Mountain Cloud Zen Center

Intro to Zen class
2026-05-17 10:00 - 11:15 (America/Denver) | Mountain Cloud Zen Center, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM, 87505, United States
Introduction to silent sitting meditation. Open to all.
Sundays, 10:00 – 11:15am MT
In-person only
We’ve Updated our Intro to Zen Format!
A staple of Mountain Cloud’s weekly offerings is the Intro to Zen class, led by Sanbo Zen Teacher Scott Thornton. As long-timers know, these classes are packed with information about the history of Buddhism and Sanbo Zen, the core teachings of our lineage, Zendo etiquette, and meditation instruction. To help facilitate a more easeful experience during these classes, our teachers have created an updated curriculum, spreading this wealth of information across four classes each month.
While participants are encouraged to participate in all four installments, there isn’t a particular order or sequence required – you can jump in any time and attend one or all. Each class still begins with introductions and ends with detailed instruction on how to properly sit in meditation (zazen) and includes time for Q&A.
~~~~
Intro to Zen is designed for “beginners mindset”, whether you have little or a lot of meditation experience. The class has four installments each month. Participants are encouraged to participate in all four, but there isn’t a particular order or sequence required – you can jump in any time and attend one or all. Each class begins with introductions and ends with detailed instruction on how to properly sit in meditation (zazen) and includes time for Q&A.
Section 1 will cover the Buddha’s origin story, and an overview of the history of Buddhism, Zen, Sanbo Zen, and Mountain Cloud.
Section 2 will cover The Four Aspirations, the Three Jewels (or Treasures), the Three Fruits of Zen, the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eight Fold Path, the Five Remembrances, the Four Immeasurables, and The Four Vows of the Bodhisattva.
Section 3 will be directed at how to practice at Mountain Cloud, describing the use of Koans and working with a teacher, zendo etiquette, walking meditation (called kinhin), and chanting. There will be a general orientation to what a dharma talk (called teisho) entails, plus a description of the different types of practice, from daily zazen to Zazenkai (a full day of practice) to weekend and 6-day retreats (called Sesshin).
These first three classes are typically led by Sanbo Zen Teacher Scott Thornton.
Section 4 will be a more open ended meeting led by Assistant Teacher and founding member of Mountain Cloud, Will Brennan.
All are welcome to join Community Tea right before this event in the Mountain Cloud dining room from 9:30-10:00am. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow sangha members and get to know the Mountain Cloud community.

∞
You may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:
Monday – Friday
7:00–8:00am • Zazen
Monday – Tuesday
5:30–6:30pm • Zazen
Wednesday
5:30–6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday
meditation + brief talk/Q&A
Thursday
5:30–7:00pm • Dharma Talk (Teisho)
meditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm
Saturday
8:30–9:30am • Zazen
Sunday
8:30–9:30am • Zazen
9:30–10:00am • Community Tea (in-person only)
10:00–11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only)
*There is no Intro to Zen Meditation during retreats or sesshin. Please check the calendar for any changes in our schedule.
