Teachings

  • Message from Valerie: An Invitation to Serve

    Valerie ForstmanJanuary 25, 20232 min read

    Mountain Cloud sangha members are currently coming together once each month to prepare and serve a delicious meal at the Interfaith Shelter, known as Pete’s Place, here in Santa Fe. For members interested in further engagement with vulnerable segments of our community, we have an opportunity to serve with fellow practitioners in Upaya’s Street Ministry project.  Upaya’s Street Ministry focuses on supporting member’s of Santa Fe’s community who are experiencing homelessness. Volunteers in the Street Ministry not only...

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  • Dharmatalk: Beginners Mind & Four Levels of Practice

    MCZCJanuary 25, 20221 min read

    "... The beauty of Zen is its simplicity. The challenge of Zen also is its simplicity ..." Description: This Sunday morning talk by Henry Shukman starts with a guided meditation on beginner’s mind. No matter how far along we may be in our practice, we may maintain a beginner’s mind by welcoming every moment as fresh and new, here and then gone, like a wave rolling onto the shore. This is followed by a discussion about...

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  • Sitting Alone in an Indivisible World: Rohatsu Talk Six, Valerie Forstman (Video)

    MCZCJanuary 24, 20221 min read

    This final talk from the Rohatsu sesshin asks the question from case 26 of the Blue Cliff Record or Hekiganroku, “What is a matter of extraordinary wonder?” Master Hyakujo answers intimately. How will we respond? https://youtu.be/4fuwMY1t48I

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  • Nothing Special: Rohatsu Talk Five and Q&A, Henry Shukman (Videos)

    MCZCJanuary 24, 20221 min read

    Henry explores kensho, awakening, zen death and the destruction of Zen. What Sanbo Zen is really trying to convey, says Henry, is the non-existence of Sanbo Zen, but that's no so easy to achieve. If we get that, we are free. Life becomes simple and ordinary - nothing special.To illustrate, this Henry turns to Case 42, Nan'yo and the Water Jug, from the Book of Serenity. Henry closes this talk exploring the Three Refuges, Buddha, Dharma...

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  • The Apposition of Opposites: Q&A Session with Scott Thornton (Video)

    MCZCJanuary 21, 20221 min read

    Watch the question and answer portion of Scott Thornton's December 16 dharma talk. Scott's talk was on Unmon's Medicine and Disease, Case 87 from the Blue Cliff record. Click here to watch his talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR4RCQsaCUQ

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  • Message from Henry: Belated Solstice/Christmas Message

    MCZCJanuary 17, 20224 min read

    Okay, this message is late. But on the other hand, it’s truly not. At this time of year, that often brings pain and poignancy with it, when perhaps dear loved ones are gone, or unable to be with us, we can take a collective pause, which allows us to reflect. At this special time, I want to make a plea for the infinite value of our life. No matter what challenges, sorrows and frustrations we may face,...

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  • Sounds of the World: Rohatsu Talk Four and Q&A with Valerie Forstman (Videos)

    MCZCJanuary 14, 20221 min read

    In this fourth talk of Rohatsu, Valerie explores the reality of awakening through the koan, “Who hears?” The talk draws on Master Bassui’s teaching on how to work with this koan; on music-making as a portal; and on the koan’s namesake bodhisattva, Kannon, hearer of the cries of the world. [embed]https://youtu.be/QJft0m1gTVI[/embed] Watch the Question and Answer period from Rohatsu Day Four, with Valerie. https://youtu.be/M9JUolTfyoI...

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  • Thoughts in Meditation, Valerie Forstman

    MCZCJanuary 12, 20221 min read

    Sitting in silence is a way to enter a state of mind in which we rest in the space of the unconditioned. ~ Silvia Ostertag Zazen—silent sitting—is an invitation to ‘rest in the space of the unconditioned.’ This ‘space’ is another name for present moment experience, undivided attention, or what is sometimes called ‘choiceless awareness.’ In other words, awareness without judgment . How do we arrive in this space? As one master put it, “Think not-thinking” or “non-thinking.” This is not a prescription for stopping...

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  • Dharmatalk: A Precious Path

    MCZCJanuary 11, 20221 min read

    "... When we find a path and follow it ...  we will be able to say, this was a precious path ..." Description: Henry describes the heart break and love that goes along with completely letting go. He further talks about finding a spiritual path and begins with a short reading from Dostoevsky's The Brother's Karamazov which includes: "Every one of us has sinned against all people.... everyone is really responsible to all people, for all...

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  • Waking to the World, Illness and All: Dharma Talk with Valerie Forstman (Video)

    MCZCJanuary 10, 20221 min read

    Valerie begins this talk with a look at palindromes as a cipher for Zen’s gateless-gate. She then takes up case 83 of the BOE, “Dogo’s Nursing the Ill,” as a pointer to what the masters call “that matter” and to finding our deepest wellbeing right in this midst of this broken world. [embed]https://youtu.be/-SRXlk8tmRw[/embed] Recored in our virtual zendo December 2, 2021 Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash

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  • The Apposition of Opposites: Dharma Talk with Scott Thornton (Video)

    MCZCJanuary 10, 20221 min read

    Taking up Koan #87 of The Blue Cliff Record, “Unmon’s Medicine and Disease,” assistant Sanbo Zen teacher Scott Thornton explores the creative use of opposites in psychology and theatre, and their dissolution in Zen. [embed]https://youtu.be/Fr-1FSYFxG4[/embed] Recorded in our virtual zendo December 16, 2021 Photo by Diogo Nunes on Unsplash  

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  • Message from Henry: Trust

    MCZCJanuary 5, 20222 min read

    There are many ways practice can be categorized... Generative versus receptive practice – meaning, practice that creates certain experiences, versus practice that explores things as they are. Focused attention versus “open presence” (sometimes called “choiceless awareness”). Meaning: focusing in on some object of attention, versus having a wide field of view. I want to suggest another categorization. Trying, versus trusting. In other words, when you come to sit on your chair or cushion, rather than trying to do...

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  • Dharmatalk: Dharma Master Hsin Tao

    MCZCJanuary 4, 20221 min read

    Description: Dr Maria Reis Habito describes her experiences and work with dharma Master Hsin Tao. Maria Reis Habito is the International Program Director of the Museum of World Religions, the Director of the Elijah Interfaith Institute USA, and a Zen Teacher authorized in the Sanbo Zen lineage. And, here is a link to the YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Zazenkai - January 15, 2022. Post & Featured Image (edited): Dharma Master Hsin Tao's...

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  • Round Two: Henry Shukman on the Tim Ferriss Show

    MCZCJanuary 2, 20222 min read

    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 Strange and Powerful World of Koans Henry begins this engaging podcast with how to tap into peace, calm and love when you aren't feeling well. Henry and Tim discuss "allowing"... What are the characteristics of allowing and accepting?  Being still and acknowledging what's going on is the place...

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  • New Year’s Message from Henry: Space Out

    MCZCJanuary 1, 20222 min read

    Here is a suggestion for a New Year's resolution... Space out. Veg out.  The stern instruction on this subject is: do space out. Do veg out. At least once every day without fail. Here's how to do it. Lie down on your back. A carpeted floor will do. Floorboards are fine, but best to have a cushion or pillow under your head. Bed is fine. So is a couch. Having lain down, don't do anything.  This doesn't mean: do...

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