Dogen – Page 2 – Mountain Cloud Zen Center

Message from Valerie: Spreading Seeds

Setting up the zendo for the Intro Class this past Sunday, a longtime member asked if she could help. We spoke of the wind, blowing with an intensity unlike anywhere

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Message from Valerie: Beneficial Action

Foolish people think that if they help others first, their own benefit will be lost, but this is not so. Beneficial action is an act of oneness, benefiting self and

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Message from Valerie: Freedom and Support in the Forms of Zen

Every week in the Intro Class we talk about posture, breathing, and stilling the mind – the three basic components of zazen. It’s a repetition that never grows old, an

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The Heart of Dogen’s Fukanzazengi

Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. Valerie unpacks the first paragraph of Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, Universally Recommended Instructions on Doing Zazen. This opening

The Two-Fold Truth: Genjokoan, Valerie Forstman

Showing its back and showing its front, a falling maple leaf. ~ Ryokan, Death Poem Resolving the matter of Life and death is of prime importance. To explore this phrase,

Hands and Eyes: Summer Sesshin Talk 5

This world of dew is a world of dew and yet, and yet. ~ Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) Valerie takes a deep dive into compassion. She first relays the myth of

One Bright Pearl, Summer Sesshin Talk 4, Valerie Forstman

The entire world of the ten directions is one bright pearl. Zen Master Gensha During this summer Sesshin, we have been deeply exploring the intimacy in all things which Dogen

Dharmatalk: Reflection on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi with Will Brennan

Description: Senior Student Will Brennan gives a dharma talk, offering reflections on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, Recommending Zazen to all people. Will has recently been appointed as a Sanbo Zen Assistant Teacher and

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Message from Valerie: Choiceless Awareness

When you practice just sitting and continuously give up all thoughts and views, the way becomes more and more intimate. ~ Eihei Dogen The earliest known Ch’an or Zen

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Dharmatalk: Reflection on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi

Description: Newly appointed assistant Sanbo Zen teacher Will Brennan offers reflections on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, (Recommending Zazen for all People) about how to practice, why practice, a beginner’s primer and much more.

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Dharmatalk: Introduction to Meditation Retreat: Abundant Advantage (Part 2 of 2)

“May each and everybody whether staying still or standing up have ten thousand blessings….Today I have advantage after advantage, now, please practice.” ~ Dogen Description: Valerie explores the dharma hall discourse

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Thinking – Nonthinking

When you practice just sitting and continuously give up all thoughts and views, the way becomes more and more intimate. ~ Eihei Dogen One of the most common questions around

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Gratitude

Continuous practice, day after day, is the most appropriate way of expressing gratitude ~ Eihei Dogen With regular practice, meditation is known to calm our nervous systems, enhance present moment

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Video – Talk 2, April Virtual Meditation Weekend

Love sitting in Zazen, as if putting out a fire on top of your head. ~ Dogen Valerie Forstman gives the second talk during the April Intro to Meditation weekend.

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