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: Case 91, Book of Equanimity: Nansen & the Peonies (Part 1): 2018 Rohatsu Sesshin (Part 5 of 6)

    MCZCNovember 21, 20191 min read

    "... there is nothing to venerate and nothing is more alive ..." Description: This is the fifth talk of the 2018 Rohatsu sesshin. What the Buddha realized can be touched in any moment, in any place—it is alive right now. In Case 91, Nansen points at the beautiful peonies and says, “… people of today see these flowers as in a dream.” When we see the truth of Nansen’s reality, there is nothing to venerate and nothing...

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  • Message from Henry: Meditation

    MCZCNovember 19, 20191 min read

    ...it is so worth it Meditation is a challenging practice for sure. Sometimes it’s hard enough even to find a little peace. Harder still to get a glimpse of the great source of all peace. And even harder to stay with it, to not get tossed away. It’s so easy to get lost, to forget realities we have seen, to get caught again and again in delusion. But it is so worth it. To be able to...

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  • Dharmatalk: Case 90, Book of Equanimity: Kyozan Speaks Out: 2018 Rohatsu Sesshin (Part 4 of 6)

    MCZCNovember 14, 20191 min read

    "All these processes are dreams." ~Yamada Koun Roshi. Description: This is the fourth talk of the 2018 Rohatsu sesshin. It begins with four levels of practice wisdom, Buddha’s teaching on the five aggregates and what constitutes true kensho. It unfolds into an examination of Case 90 where Master Kyôzan visits Maitreya, the future Buddha, in a dream. Post & Featured image: Faces empty in abstract composition by rolffimages, purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (this image...

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  • Message from Henry: The Real Thing

    MCZCNovember 12, 20191 min read

    True awakening comes unbidden. It is at no one’s beck and call. Whatever state we can engineer, cultivate, construct or induce, no matter how clear or deep, is not actual awakening. It may be hugely beneficial, beneficent, and helpful or nourishing, but if it comes through our deliberate efforts in practice, it’s not likely to be a real enlightenment experience. That is not to diminish the value of  cultivatable states of mind. But the real thing does not come through any...

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  • Nurturing a Sense of Awe

    MCZCNovember 9, 20192 min read

    Awe causes us to turn off the small daily trivial thoughts... The "mindfulness" movement in the United States is exploding. Among the healthy practices promoted by the movement are states of gratitude, loving kindness and appreciation of the now. People are hungry for relief from the mounting stress of everyday life. A sense of awe also gives us a glimmer of hope and a channel to the present moment. Made up of an inconceivable number of cells, our...

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  • Dharmatalk: Case 89, Book of Equanimity: Tozan’s Place of No Grass: 2018 Rohatsu Sesshin (Part 3 of 6)

    MCZCNovember 7, 20191 min read

    "The real journey begins when you sit down." Description: This is the third talk of the 2018 Rohatsu sesshin. Case 89 takes place in a monastery at the end of a three-month summer practice period. Master Tôzan instructs the monks to “go directly to the place of no grass over ten thousand miles.” Where is this place of no grass? Are the answers we seek to be found somewhere else? What does Tôzan mean by “place...

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  • Message from Henry: Kaaaatsu!

    MCZCNovember 5, 20191 min read

    Zen is life itself frustrating our urges to make systems. Zen is not a system. It is too wild to be one, like existence itself. It refuses to allow us to understand it through any filtering system. It really bucks the trend for algorithmic approaches to meditation that is growing in popularity these days. It can’t be tamed or schematized. Kaaaatsu!   Message from Henry is form our November 4, 2019 Newsletter Image: Mountain by enriquelopezgarre, Pixabay License  ...

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  • Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview with Henry Shukman

    MCZCOctober 31, 20191 min read

    On October 12, Rick Archer of Buddha at the Gas Pump interviewed Henry. Watch this in-depth interview and discussion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=345&v=rzUJNeIMZcw  

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  • Dharmatalk: Case 1, The Gateless Gate: Joshu’s Dog (Mu): 2018 Rohatsu Sesshin (Part 2 of 6)

    MCZCOctober 31, 20191 min read

    "…  Present moment awareness is deeply fulfilling." Description: This is the second talk of the 2018 Rohatsu sesshin. The benefits of restriction, i.e., not moving, concentrating on our practice, etc., are discussed. This leads into Case 1 of the Gateless Gate and the koan “Mu.” Using the commentary written by Mumon as a touchstone, this talk explores gradual cultivation, sudden enlightenment and how to sit with Mu. Post & Featured image: Red and blue hummingbird by Ted Ng/scopio,...

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  • Message from Henry: ICONS

    MCZCOctober 29, 20193 min read

    These archetypal figures loom from the great reality, from the magnum mysterium, to...encourage, spur and fortify us on our way At the Ikon Museum, Frankfurt, on my way south to the Black Forest. I happened upon the museum while walking off a long flight. Actually I thought it was the “Kon Museum” when I first saw the sign, and wondered what kind of collection it had. Then understood that I had missed the initial “I”.  15th to...

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  • Dharmatalk: Open Wide The Door: 2018 Rohatsu Sesshin (Part 1 of 6)

    MCZCOctober 24, 20191 min read

    "… for patience joins time to eternity." ~ Wendell Berry Description: This is the first talk of the 2018 Rohatsu sesshin. The focus is on how to practice and why we practice. It begins with a poem by Wendell Berry, “How to Be a Poet,” which introduces powerful advice for practitioners, particularly during a sesshin. The word “sesshin” means encountering the heart. What does the word “heart” mean in the Zen tradition? Various levels of meaning are...

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  • Message from Henry: Beyond the World’s Dust

    MCZCOctober 22, 20191 min read

    ...beyond what we know, far, far beyond it. Beyond the world’s dust -- this famous old Zen phrase can mean various things. Beyond the city and court where intrigues, jealousies, betrayals were common-place in Tang-era China. Beyond worldly concerns in general. Beyond busy-ness and commotion and trouble. It can also mean beyond all human knowledge and understanding. That’s where practice would like to lead us: beyond what we know, far, far beyond it. Message from Henry is from...

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  • Minutes – Sangha Meeting October 12, 2019

    MCZCOctober 20, 201912 min read

    Thank you to all who attended the October sangha meeting. We had nearly 30 attendees.  Gassho! Approve agenda and minutes of last meeting: both approved Teacher's Report  (See below)   Please remember on October 29 at Garcia Street Books, Henry will be reading from his new book, One Blade of Grass. Site Manager's Report  Sarah reports that our vibrant garden flourished this year though we had fewer volunteer gardeners than last year. The summer residents/visitors provided help. It takes a...

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  • He Who Works

    MCZCOctober 19, 20191 min read

    He who works with his hands is a laborer.  He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.  He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist. ~ St.Francis of Assisi    Photo and design by Rosa Bellino

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