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.
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Dharma Talk: “Zen is Basking in Love and Loving Back” with Ruben Habito
May 20, 20251 min read
This talk was offered by Ruben Habito at Mountain Cloud Zen Center on May 15th, 2025. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/
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Dharma Talk: “Zen is Basking in Love and Loving Back” with Ruben Habito
May 20, 20251 min read
This talk was offered by Ruben Habito at Mountain Cloud Zen Center on May 15th, 2025. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/
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Dharma Talk: “The Refuge of No Refuge” with David Loy
May 9, 20251 min read
In this talk, David explores the idea of refuge. To take refuge is to run away to a hiding place…Is that what we should do? Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Recorded on April 17th, 2025 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as...
Listen to the talk -
Dharma Talk: “The Refuge of No Refuge” with David Loy
May 9, 20251 min read
In this talk, David explores the idea of refuge. To take refuge is to run away to a hiding place…Is that what we should do? Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Recorded on April 17th, 2025 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as...
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Dharma Talk: “The single stone ten thousand feet down in the sea of Ise” with Maria Reis Habito
May 9, 20251 min read
Zen is a practice to deeply explore and fully live our true Self. Might the Koan about the stone deep down in the sea of Ise be a helpful pointer in this exploration? Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Recorded on April 17th, 2025 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we...
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Dharma Talk: “The single stone ten thousand feet down in the sea of Ise” with Maria Reis Habito
May 9, 20251 min read
Zen is a practice to deeply explore and fully live our true Self. Might the Koan about the stone deep down in the sea of Ise be a helpful pointer in this exploration? Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Recorded on April 17th, 2025 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we...
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Dharma Talk: “Why I Love the Three Poisons” with David Loy
May 8, 20251 min read
In this talk, David explores the depth and application of this teaching to our modern lives. He notes, “We often do not appreciate that the three poisons is a profound teaching, perhaps especially important today.” Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Recorded on May 8th, 2025
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Dharma Talk: Don’t Know, Can’t Know, Who Knows? with Shana Smith
April 25, 20251 min read
In this talk, Shana takes us right into “don’t know mind” as a portal to discovering our true nature and the freedom inherent in simply being alive. By tasting this freedom, we become better able to live, function, and respond compassionately even through difficult times. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Recorded on April 17th, 2025 Please consider...
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Dharma Talk: Don’t Know, Can’t Know, Who Knows? with Shana Smith
April 25, 20251 min read
In this talk, Shana takes us right into “don’t know mind” as a portal to discovering our true nature and the freedom inherent in simply being alive. By tasting this freedom, we become better able to live, function, and respond compassionately even through difficult times. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Recorded on April 17th, 2025 Please consider...
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Dharma Talk: The Benevolence of Awakening with Valerie Forstman
April 17, 20251 min read
In this early spring talk, Valerie turns to the way of awakening, discovered and explored as this world – in the midst – just as it is. Not-two. The talk weaves together a cross-section of experiences of homecoming with case 100 of the Book of Equanimity (Shoyoroku). In the case, Master Kaku of Roya receives the student’s question and responds in kind: “The essential state is pure and clear; how are mountains, rivers, and the...
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Dharma Talk: The Benevolence of Awakening with Valerie Forstman
April 17, 20251 min read
In this early spring talk, Valerie turns to the way of awakening, discovered and explored as this world – in the midst – just as it is. Not-two. The talk weaves together a cross-section of experiences of homecoming with case 100 of the Book of Equanimity (Shoyoroku). In the case, Master Kaku of Roya receives the student’s question and responds in kind: “The essential state is pure and clear; how are mountains, rivers, and the...
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Dharma Talk: “By Boat or By Land: Crossing over, fully arrived” with Valerie Forstman
April 3, 20251 min read
In this talk, Valerie begins by revisiting themes from our recent sesshin – the wellspring of zazen, the intimacy of not-knowing, the peace that passes all understanding. The talk explores these themes by taking a fresh look at case 51 in the Book of Equanimity, ‘Hogen’s “Boat or Land,”’ Master Hogen’s question to a visiting monk elicits a response that resounds with the homecoming that is available to us all. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud...
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Dharma Talk: “By Boat or By Land: Crossing over, fully arrived” with Valerie Forstman
April 3, 20251 min read
In this talk, Valerie begins by revisiting themes from our recent sesshin – the wellspring of zazen, the intimacy of not-knowing, the peace that passes all understanding. The talk explores these themes by taking a fresh look at case 51 in the Book of Equanimity, ‘Hogen’s “Boat or Land,”’ Master Hogen’s question to a visiting monk elicits a response that resounds with the homecoming that is available to us all. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud...
Watch the video -
Dharma Talk: “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and the ABC’s of Zen” with Shana Smith
April 3, 20251 min read
In this teisho, Shana uses Ruben Habito Roshi’s “ABC’s of Zen” as parallels for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She then explores Case 43 of the Shoyoroku as a pointer into finding our own unique ways to support the healing of a seemingly divided world. Shana will be leading a weekend retreat at Mountain Cloud in April - for more visit https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/intro-retreat-april-2025/ Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we...
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