Koans – Page 5 – Mountain Cloud Zen Center

Dharma Talk: The Benevolence of Awakening with Valerie Forstman

In this early spring talk, Valerie turns to the way of awakening, discovered and explored as this world – in the midst – just as it is. Not-two. The talk

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Dharma Talk: The Benevolence of Awakening with Valerie Forstman

In this early spring talk, Valerie turns to the way of awakening, discovered and explored as this world – in the midst – just as it is. Not-two. The talk

Dharma Talk: “By Boat or By Land: Crossing over, fully arrived” with Valerie Forstman

In this talk, Valerie begins by revisiting themes from our recent sesshin – the wellspring of zazen, the intimacy of not-knowing, the peace that passes all understanding. The talk explores

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Dharma Talk: “By Boat or By Land: Crossing over, fully arrived” with Valerie Forstman

In this talk, Valerie begins by revisiting themes from our recent sesshin – the wellspring of zazen, the intimacy of not-knowing, the peace that passes all understanding. The talk explores

Dharma Talk: “Waking up to this threshold moment” with Valerie Forstman

In this talk, Valerie begins with poetry as a portal to the language of koans, a language that uses words to go beyond words. Koans don’t just describe or express

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Dharma Talk: “Waking up to this threshold moment” with Valerie Forstman

In this talk, Valerie begins with poetry as a portal to the language of koans, a language that uses words to go beyond words. Koans don’t just describe or express

Dharma Talk: “What Moves?” with Valerie Forstman

In the Gateless Gate (Mumonkan) case 29, two monks watch a temple flag flapping in the wind. They argue back and forth: is it the flag that moves or the

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Dharma Talk: “What Moves?” with Valerie Forstman

In the Gateless Gate (Mumonkan) case 29, two monks watch a temple flag flapping in the wind. They argue back and forth: is it the flag that moves or the

Dharma Talk: Love and Loss in a Seamless World with Valerie Forstman

This talk is offered in gratitude for the life of Johanna Sindelar, a long-time sangha member who dedicated over a decade of service to Mountain Cloud. As a tribute to

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Dharma Talk: “Meeting Challenge with Equanimity” with Scott Thornton

In this talk, Scott draws from the Gateless Gate case 13, “Tokusan Carries His Bowls” as a case study for how we can meet mistakes, challenges, and misunderstandings with equanimity.

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Dharma Talk: “Listen to the Heart of Things” with Maria Reis Habito

In this talk, Maria sheds light on how listening to the voice of a bird or the sound of rain can bring us fully back home to our true nature.

Dharma Talk: “Listen to the Heart of Things” with Maria Reis Habito

In this talk, Maria sheds light on how listening to the voice of a bird or the sound of rain can bring us fully back home to our true nature.

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Dharma Talk: “The Year of the Snake” with Valerie Forstman

On this first day of the Lunar New Year with the world in turmoil, Valerie turns to case 22 of the Blue Cliff Record, “Seppo’s ‘Poisonous Snake.’” What life-giving poison

Dharma Talk: “The Path to Discernment” with Carolyn Seburn

Carolyn discusses Mumonkan case 11: Jôshû Examines the Hermits as an invitation to examine and trust our own discernment.

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