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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  • Message from Henry: Well-being and Wholesomeness

    MCZCMay 5, 20213 min read

    ...the middle way rules. Body and Mind. Not ignoring either. Tending both. Some Ways to Well-being and Wholesomeness: Be less disturbed by the things of the world. Act well: generate harmony within and without, harming less, caring for others. Enjoy yourself. Find joy in the things of this day, and in connecting and caring. The first comes first, though. Without it, it's hard to do the others. 1. Become less disturbed by externals. How? Broadly, two ways: through the body and the...

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  • Mountain Cloud Zen Center – One Year Later

    MCZCMay 2, 20214 min read

    Throughout the last year, Mountain Cloud teachers, staff, members and friends have worked diligently to expand our dharma reach towards a new online space. The Virtual Zendo has been alive and well for a little over a year now, and for the better part of that time members local to Santa Fe and those from around the country and world have been able to join together in the same space, bringing many new faces and...

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  • The Essential Koan – Talk Two, Why Mu? with Henry Shukman (Video)

    MCZCMay 2, 20211 min read

    Sanbo Zen abbot, Ryoun Roshi, regards "Mu" as the one essential koan. He believes it's the constant koan we can consistently return to, amidst the many other koans, because we never quite get Mu right. Henry explores reasons why "Mu," this simple syllable, is the essential koan. [embed]https://youtu.be/ivCzQx7DQJs[/embed] Image: Pink-violet Watercolour by stux, Pixabay.com Visit our YouTube Channel for many more video dharma talks.

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  • Dharmatalk: Finding Peace: Original Love One – Mindfulness (3 of 4)

    MCZCApril 30, 20211 min read

    "... how we human bodies find peace with ourselves ..." Description: Third talk from the Original Love One - Mindfulness Retreat. Henry continues the great exploration about how we human bodies find peace with ourselves. The human body at peace with itself is more precious than the rarest gem. Henry talks more about the hindrances, mindfulness practices and the Zen practice of just sitting And, here's a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Post & Featured Image...

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  • The Great Why? – Talk One from Why Mu? with Henry Shukman (Video)

    MCZCApril 30, 20211 min read

    Why live life and why practice? These are the questions behind Why Mu? Henry asks, why is any of "this" happening? But the fact is - we are here and we indeed understand some of the technical and scientific aspects of life. But this understanding doesn't answer, Why? How do we join the great Why? Only when we plunge into the abyss of the great death, do we really understand this great Why? Watch this first talk...

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  • Bridging a Gap and Q&A with Henry Shukman – April 15, 2021 (Video)

    MCZCApril 29, 20211 min read

    Henry opens this Thursday evening dharma talk with a short awareness/grounding practice that we can do anytime during our day: Awareness, Balance, Core or ABC. Henry also reads a short passage from the new book he has been writing which examines the five types of practice. The Original Love retreats have explored some of the topics in this new book which is intended to bridge a gap between modern mindfulness practice and practices that focus...

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  • Message from Henry: Emptiness

    MCZCApril 28, 20212 min read

    ... emptiness allows all... it loves all. It generates all.  If emptiness is really "empty," why does tasting it generate such intense feelings of relief, beauty, gratitude and compassion? In terms of the old Buddhist formula, emptiness and compassion are inseparable: why? Why does the experience of emptiness - if it's really empty - connect us to all things? Why is it the ultimate wellspring of joy, energy, peace, and of a sense of infinite uncompromisable...

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  • Ultimate Health Podcast: Experiencing a Spiritual Awakening, Henry Shukman

    MCZCApril 27, 20211 min read

    Jesse Chappus interviews Henry Shukman for his show, the Ultimate Health Podcast. While focusing on Henry's recent book, One Blade of Grass, their wide ranging conversation covers many topics including meditation, self-acceptance and self-love, awakening and what it is, consciousness, the path to Zen and Henry's own awakening experience. The Ultimate Health Podcast is hosted by Jesse Chappus and Marni Wasserman. They interview world-class experts in the health & wellness community. Topics include lifestyle, nutrition, fitness,...

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  • Sunday Outdoor Sits at MCZC

    MCZCApril 27, 20211 min read

    Outdoor Sits Resume at Mountain Cloud Selected Sundays at Noon May schedule:  May 2, 9, 16, 30  Join us on selected Sundays at Mountain Cloud for an outdoor sit, from noon to 1pm. Bring your own cushion or bench. Meet by the large ponderosa pine tree beyond the gazebo. We will meet every Sunday except during retreats. Contact Gudrun if you have questions; text is best: ‭(505) 927-1606. In the midst of changing state requirements regarding covid-19, we are working on when and how...

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  • Video – Talk 2, April Virtual Meditation Weekend

    MCZCApril 25, 20211 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. [embed]https://youtu.be/kD_BwJVBLNs[/embed] Visit our YouTube Channel for more Zen Talks from Mountain Cloud Zen Center Featured image: Tealight by Pixel2013,  from Pixabay.com...

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  • Video – Talk 1, April Virtual Meditation Weekend

    MCZCApril 23, 20211 min read

    Watch this first talk by Valerie Forstman from the April 2021 Introduction to Meditation Weekend Retreat. A talk at a Zen retreat is traditionally called a teisho which means, Presentation of the Shout. Valerie asks What is the Shout? It's just this, presenting the fact of who we truly are and offering pointers on how to practice. [embed]https://youtu.be/lHS_FHayINA[/embed] Visit our YouTube Channel for more Zen Talks from Mountain Cloud Zen Center Featured image: Tealight by Pixel2013,  from Pixabay.com...

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  • Dharmatalk: Dealing with Desire: Original Love One – Mindfulness (2 of 4)

    MCZCApril 20, 20211 min read

    "How will we know when we have mastered desire? Tranquility marked by a sense that we are lucky to be living whatever life we happen to be living." ~ Dr Bill Irvine Description: Second Talk from the Original Love One Retreat. Henry Shukman continues to explore the many facets of original love through zen practice and present moment awareness. Henry talks about the nuts and bolts of practice such as the five hindrances and three poisons,...

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  • Video – Zen is the Mind of Beauty, Henry Shukman

    MCZCApril 17, 20211 min read

    Henry reads a selection of writing and discusses the four jhanas - deep states of meditation absorption that make us recognize the wonder of existence. He then answers some questions remaining from the Why Koans? retreat. [embed]https://youtu.be/K9Ox9UG3ako[/embed] Visit our YouTube Channel for more Zen Talks from Mountain Cloud Zen Center Featured image: Anemone by matthewsjackie,  from Pixabay.com

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  • Video – Enough, Valerie Forstman

    MCZCApril 15, 20211 min read

    Valerie looks at the traditions within the converging week of Passover and Easter. For this April Fool'a Day talk, she explores sufficiency, holy fools, Roso, silence in prison practice, fractions, infinity and much more -- all which point to one reality. Still moved by the previous week's retreat, Why Koans? Valerie offers more from the Zen tradition to illuminate the koan, Roso Facing the Wall. [embed]https://youtu.be/KCHYr9yFgB8[/embed] Visit our YouTube Channel for more Zen Talks from Mountain Cloud Zen...

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