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.

  • Dharmatalk: Just This: Original Love – Introduction (5 of 5)

    MCZCJune 8, 20211 min read

    "... Here and now, this experience we are having right now, is it. "Just this" is original love ..." Description: Henry continues his Original Love exploration, beginning with "Everything is of a single piece" then turns to the fourth level of practice, which is expressed more explicitly in Mahayana Buddhism. It is the place where everything meets or the thing that makes everything one - If everything comes down to One, What does the One...

    Listen to the talk
  • Atomic Acorn: Talk Four of Zen Basics Retreat, Valerie Forstman and Henry Shukman

    MCZCJune 6, 20211 min read

    Valerie recaps the last three talks of the Zen Basics retreat and says all leads to Bodhidharma. She looks at Case 1 from the Blue Cliff Record in which Emperor Bu asks Bodhidharma, What is most holy? Bodhidharma replies: Vast and void, no holiness. Valerie explores how this koan is a koan for a lifetime asking us, how can it penetrate, how can it seep into our practice? Where would you find anything like holiness...

    Watch the video
  • Deep Mind: Dharma Talk with Lewis Richmond

    MCZCJune 5, 20211 min read

    Zen teacher, musician and author Lewis Richmond joins us in our virtual zendo as speaker. Lewis explores illness and the ensuing fear and suffering that occur. He also offers a short and powerful guided meditation which he calls, Deep Mind Reflection. [embed]    

    Watch the video
  • Two Gates: Talk Three of Zen Basics Retreat with Henry Shukman

    MCZCJune 4, 20211 min read

    In this third talk of the Zen Basics Retreat, Henry returns to Bodhidharma and looks into the two entrances or two gates of practice: Principle and Practice. 1. Principle - Acknowledges suffering and peers into "forgotten nooks and crannies of our being." 2. Practice - Examination - we look at the present moment and release unexamined assumptions to the "naked immensity of the moment." [embed] Dharma talk recorded on May 22 from the Zen Basics...

    Watch the video
  • Message from Henry: A Moment in the Mountains

    MCZCJune 2, 20211 min read

    The quality of evening in the high mountains - whatever has gone on during the day, now it’s a new, exalted realm, all the creatures feel it. The clouds have cleared and the distant peaks are bright and stark, and the untouchable peace of their world is spread open to all who can see them. A world of powerful calm. The two pairs of grey jays who are here during the day, a little like...

    Read more
  • 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...

    Listen to the talk
  • 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....

    Watch the video
  • 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] Dharma talk recorded on May 20 from the Zen Basics Retreat. Featured Photo by Joshua Woroniecki on Unsplash

    Watch the video
  • 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...

    Read more
  • 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,...

    Listen to the talk
  • 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...

    Read more
  • 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...

    Read more
  • 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...

    Listen to the talk
  • 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] The next video is Henry's talk and discussion about Original Love and the Path of Awakening. [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.

    Watch the video
footer support banner image

Support Mountain Cloud

You can show your gratitude for Mountain Cloud events, retreats, podcasts and other teachings by making a one-time gift, or by becoming a supporting member.

Donate to Mountain Cloud Become a Member