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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Teisho: Sesshin Day 3, Case 4 of The Blue Cliff Record
June 29, 20172 min read
"The alchemy of slow-cooking—that’s also zen…" “When the mind is quiet, we notice so much more…the things we encounter are the teachings.” Description: This teisho is the third of the Spring 2017 sesshin. Henry begins by discussing how we all start to simmer down, as sesshin progresses. “When the mind is quiet, we notice so much more…the things we encounter are the teachings.” Snowflakes, bridge, flower, floor, dog. Henry picks up on the story of Tokusan...
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In Search of the Sacred, by David Loy, Part 1 of 4
June 24, 20174 min read
The idea of a secular world was originally one half of a duality—and it remains haunted by the loss of its other half. Modernity developed out of the separation that ensued when that other half gradually disappeared into the clouds. Today Buddhism faces what is likely its greatest challenge ever, as it makes its way into a modern world completely different from anything it has encountered before. In sharp contrast to the traditional Asian cultures...
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Teisho: Sesshin Day 2, Case 28 of The Gateless Gate
June 22, 20172 min read
"We know we are really practicing because we are OK even when it’s difficult…" "... who was ripe, was freed of the vine. Body and mind gone ..." Description: This teisho is the second of the Spring 2017 sesshin. Henry encourages everyone to stay with their practice, as the sesshin continues and we learn to mind less. He discusses the adaptation process at the start of each sesshin and says, “I personally do not know of another...
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June Work Retreat Photos
June 22, 20171 min read
Enjoy these pictures from our work retreat June 4-10. Thank you so much to the participants: Christy, Tor, Chris, Bill, Maura, Hans, Lucas, Sherry, Duncan, Connie, Neal, Sandy and Gudrun. Apologies if I missed anyone. [caption id="attachment_7135" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Work crew and adobes[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7147" align="alignleft" width="300"] An energized crew[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7145" align="alignright" width="300"] Connie and Maura[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7136" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Brick village[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7137" align="aligncenter" width="768"] MCZC Carpenter Bill[/caption] [caption id="attachment_7138"...
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What is a Koan?
June 17, 20172 min read
The koan is a little nugget of something an awakened master did during his time. ~ Henry Shukman Henry Shukman, answers the question: What is a koan? The text is taken from a 2-minute video clip from an upcoming full length feature film on a conversation between Henry Shukman and Chris Hebard about Zen and more. The word koan actually means "a public case" which has a legal background, like an established legal precedent. The world transferred over to the spiritual realm...
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Teisho: Sesshin Day 1, Koan Mu (Jôshû’s Dog)
June 15, 20171 min read
"This is a practice of allowing and loving." Description: This teisho is the first of the Spring 2017 sesshin. Traditionally, the first talk, during sesshin, is about the first koan, Mu, or “Jôshû’s Dog.” Henry begins by discussing prostrations and poses the questions, what does the term “buddha” mean?, which leads into why do we do a sesshin? (what are we doing, sitting all day, for days) and two great questions of zen—how to live as...
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Be Still & Know: A Zen Reading of a Biblical Saying, by Ruben Habito, Part 3 of 3
June 10, 20176 min read
Be Still and Know that... I AM. Read Part 1 and Part 2 of Be Still & Know My teacher Yamada Koun gives an account of his own experience of opening to this infinite and boundless “I am.” In 1953, he wrote to his own teacher, Soen Nakagawa, about how he was riding a train and reading a passage by Dogen that said, “The mind is no other than mountains and rivers, the great wide...
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Teisho: Tokusan and Consciousness
June 8, 20172 min read
We are born into this life, and we can decide that we know certain things about it. We can become convinced that we know enough… and therefore stop noticing that we have absolutely no idea what this is. Consciousness is Zen’s realm. ~ Henry Shukman Description: What is this experience called life? What is consciousness? Henry talks about how these questions form a major scientific quandary. We don’t know what consciousness is or where...
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Be Still & Know: A Zen Reading of a Biblical Saying, by Ruben Habito, Part 2 of 3
June 3, 20177 min read
Insofar as this little “I,” secluded from the boundless “I AM,” reigns in our lives, we are blocking the infinite capacity that is the totality of ourselves as enveloped by the boundless “I AM.” We have fallen from grace. Read Part 1 of Be Still & Know We are invited to sit in silence, and to immerse ourselves in the vast and boundless ocean of “to be,” and to know that with this, there is...
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Teisho: Obaku’s Drinkers Revisited
June 1, 20172 min read
I don’t say there is no Zen, just no Zen Teachers. ~ Obaku If you think you are going to get something through effort, you won’t get anywhere or anything, you are still in the midst of craving. ~ Henry Shukman Description: Henry introduces the verses that are attached to each Koan in the Book of Equanimity. He explicates the charming, powerful verse from Case 53, Obaku’s Drinkers (which Henry spoke about...
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