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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Dharmatalk: Open Wide The Door: 2018 Rohatsu Sesshin (Part 1 of 6)
October 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...
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Minutes – Sangha Meeting October 12, 2019
October 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...
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He Who Works
October 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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Dharmatalk: The Sound of One Hand
October 17, 20191 min read
Unpack the gift Description: Beginning with a discussion of concentration practice, this talk focuses on the famous koan “The Sound of One Hand” and its origins. Just as we sit, Hakuin took these words from Setcho into his body: “The single hand doesn’t sound without reason.” This process is life-changing, allowing a radical change in our experience of this moment. Post & Featured image: Wedding ring tied to a white pillow with a purple ribbon...
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Dharmatalk: Points of Practice
October 10, 20191 min read
We are giving ourselves to this moment Description: This talk is about general points of practice with a focus on five areas: relaxing the body; general mindfulness; concentration (samadhi); awakening; returning to the world—to help. The common denominator to all of these elements is Love. In beautiful excerpts from Bruce Springsteen’s memoir, we can catch a few small echoes of the world of the masters and taste something of the same passion experienced in Zen...
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Dharmatalk: Living Our Deepest Nature
October 3, 20191 min read
Description: This talk recounts a recent teacher’s retreat in Germany with the Abbot of Sanbo Zen, Yamada Ryoun Roshi. It begins with the story of Father Lassalle, a Jesuit priest and Zen teacher who built the zendo in Germany where the retreat took place. Practice does not end; there is no I’ve-got-this moment. Or we might say there are many such moments. This is demonstrated in the ongoing training of teachers, even those who have been...
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Dharmatalk: Case 7, The Gateless Gate: Joshu’s “Wash Your Bowls”
September 26, 20191 min read
The world is nothing but metamorphosis and life is nothing but an opinion. ~Marcus Aurelius Everybody’s got a hungry heart. ~Bruce Springsteen Description: In The Gateless Gate, the last line of this koan reads, “The monk attained some realization.” What did the monk realize? Why is this seemingly ordinary dialogue between the great master Jôshô and a monk worthy of our attention? These questions encapsulate the central theme of this inspiring talk. Post & Featured...
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