Posted inBlue Cliff, Dharma, Koans, MC Podcasts

Dharma Talk: “One Treasure – Endlessly Functioning” with Valerie Forstman

In the wake of the Rohatsu sesshin at Mountain Cloud and our deep dive into Hakuin’s Song of Zazen, Valerie begins this talk with a painting by Hakuin, an image of three blind men crossing a precarious log bridge. What does Hakuin’s vision of ‘crossing over’ say about our practice, about awakening, and about the leap or fall right into the heart of this broken open world?

By way of response, Valerie takes up case 62 in the Hekiganroku or Blue Cliff Record, “Unmon’s ‘One Treasure.’” In the case, Master Unmon/Yunmen quotes a famous passage about the one treasure that is always right in our midst and offers a teaching about its manifold activity.

Recorded on December 18th, 2025

Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this.

Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/

Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/

footer support banner image

Support Mountain Cloud

You can show your gratitude for Mountain Cloud events, retreats, podcasts and other teachings by making a one-time gift, or by becoming a supporting member.

Donate to Mountain Cloud Become a Member