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: Original Love & Inseparability: Original Love – Introduction (4 of 5)

    MCZCJune 1, 20211 min read

    "... A quantum shift occurs that exposes the inseparability of all ..." Description: Henry continues looking at original love. We humans are made in such a way that we can directly know original love with our consciousness. True awakening is discovering boundless inseparability and allows us come to the origin point of our existence.... original love. Sitting with the questions who am I? or what am I?, or with Mu practice, is an exploration of original...

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  • Whole Hearted Sitting: Talk Two of Zen Basics Retreat, Valerie Forstman

    MCZCMay 30, 20211 min read

    There is so much more to what we commonly experience and know, and much less. ~ Henry Shukman Valerie picks up where Henry left off in Talk 1 of this retreat and focuses on meeting one's true nature, as shown in two back-top-back koans, Cases 14 and 15 from the Blue Cliff Record. Once you have really seen things as they are, there is no more moon and no more finger. No moon, no finger. ~ Ryokan...

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  • Four Marks of Zen: Talk One of Zen Basics Retreat, Henry Shukman

    MCZCMay 28, 20211 min read

    Henry explores Bodhidharma, the 6th century legendary Zen Master, who brought Buddhism/Zen to China from India. Specifically Henry talks about Bodhidharma's four marks of Zen. Zen is... 1. is special transmission outside scripture 2. does not rely on words or letters 3. points directly to our heart/mind 4. offers awakening by seeing the heart/mind clearly [embed]https://youtu.be/8CbGHVoT-lc[/embed] Dharma talk recorded on May 20 from the Zen Basics Retreat. Featured Photo by Joshua Woroniecki on Unsplash...

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  • Message from Henry: Questions

    MCZCMay 26, 20211 min read

    The scientist sees the forest - the trees’ canopy stirring and trembling in the wind, the pair of late birds flapping off over the crest of the hill toward the clouds and far peaks - and asks How. The philosopher sees it and asks Why. The artist sees and asks What. All these questions are valuable and explore Beauty, each in their own way. Zen doesn’t ask anything. Message from Henry is from our May 24, 2021 Newsletter. Image: Sunset Tree...

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  • Dharmatalk: Support: Original Love – Introduction (3 of 5)

    MCZCMay 25, 20211 min read

    "... By becoming still and quiet, Zen opens a channel that provides deep, nurturing support ..." Description: In this second talk from the June, 2020 retreat, Henry continues to explore allowing and why this practice is about original love. There is something originally utterly right with us and this world, but needs training to find clarity on both a collective and individual level. Henry talks about opening to pain and discomfort and finding, through practice, deep...

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  • Sangha Meeting Minutes, May 15, 2021

    MCZCMay 23, 202111 min read

    Mountain Cloud Zen Center Sangha Meeting Notes May 15, 2021 Teacher’s Reports Teacher Reports prepared by Henry and Valerie are at the end of this post. Interim Executive Director’s Report - Rachel Belash Updates at Mountain Cloud There are currently three residents at the center. There has been some serious progress on the land conservation front. We have been able to better control our irrigation systems to limit unnecessary water use. It has been discovered that the center might need to have...

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  • Message from Henry: States and Facts

    MCZCMay 19, 20214 min read

    The quest for certain states of mind... is one more form of self-centeredness: rather than wanting material goods, we are wanting “spiritual goods.” Something we should try to be clear about is the difference between a “state” and a “fact.” In America the early popularity of Zen in the 50’s and 60’s was bound up to some extent with the counter-culture’s fascination with psychedelics. A number of well-known Zen teachers from that era have said that...

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  • Dharmatalk: Allowing: Original Love – Introduction (2 of 5)

    MCZCMay 18, 20211 min read

    "... well-being which is what brings many of us into meditation ..." Description: Henry introduces the concept Original Love in this first talk from our 2020 Summer Virtual Sesshin. Original Love is an experience (or many experiences) and is not a concept that can be simply defined. Henry talks about the four levels of Zen Practice focusing on the first level, well-being, the desire for which is what brings many of us into meditation. We want...

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  • Original Love and the Path of Awakening, Henry Shukman

    MCZCMay 15, 20211 min read

    On May 5 2021, Henry was the meditation leader and guest speaker at Dr. Rick Hanson's Wednesday Evening Meditation. The first video is the meditation. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW1O40b4RPw[/embed] The next video is Henry's talk and discussion about Original Love and the Path of Awakening. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_81Vo_xm0s[/embed] For more info about Rick Hanson's Wednesday event click here. And here is the page on Rick's website with Henry's meditation and dharma  talk....

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  • Being Well Podcast: The Heart of Zen with Henry Shukman

    MCZCMay 15, 20211 min read

    Henry Shukman joins Dr. Rick Hanson and his son Forrest Hanson on the Being Well Podcast to explore self-transcendent experiences, relaxing self-identification, and the warm heart at the core of Zen practice. Listen to the podcast here. For more information about Dr Rick Hanson and the Being Well Podcast, click here.  

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  • Message from Henry: Surrendering to the Tao

    MCZCMay 12, 20215 min read

    ...the challenge is to recognize that thoughts are a strategy, a coping mechanism, and that in our sitting we must therefore be very kind with them and with ourselves. About the challenge of surrendering to the Tao, of delivering ourselves into the hands of the Tao; of allowing all our trouble, surrendering to it, letting it be; not having too rigid an approach to our meditation; or at least having enough flexibility that sometimes our meditation...

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  • In the Wake of Mu: Talk with Valerie Forstman – April 29 (Video)

    MCZCMay 9, 20211 min read

    In the wake of the Why Mu? Retreat Valerie discusses some of what has stayed with her from the retreat's talks and Q&A sessions. [embed]https://youtu.be/E6CXjcIFXRk[/embed] Photo by Sean Stratton on Unsplash  

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  • The Gateless Gate – Talk Four – Why Mu? with Henry Shukman (Video)

    MCZCMay 9, 20211 min read

    In this fourth and final talk from the Why Mu? Retreat, Henry continues looking at Mu and the paradoxical nature of awakening, which is beyond thought and cannot be rendered. There are a variety of practice methods designed to open doors and break barriers. Henry compares and contrasts Mu practice with mindfulness and non-dual awareness practices. Mu is called the gate-less gate because there is no door or gate to move through and the place...

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  • The Little Thread of Nothing – Talk Three, from Why Mu? with Valerie Forstman (Video)

    MCZCMay 7, 20211 min read

    To pursue the Why? you must surpass the Why? Then there is nothing left but Mu. As Henry said in Talk Two, "Mu is the last thing that can be said, before there are no words." Valerie calls Mu this little thread of nothing and in this third talk from the retreat, she helps us clarify where Mu takes us. Mu is the fullness of Shakyamuni's discovery. Mu can penetrate us until the place where...

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