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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Are Human’s Special? Part 3 by David Loy
April 21, 20186 min read
Let one’s thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world — above, below, and across — without any obstruction, without any hatred, without any enmity. ~ Metta Sutra We are featuring some of David Loy's recent writing on our website to introduce you to this thoughtful and brilliant Zen teacher, writer and environmental activist. David will be offering an Eco-Dharma lecture and Workshop at Mountain Cloud, May 18-20. Click here for details about the Eco-Dharma weekend. ...
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Teisho: A Map of Zen Training (Part 5)
April 19, 20181 min read
"... There is no self, no witness, and no world and it is marked by a sense of deep relief and joy ..." To reach satisfaction in all, desire its possession in nothing. John of the Cross Description: This is the fifth and final talk from the Fall 2017 sesshin. To wrap up the journey through a map of Zen training, Henry begins by pointing out that John...
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Are Human’s Special? Part 2 by David Loy
April 14, 20184 min read
...we are creatures that know we are creatures; moreover, we are creatures that create, and know that we create. We are featuring some of David Loy's recent writing on our website to introduce you to this thoughtful and brilliant Zen teacher, writer and environmental activist. David will be offering an Eco-Dharma Workshop at Mountain Cloud, May 18-20. Click here for details about the Eco-Dharma weekend. Click to read Part 1 of this essay on our website....
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Teisho: A Map of Zen Training (Part 4) & Case 64, Book of Equanimity: Shuzan’s “Bride”
April 12, 20181 min read
"... the most important thing about Zen training. It is the experiential discovery that we are not alone, we are not individual, we are not separate from anything ..." Zazen is the gate of ease and joy. Dogen Description: This teisho is the fourth talk from the Fall 2017 sesshin. Sitting is a life-long settling down process. We...
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Are Human’s Special? Part 1 by David Loy
April 7, 20185 min read
...according to traditional Buddhist teachings, only humans can awaken and become Buddhas. That is why it is so important not to waste our precious human birth. David Loy will be offering an eco-dharma lecture and workshop at Mountain Cloud, May 18-20. Click here for details about the Eco-Dharma weekend. We are featuring some of David's recent writing on our website to introduce you to this thoughtful and prescient Zen teacher, writer and environmental activist. ******* Obviously...
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Teisho: A Map of Zen Training (Part 3) & Case 65, Book of Equanimity: Shuzan’s “Bride”
April 5, 20182 min read
"... only one well-being that unites all things in boundless love ..." To come to be what you are not, you must go by a way in which you are not. John of the Cross Description: This teisho is the third talk from the Fall 2017 sesshin. Henry discusses Bodhidharma’s entry by practice and entry...
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Mountain Cloud Goes Solar
April 3, 20181 min read
Solar Electric Panels are installed on the roof of our main building! We are online, interconnected with the power grid, generating our own electricity and supplying excess to the grid. Donations are requested for our eco-friendly power system. Click here to donate.
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Teisho: A Map of Zen Training & The Jhanas (Part 2)
March 29, 20181 min read
"... The work of concentration, deepening and clarifying makes us more available to the moment ..." Description: This teisho is the second talk from the Fall 2017 sesshin. Henry continues to outline an overall map of what Zen offers as a means of extinguishing the three fires—desire, aversion and delusion. This unfolds into further discussion of the jhana states, followed by the Four Noble Truths, the three marks and the five skandhas. The work of concentration, deepening...
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Teisho: A Map of Zen Training & The Jhanas
March 22, 20182 min read
"... Whatever your practice is, let it absorb you ..." Description: This teisho is the first talk from the Fall 2017 sesshin. In the first half of the talk, Henry outlines a map of Zen training, beginning with Bodhidharma and the two entries of Zen practice—by “practice” and by “principle”. This leads into the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Six Paramitas, which are analogous to the early stages of the ten oxherding pictures which...
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