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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The Ultimate
April 21, 20191 min read
All objects point to the Ultimate, and a real work of art actively brings whoever sees or hears it to his real nature, which is beauty. The difference between an ordinary object and a work of art is that the object is passive in its pointing towards the Ultimate whereas the work of art is active. Jean Kline (Neither This Nor That I Am, 10; cf. 'A Conversation on Art' in Who Am I?) **** Photo...
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Dharmatalk: All Beings, One Intimacy
April 18, 20191 min read
"... Everything is constantly pouring into existence in this magnificent generosity ..." Description: The Buddha spent his life trying to help others to be freed from suffering. Zen practice exposes our weaknesses, limitations and challenges—this is the grit that makes the pearl. We face things we may not want to face and, therefore, fuel the possibility of discovering that what we thought we were is an invention, that we are not separate, and the true self...
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Beauty – Truth
April 13, 20191 min read
Try to find the Way to marry your love of Beauty to your love of Truth they are the same Love ~ Rupert Spira Image: Rosa Bellino
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Dharmatalk (Guest): Ruben Habito: Case 3, Blue Cliff Record: Master Ba is Ill
April 11, 20191 min read
"... See with the eyes of the heart ..." ~ Ruben Habito Description: This talk was given by Ruben Habito, founding teacher of Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas, TX, on the occasion of a memorial service to celebrate the life of a sangha member. In Case 3, Master Ba is close to death and the temple attendant asks him how he is feeling. What does Master Ba’s answer show us about how he lived? How...
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Dharmatalk: Getting Better Resourced
April 4, 20191 min read
"... We are draining poisons and clarifying the system ..." Description: This is the fifth teisho of the Summer 2018 sesshin. In this closing talk the value of Zen practice is explored with regard to how it teaches us about our human nature. Guided by the Dharma, we practice with the help of a teacher and in this process we are healing both self and world. Post & Featured image: Swirl by johnhain, Pixabay License.
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What Shall We Do? by David Loy
March 30, 20197 min read
...humanity’s greatest challenge ever is also Buddhism’s greatest challenge ever. An excerpt from Ecodharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis, by David Loy Buddhist teachings do not tell us what to do in response to the ecological crisis, but they have a lot to say about how to do it. Gautama Buddha lived about 2,400 years ago in what is now northeast India. Over the next millennium Buddhism spread to most of Asia, interacting with...
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Dharmatalk: The Heart Sutra (Part 2)
March 28, 20191 min read
"... All things are essentially empty ..." Description: This is the fourth teisho of the Summer 2018 sesshin. This talk is a continuation of the third talk, exploring the gift of the Heart Sutra. “Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, no sensation, no perception, no mental reaction, no consciousness. All things are essentially empty.” Why is this good news for us? Post & Featured image: Mars Victoria Crater by WikiImages, Pixabay License.
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Lost in Dream
March 23, 20191 min read
I never saw the heart beating in my chest the Love that was the melody to my life The life that I overlooked searching too far searching in the future for the Present I alway miss Here before me Me! This Being that beats in my heart this song that moves my fingers writing a song to It Self A music that rings in this autumn evening here at my desk Listening to You To You Finally!...
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2019 Spring Sesshin Photo
March 20, 20191 min read
Many thanks to our dedicated teacher Henry, Sandy and her phenomenal cooking cohort, and the diligent zendo team for a fantastic six day spring sesshin, March 11-17, 2019. And of course much gratitude for the participants!
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Dharmatalk: The Heart Sutra (Part 1)
March 20, 20191 min read
"... Prajnaparamita is the mother of All ..." Description: This is the third teisho of the Summer 2018 sesshin. The focus of this talk is the Heart Sutra, which is the essence of the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) teachings. What are the five skandhas, or aggregates? The Buddha said, “The skandha of form is as empty, hollow, and insubstantial as a ball of foam on a river.” This points to what humans are capable of discovering...
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