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.

  • Message from Henry: A Mindful Approach to Stress

    MCZCDecember 3, 20192 min read

    We learn to experience emotions in the body, and less in the stories we have about them... According to biology and neurology professor Robert Sapolsky (in his book Behave) one of the aspects of chronic stress is that it tends to be psychological. That’s to say, we are threatened not only by actual threats, but by fear of being stressed - of having the stress response activated. But this fear itself activates the stress response....

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  • Dharmatalk: Case 91, Book of Equanimity: Nansen & the Peonies (Part 2): 2018 Rohatsu Sesshin (Part 6 of 6)

    MCZCNovember 27, 20191 min read

    "Accept what comes from silence." ~ Wendell Berry Description: This is the final talk of the 2018 Rohatsu sesshin. It begins with a few comments on this series of talks and continues on with the discussion of Case 91. The student in this koan, Minister Rikukô, is excited to present a powerful quotation to Master Nansen. Nansen’s beautiful, powerful response is further explored. Post & Featured image: rocks and hills in water by Richie Graham/scopio, purchased from scopio,...

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  • Message from Henry: Ordinary Ease

    MCZCNovember 26, 20191 min read

    Ease will come. Awakening may not be something to really celebrate. It’s just losing some obstruction that was obscuring and distorting the view of reality. It’s merely a return to the ordinary. It’s just that this kind of ordinary is not so commonly recognized these days.  *** Sitting: at last, given time, with patience and an attitude of openness to what is, and a longer term view, quiet will fall. Ease will come. Message from Henry...

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  • Mindful Encouragement

    MCZCNovember 23, 20191 min read

    ...peace comes in the pause, the quiet between breaths... Sometimes life gets messy. In seeking relief from suffering through the practice of mindfulness we may find ourselves wading through a morass of literature, inspirational websites, commercial enterprises, guided meditations and scholarly articles. It’s not supposed to make things harder. Discernment may seem like our best guide. When that fails us, it is okay to seek guidance from others we trust. Ultimately, we are assured that...

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  • Henry Shukman: Radio-Cafe Interview

    MCZCNovember 21, 20191 min read

      Listen to Henry's Interview on the Radio-Cafe with Mary Charlotte Domandi. Henry and Mary Charlotte have an engaging conversation about Henry's new book, One Blade of Grass.   Image: Dewdrop in the morning sun by kie-ker, Pixabay.com

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.  

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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...

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