Teachings

  • Breakthroughs Part 2 with Henry Shukman

    MCZCNovember 26, 20241 min read

    At this time when many of us may be feeling daunted and uncertain, we gather in the zendo to tap into our shared deeper nature that meditation can open up, drawing sustenance and new perspectives from it. In this talk, Henry explores breakthrough experiences — sudden shifts in how we understand and experience this life. They can show up in many forms, and in many areas, both personal and collective. Zen’s history is full of stories...

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  • Poetry, Practice, and the Wild Ethics of Love: A Conversation with David Hinton

    MCZCNovember 19, 20241 min read

    David Hinton has published numerous books of poetry and essays, and many translations of ancient Chinese poetry and philosophy—all informed by an abiding interest in deep ecological thinking. This widely-acclaimed work has earned Hinton a Guggenheim Fellowship, numerous fellowships from NEA and NEH, and both of the major awards given for poetry translation in the United States: the Landon Translation Award (Academy of American Poets) and the PEN American Translation Award. Most recently, Hinton received...

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  • Valerie Forstman: Zen’s Subverting Impulse: Overturning the One

    MC PodcastNovember 5, 20241 min read

    This week's talk was offered by Mountain Cloud's Guiding Teacher, Valerie Forstman. It was recorded on October 31st at the Zendo in Sante Fe. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/ Check out our website: https://www.mountaincloud.org/ All are welcome to join us for sitting and dharma talks. Use this link to join us: https://sit.mountaincloud.org...

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  • Kali Basman: Cultivating Wonder

    MC PodcastOctober 29, 20242 min read

    Kali invites us to examine the wide array of features that comprise “The Practice Field,” the many aspects of our path of practice. She states that as a species we are quite proficient at ignoring our “shadow side of life,” those parts of us that help inform the richness of the practice field. Through this avoidance of difficult experiences, we contribute to our own suffering. Kali suggests that, with kindness and insight, we can lovingly...

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  • Spring Retreat Talk 4, Gathering the Heart Mind with Valerie Forstman

    MC PodcastMay 16, 20231 min read

    Dwelling no-where, mind comes forth~ from the Diamond Sutra Heart mind directs us to the fundamental point of who and what we are. In Chinese there is one term for Heart Mind. No hyphen necessary, simply one. Contemporary Sanbo Zen teacher Migaku Sato wrote a poem with this line: In nothing at all-ness, there is endlessly everything. Out of nothing, here we are practicing, says Valerie or That thou art, says Ruben Habito. To further open,...

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  • Spring Retreat Talk 3, The Boat is on the River with Valerie Forstman

    MC PodcastMay 9, 20231 min read

    Valerie explores the clarity and simplicity of Master Hogen who came to be known as the dharma eye of deep clarity. Focusing on Case 51 from Book of Equanimity, Valerie illuminates mind and consciousness through Hogan’s clarity. If you want to study buddha-dharma, everything you see is buddha dharma, a door, a window and the exquisite beauty of the boat is on the river. For Hogan there is no difference between phenomena (worldly dharma) and...

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  • Spring Retreat Talk 2, The Stone Bridge: Crossing Over with Valerie Forstman

    MC PodcastMay 2, 20231 min read

    Something puts our feet on this path, starting from the ordinary dualistic world. Gradually, as we practice and practice, in some unguarded moment, everything falls away, and it’s just this. Heaven and Earth: without any space for a conjunction. Then we practice, practice, practice…. and return to the ordinary world, but it’s upside down. This great return is a bridge, a crossing over. Continuing with Joshu from the previous day’s talk on Mu, Valerie looks at...

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  • Spring Retreat Talk 1, Joshu’s Dog: Crossing Over, Fully Arrived with Valerie Forstman

    MC PodcastApril 25, 20231 min read

    Crossing over to the other shore is the heart of our practice and the heart of Buddha’s teaching. Eventually we realize that we were always on the shore, here and now, in the moment at hand. In this first talk of our Spring sesshin, Valerie looks at the famous koan: Does a dog have Buddha Nature? the traditional first teisho in a Zen sesshin. Valerie mentions a choral chant version of the Heart Sutra from Plum...

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  • Dharmatalk: Diamond Sutra and Living Beings with Maria Habito

    MC PodcastMarch 17, 20231 min read

    "Abiding no-where mind comes forth." Maria Habito returns to Mountain Cloud's zoom zendo and talks about the Diamond Sutra. When we enter deep silence, the diamond cuts through every notion we carry. It can show us intimate awareness of no self, no other, no sentient beings and no time. In this talk, Maria focuses on Living Beings, which refers to those who are not yet enlightened. However many species of living beings there are, Bodhisattvas lead all...

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  • Rohatsu 2022: Day 6, Vibes, Awakening and What then? with Henry Shukman

    MC PodcastMarch 7, 20231 min read

    For this final Rohatsu talk, Henry looks at three questions. What are we doing here, just sitting with each other? What is awakening? and What then? We are living "it" every moment. And, here's a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Spring Online RetreatThursday-Sunday, March 23-26 Four-day online retreat led by Valerie Forstman Original Love 2023: Click here for full details

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  • Rohatsu 2022: Day 5, Cannot Get Wet, Cannot Get Dry with Valerie Forstman

    MC PodcastFebruary 28, 20231 min read

    In this talk from day 5 of the Rohatsu sesshin, Valerie picks up on the previous day’s talk by Henry where he presents the title and first line of the Heart Sutra. Turning to the figure of Kannon, Kanzeon, or Avalokiteshvara, bodhisattva of great compassion, Valerie asks, “What is compassion?” In response, she lifts up the phrase, “Just compassion,” then turns to a koan that addresses the heart of the matter: who we truly are....

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  • Rohatsu 2022: Day 4, Prajnaparamitra, The Heart Sutra with Henry Shukman

    MC PodcastFebruary 7, 20231 min read

    What is this practice? Why do it? Essentially, it's all about slowing down and things falling away. Our very existence, our being gets simpler. Henry looks at the title and first lines of the central document of Mahayana Buddhism, The Heart Sutra. This document is a story about Avalokiteshvara going from contracted view, to full view. And, here's a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Daylong Sit / ZazenkaiSaturday February...

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  • Rohatsu 2022: Day 3, All-Inclusive Awakening with Valerie Forstman

    MC PodcastJanuary 17, 20231 min read

    In celebration of Shakyamuni Buddha’s awakening, Valerie takes up the Head Chapter of the Denkoroku or Transmission of Light. “I and the great earth and all beings simultaneously attain the Way.” The invitation of this practice is to taste and see: Our sitting, standing, bowing, walking is nothing but that awakening - fully expressing it in every breath, every gesture. And, here's a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Daylong...

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  • Rohatsu 2022: Day 2, What Matters Most with Henry Shukman

    MC PodcastJanuary 12, 20231 min read

    Henry asks the question, matters most? When you reflect on this question, have any open mind, beyond ordinary or day to day concerns. He asks, what is this experience and what is it to be alive? And... who is having this experience? Watch this exploration of what actually matters and why. And, here's a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Daylong Sit / ZazenkaiSaturday January 21, 2023Join Valerie Forstman and...

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