Dogen – Page 3 – Mountain Cloud Zen Center

Message from Henry: Daily Sitting and the First Noble Truth

Everything that comes up in our sitting is helping us. Zazen is a great blessing. What arises in zazen is always a path to healing. When Buddha gave his very

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Dharmatalk: Gathering of the Heart

“… Joshu is still sitting. I can’t but sit …” Description: In this talk given on the second day of the Spring 2020 sesshin at Mountain Cloud, Valerie takes up the

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Video – Everyday is a Good Day, Talk 4 from Full Moon, Clear Mirror Retreat

The full moon has a long history of being the clearest expression of awakening. For Dogen the moon represents Zazen, silent sitting, in each moment. As a way of glancing

Video – Silent Sitting – Talk 3 from Full Moon, Clear Mirror Retreat

Whole heartedly engaging in single minded sitting is naturally undefiled. The true Dharma appears of itself. ~ Dogen Full moon Clear mirror, another name for Zazen…. the still still state

Message from Henry: The Seeker

Forget seeking, forget not-seeking, forget all sense of gain. Don’t underestimate or undervalue the seeker within you. The seeker is right. There is something worth seeking, something worth finding. Remember

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Video – Reflections on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, Will Brennan

Senior student and one of Mountain Cloud’s founding members, Will Brennan, offers his reflections on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi. All dharma talks and Q&A sessions from the Encounter of the Heart Retreat

Video – The Invitation: Encounter of the Heart Retreat, Talk 3, Valerie Forstman

“Who would waste the spark from a flint stone?” ~ Dogen Anything could be that spark. Ryoun Roshi says “koans are a message from the oneness world.” They offer an

Message from Henry: The Heart of Zen

That discovery, of a hidden identity shared by all beings, brought effortless joy. It arose spontaneously from his heart. When Shakyamuni Buddha experienced his great awakening at the age of

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Abundant Advantage: Talk 2 from the January Intro to Meditation Retreat, Valerie Forstman

Wander into the center of the circle of wonder, right where you sit. In accordance with this saying, let us practice. Valerie explores the dharma hall discourse that Dogen gave

Message from Henry: Hammer Blows

An excerpt from part way through Henry’s path of training as recounted in One Blade of Grass… …In spite of all the practice I’d done, the study under them (teachers)…

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Falling Snow

All last night and This morning still, Snow falling in the deepest mountains; Ah, to see the autumn leaves Scattering in my home. ~ Dogen

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Daily Activities

Transmitting to the east the way the ancestors brought from the west, My daily activities illuminated by the moon and shadowed by the clouds, Because I revere the ancient way

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Winter Retreat

The white mountain of Echizen My winter retreat: A blanket of clouds Covering the frosted peaks And snowy slopes. ~ Dogen Zenji

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Message from Henry: One Bright Pearl

Zen: the only way to keep it is to give it away. Throughout my training I’d thought I just wanted to find again the “one bright pearl” I’d glimpsed on

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