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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Mindfulness: You are Not Alone, Jack Kornfield
February 23, 20201 min read
In a recent article titled You Are Not Alone, Jack Kornfield reminds us that we are intricately connected to all things through the air we breathe, the food we eat and the experiences we share. Many mystics, physicists, philosophers and even mathematicians have reached similar conclusions. We are infinitely more than our mind or our body. Kornfield says, “And now, as you read these words, feel yourself as part of the stream of humanity walking...
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Falling Snow
February 23, 20201 min read
All last night and This morning still, Snow falling in the deepest mountains; Ah, to see the autumn leaves Scattering in my home. ~ Dogen
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Dharmatalk:Already One: 2019 Spring Sesshin (Part 4 of 4)
February 20, 20201 min read
"…and the deepest level of communication is not communication, it’s communion." ~ Thomas Merton Description: This is the final talk of the Spring 2019 sesshin. It is a “key points” summary of the previous talks, beginning with a discussion of various zones of human healing and wisdom. Bodhidharma described two gates to the Zen path—entry by principle and entry by practice. This is the springboard to discuss many aspects of practice and the experience of awakening,...
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Daily Activities
February 16, 20201 min read
Transmitting to the east the way the ancestors brought from the west, My daily activities illuminated by the moon and shadowed by the clouds, Because I revere the ancient way of the patriarchs, The secular dust of worldly customs does not reach Where I remain secluded in my grass-thatched hut, On a snowy evening deep in the mountain recesses. ~ Dogen Zenji
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Dharmatalk: Case 95, Book of Equanimity: Rinzai Draws a Line (Part 2): 2019 Spring Sesshin (Part 3 of 4)
February 13, 20201 min read
Where have you come from? ~ Rinzai. Description: This is the third talk of the Spring 2019 sesshin. It begins with further reflections on the process of settling into a multi-day retreat and explores the topic of doubt. This unfolds into the story of Rinzai and how he fully expressed the Dharma without any trace of self-driven purpose, as demonstrated by his seemingly perplexing behavior. In Case 95, Rinzai and the temple steward are having...
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Learning Peace of Mind: By T.S Last / Journal North Editor / about RGMI Partner Schools.
February 10, 20209 min read
Published / February 9, 2020. Used with the permission of The Journal North. [caption id="attachment_18008" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Starting second from left, Emery Munn, Mateo Martinez, Brooke Roll, Asahel Chavez and other second graders in Zelda Sanchez's and Bart Ramey's classes sit listening for the sound of a metal bowl to fade. This is one of the mindfulness exercizes students at Atalaya Elementary were doing Tuesday, January 28, 2020. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)[/caption] Students in Zelda Sanchez...
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Winter Retreat
February 8, 20201 min read
The white mountain of Echizen My winter retreat: A blanket of clouds Covering the frosted peaks And snowy slopes. ~ Dogen Zenji
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Mindful Living: Open Mind and Heart Space
February 7, 20201 min read
Mindfulness teaching instructs us to observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment. Why? Mind and body are the accumulation of all we have done and experienced in our lifetime. We have an incredible capacity for the storage of memory. This memory becomes our road map for how we see the world. But the map is not the territory! The mind can be a tricky place. If we allow ourselves to cling to the “truths” or...
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Dharmatalk: Case 95, Book of Equanimity: Rinzai Draws a Line (Part 1): 2019 Spring Sesshin (Part 2 of 4)
February 6, 20201 min read
"... You are the innate beauty of the whole cosmos, the whole of creation ..." Description: This is the second talk of the Spring 2019 sesshin. To begin, methods to address difficulties that may arise when sitting for long periods are discussed. Case 95 is introduced through the lens of the Three Treasures: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. A koan sets a precedent— in spite of what we may think, are all capable of the level...
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The Moon Will Come
February 2, 20201 min read
Creating a pond, do not wait for the moon. When the pond is built, the moon will come. ~ Eihei Dogen
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