of Mountain Cloud, grew up in a refinery town...
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Spring Sesshin Part 2 of 2, Case 10: Book of Equanimity, An Old Woman near Taizan
June 4, 20151 min read
Episode Description: In this second talk of our spring sesshin, Henry elucidates the the case of an old, wise woman near Taizan who gives directions to a lost monk. Henry acknowledges the many women teachers within Zen history and this lineage. He discusses the depth of awakening that Joshu senses in the old woman and describes how the ten Ox-herding pictures provide a map to awakening. In this wide-ranging discussion Henry captures the essence of Zen’s...
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Behind the Scenes: Journey Through Japan Continues …
June 1, 20152 min read
... from Behind The Scenes: A Sanbo Zen Documentary .... One of the walkways of Sojiji monastery - a major Soto Zen training institution, where Harada Sogaku Daiun (Great Cloud) Roshi was abbot for a while, before exploring further training within the Rinzai school. Today hundreds of monks spend one to three years in training here, learning to become professional monks or priests. It was founded by Dogen's "Dharma great-grandson" Keizan, who compiled the Denkoroku book...
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Behind the Scenes: A Sanbo Zen Documentary
May 30, 20151 min read
A few early photos from Henry Shukman's whirl-wind odyssey through Japan, accompanied by a film crew making a documentary about Sanbo Zen... Guided by Sato Migaku Roshi, the film crew met with and interviewed a host of extraordinary practitioners, of all ages and walks in life. Henry and the crew visited zendos in Tokyo, Kamakura, Kyoto and Obama, all on the trail of the ancestors of...
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Spring Sesshin Part 1 of 2, Mu Koan
May 28, 20151 min read
Episode Description: This talk, the first during our spring sesshin, introduces the Koan Mu and addresses the challenges that arise during a first sesshin. Henry compares zen practice to musical instrument practice with a lively story about his old trombone teacher, Jack Pinches. He also recounts the difficulties and rewards of his own first sesshin. Henry emphasizes the importance of diligent practice and explains how to sit with Mu while allowing it to absorb our inner...
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