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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Everyday a Good Day, Valerie Forstman
February 18, 20231 min read
Speaking in the wake of multiple mass shootings, Valerie turns to Unmon (Yunmen) and his living koan, “Every Day is a Good Day.” The talk begins and ends in music - the “grant us peace” from a chorus performing while masked to the thunderous silence of a typhoon’s downpour on a small teahouse in Japan, an awakening moment. In between, the talk explores the fulcrum experience that plunges us into the heart of this broken...
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The Heart of Dogen’s Fukanzazengi
February 13, 20231 min read
Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. ~ Soren Kierkegaard Valerie unpacks the first paragraph of Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, Universally Recommended Instructions on Doing Zazen. This opening paragraph makes four statements, each followed by a challenging question. The Fukanzazengi is the first essay Dogen wrote, at age 27, after returning to Japan from China where he had deep awakening experiences guided by Chinese master Rujing. Valerie looks at this...
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The Capacity to Awaken, Valerie Forstman
February 12, 20231 min read
In this talk from the first Zazenkai of 2023 at Mountain Cloud, Valerie turns to Mahapajapati, mother to Siddhartha Gautama after his birth mother dies and the first female dharma ancestor of the Buddha. After a long absence, Mahapajapati sees the Buddha and recognizes his deep transformation. Her heart is pierced. She asks – for herself and on behalf of the many women gathered in practice - for the chance to be ordained and enter...
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The Advantage of New Years, Valerie Forstman
February 11, 20231 min read
In this first talk of 2023 at Mountain Cloud, Valerie opens with a dedication of the year to hearing the cries of the world, responding in wisdom and compassion, and realizing the Way of awakening that calls to us moment-to-moment. She then turns to a new year’s Dharma Hall Discourse by Dogen, “The Advantage of New Years.” Dogen celebrates the newness of the year, the day, and the morning by raising the question, “Is there...
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Rohatsu 2022: Day 4, Prajnaparamitra, The Heart Sutra with Henry Shukman
February 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,
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Structure, Natalie Goldberg
February 6, 20231 min read
Natalie gives a personal talk about her experiences as a student of Japanese Zen Master, Katagiri Roshi. His example and presence, his consistent daily "showing up" and sitting for all sentient beings, taught Natalie about structure, practice and mind. This talk is filled with anecdotes - which were often unexpected Zen teachings - from Natalie's life long practice as a teacher and a student. Photo by Michael on Unsplash
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To Infinity and Beyond, Ruben Habito
February 6, 20231 min read
Ruben’s talk at our January 19, Thursday Evening Event, examines how we are made for the infinite. Zen practice is an invitation to experience the infinite. Ruben explores how religion is the human search to find and experience something beyond this finite, fragile and temporary life. The heart that longs for this is embedded in all of us and is found in all traditions. Nothing will satisfy this longing except for the mysterious infinite or,...
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Barriers, Shana Smith (Video)
January 28, 20232 min read
Guest Sanbo Zen teacher Shana Smith comes to us from her home in Florida. She acknowledges the many challenges of our world (hurricanes, pandemic, politics, Ukraine) and that our practice has never been more important. Zen lives, breathes and informs our life inside these challenges. Shana points to the barrier Islands around Florida which were never meant to be developed because they shift and move with the ocean. These islands are living masses meant to...
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