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.

  • Message from Henry: Wanting Things

    Henry ShukmanSeptember 14, 20222 min read

    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 recognition of the wanting, and the decision to fulfill it, and the execution to supply it, is minimal. How great – quick and convenient beyond belief. The next day the package is at my door and the cap is on my head. Could there be...

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  • Simplicity Zen Podcast Features Valerie Forstman

    MCZCSeptember 13, 20221 min read

    Simplicity Zen is a Zen and mindfulness themed blog and podcast started by Gambo Berry Crawford. Enjoy Berry's interview with Valerie Forstman. https://simplicityzen.com/simplicity-zen-podcast-episode-39-an-interview-with-valerie-forstman/ Image by Takeshi Shimizu

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  • Dharmatalk: Infinitely Open, Endlessly Bright with Valerie Forstman

    MC PodcastSeptember 13, 20221 min read

    Valerie takes up case 29 of the Denkoroku, the record of the ‘transmission of light’ from Bodhidharma to Eka or Huike, as a way to explore the boundless clarity that is none other than this immediate world. One clarity, void of any separation. Hearing a turning word, Eka awakens to the reality Bodhidharma called “vast and void,” and illumines the way. And,

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  • Within Practice We Meet Ourselves, Karin Kempe (Video)

    MCZCSeptember 12, 20221 min read

    Guest Speaker Karin Kempe of the Zen Center of Denver joins our Thursday Night Sit to offer a talk on Dogen's statement, Practice is Enlightenment, Enlightenment is Practice. While this sounds great, it doesn't always feel easy. We face resistance that comes up over and over again. Karin offers perspective on the Genjokoan and reminds us that the way is already here. It is not contingent on some method of practice, but within us. Karin...

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  • Infinitely Open, Endlessly Bright (Video)

    MCZCSeptember 12, 20221 min read

    Valerie Forstman takes up case 29 of the Denkoroku, the record of the ‘transmission of light’ from Bodhidharma to Eka or Huike, as a way to explore the boundless clarity that is none other than this immediate world. One clarity, void of any separation. Hearing a turning word, Eka awakens to the reality Bodhidharma called “vast and void,” and illumines the way. Image by Mark Petrick

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  • Message from Valerie: Welcome Suffering

    Valerie ForstmanSeptember 7, 20222 min read

    This Zen or Chan tradition is at root a response to suffering, sentient being suffering, suffering in all forms. The response is summed up in the first ennobling truth - there is suffering (dukkha) - and the first bodhisattva vow: Sentient beings are numberless; I vow to free them (or I vow to save them all). On the surface, this sounds like mission impossible. But it’s already going on. The vow points to the absolute capacity...

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  • Introduction to Meditation Weekend, Talk Two: All

    MC PodcastSeptember 6, 20221 min read

    "Love sitting in Zazen, as if putting out a fire on top of your head" ~ Dogen Valerie Forstman gives the second talk during the April Intro to Meditation weekend. What are you practicing for? We sit in the midst of it all, the pandemic, climate change, suffering and joy... all. And,

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  • Celebrating Valerie, Scott and Bryan

    MCZCSeptember 5, 20221 min read

    Close to seventy people showed up for the reception on Saturday September 3 to welcome our new teachers and executive director. Thank you to our reception host Henry Shukman and our party team: Karen, Margie, Vivian, Rachel, Christy, Joe and probably more, sorry for any omissions. Enjoy these photos from the day.... All photos taken by Mark Petrick.

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  • Rohatsu: In-Person Retreat Registration

    MCZCSeptember 1, 20222 min read

    Use the form below to register and make your payment for Rohatsu 2022. You are receiving this link because you have been approved for on-site attendance. Most of you have arranged with Johanna your lodging or commuting status. Those of you who are staying on-site should select the Shared Cabin Option. Cabins will sleep three people. If we get in a squeeze a cabin may have a fourth person. Commuters, campers and van sleepers should...

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  • Message from Henry: Kensho

    Henry ShukmanAugust 31, 20222 min read

    Imagine you've been living in a house, using half a dozen rooms. One day it occurs to you -- what if there are more rooms in this house? On the upstairs landing you realize that what you’d always taken to be a wall was in fact simply a dark area. Beyond it, the corridor extends. Indeed, there are more rooms to this house. You start exploring them. The light’s different in some of them, and...

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  • Introduction to Meditation Weekend: Q&A 1 with Valerie Forstman

    MC PodcastAugust 30, 20221 min read

    Description: This is Question & Answer session 1 from the Introduction to Meditation Virtual Weekend. Valerie Forstman is the speaker and teacher for this session. And,

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  • Introducing Bryan Baldwin, MCZC Executive Director

    MCZCAugust 29, 20222 min read

    Santa Fe resident Bryan Baldwin is joining Mountain Cloud Zen Center as our new Executive Director. Bryan brings more than 25 years of progressive responsibility helping mission-driven organizations become more purposeful, focused, and strategic. He has extensive nonprofit management experience and most recently served as a senior administrator for a large public university in New England and concurrently led its private foundation. The earlier part of his career was spent working in the international diplomatic...

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  • The Body of Awakening, Valerie Forstman (Video)

    MCZCAugust 29, 20221 min read

    In this talk from her Women in Zen series, Valerie explores the life, practice, and transmission experience of Zongchi, a woman born into the court who became Bodhidharma’s disciple and dharma heir. Zongchi realizes the joy of seeing who she truly is – and the timeless moment of seeing just once. Bodhidharma recognizes Zongchi’s eye as his own flesh. As Dogen puts it, “’You have my flesh” is “the true human body.” Photo/Image by Mark...

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  • Message from Henry, Original Love

    Henry ShukmanAugust 24, 20222 min read

    What’s the Original Face from before we were born, from before our parents were born? That’s an early Zen koan. When we see the “ original face,” our constructions of reality fall apart; they vanish. We are left in boundlessness.  When we have a glimpse of this unconditioned boundlessness, it brings a beautiful and healing sense of belovedness to our troubled hearts. This is Original Love. How do we learn to live, share and be...

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