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UID:10117425-1782950400-1785542400@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:30 Days of Zen: How to Fall in Love with Dogen (Online Course)
DESCRIPTION:30 Days of Zen:\nHow to Fall in Love with Dogen\n\nDaily Emails\, Meditations & Cohort Forum: July 2 – August 1\nLive Workshops: Saturdays\, July 4\, 18\, 25\, and August 1\, 12:00 – 1:15pm MT / 2:00 – 3:15pm ET \nRegister Here \n\nThe hugely influential Zen master and poet-philosopher Eihei Dogen speaks to the grossest and subtlest movements of our zazen\, our lives\, and our whole humanity—and there’s a language to learn in order to appreciate this fully. Both your thought and your whole being will be more fluent in this language by the end of this course. \nBy looking closely at a few of Dogen’s favorite themes and images; by lighting a path through these themes to show how naturally one leads into the next; and\, most importantly\, by doing practice experiments to taste these themes and images throughout our body\, breath and relationships\, we’ll come away equipped to read Dogen not only with understanding\, but with beauty\, delight\, relief\, liberation\, and a sense of new possibilities for practice. We’ll be equipped to feel how accurately his poetry sings of our humble zazen.  \nWe’ll come away with a solid\, interconnected understanding of Dogen’s ideas\, vividly grounded in embodied experiences as well as new roots and leaves to nourish our daily practice.\n\nAlong the way we’ll get a sense too of the roots and branches of Dogen’s lineage: his sources like Hongzhi and Hua-Yen and Nagarjuna and his kinship with broader Zen and Buddhist teachings before and after his time. We may also touch lightly on compares and contrasts with luminaries from other traditions: the likes of Ramana\, St Francis\, St Teresa\, Lal Ded\, Moses de Leon\, Ibn Arabi\, Meister Eckhart\, Karl Marx\, Mikhail Bakunin\, Emily Dickinson\, William Blake\, and Syl Ko and Aph Ko.\n\nWe’ll enjoy the guidance of four great Dogen-loving teachers in our four workshops with four distinctive styles: Valerie Forstman Roshi\, Nancy Mujo Baker Roshi\, and two more TBA – stay tuned! \nAs with all 30-day courses\, you’ll enjoy four live workshops\, 30 daily teaching/practice/reflection emails\, an online forum whose communal riches are never short of astounding\, and the invitation to sit together during Mountain Cloud’s daily zazen. \nFor anyone who took part in the first “30 Days of Dogen\,” expect a tighter weave of ideas and practices in the daily curriculum emails\, accompanied by many fertile questions for communal sharing and inquiry. \n\nRegistration:\nCourse Fee: $99\nRegister Here \nMembers receive 50% off this course. See registration page for details. \n\n\nThe 30 day course was outstanding in every regard…little did I know the peace\, calm\, wisdom\nand overcoming past traumas that could happen in just one month.\n— 2023 Course Participant \n\n\nCourse Components\n\nDaily Emails\nEach day\, you’ll receive an email with: \n\nA brief text from Dogen or someone Dogen-related\nA message or practice invitation from one of our teachers/guides\, helping us bring the teaching to life in our imaginations\, breath\, body\, perceptions\, self-expression and relationships\nA reflection prompt\, inviting you to share in the optional online community forum\n\nThe daily emails are designed to be digestible and catalytic fodder for your daily practice\, on and off the cushion. \nLive Workshops\nDuring the four live workshops\, you’ll be able to engage directly with one of our Zen teachers as well as the course cohort\, to explore your burning questions and insights and get live support. In the final workshop\, we’ll read Dogen together to bring it all home. \nOnline Forum\nSo much magic happens in the optional daily community forum. We reflect and digest our practice and the teachings with our 30-day peers. Past participants have been impressed not only by how much they learn from others\, but also what wisdom flows from their own being – primed by this rich and open sharing. \nOnline Sitting\nAnd finally\, our center provides opportunities to sit\, daily\, online with the cohort and our broader sangha. You have the option to engage in your daily practice independently or join a larger group for online sessions via Zoom (or in-person if you’re local!). See here for our daily sitting schedule.  \nThe sangha aspect of the daily journal–reading others’ shared posts\, identifying and learning from those shared posts\, responding to others’ posts and getting feedback on my own posts–made me feel part of an open-hearted\, like-minded community\, which felt wonderful.\n— 30-Day Course Participant  \nRegister Here \nAbout Scholarships:\nScholarships are covered with the help of generous donations from fellow sangha members\, with the intention to make these precious experiences available to those otherwise excluded\, as a step towards inclusivity and wide welcome in this shared practice. We have intentionally removed barriers to applying for the scholarship in trust and compassion for each one’s discernment. If you are able\, please consider making a donation or registering at the Benefactor rate to help support our scholarship offerings. \n∞ \nTeachers\n \nValerie Forstman is an Associate Zen Master of the Sanbo Zen lineage and our Guiding Teacher here at Mountain Cloud. Her first teacher\, with whom she continues to work\, was Ruben Habito Roshi. Since 2003\, she has also trained under the guidance of Yamada Ryoun Roshi\, current abbot of Sanbo Zen. \nValerie came to Mountain Cloud with a shared vision of the core of the Zen path\, a way of coming home to who we truly are. In keeping with the Sanbo Zen tradition\, this path or ‘way’ may include koan training\, “just sitting” practice\, or simple breath awareness practice\, all of which funnel into what it means to undergo the immense change of heart implied by the term “awakening.” What a joy and what a rich process it can be\, not just to taste this\, but to embody it and live it out in lives of compassionate service. \nA first-career classical musician\, Valerie holds degrees from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and Stony Brook University in NY. She has taught and performed in the U.S.\, Canada\, and around Europe. After discovering Zen\, Valerie went on to earn a Masters of Theological Studies and Ph.D. from Brite Divinity School. \nAs Guiding Teacher\, Valerie is responsible for the quality and integrity of Zen offerings at Mountain Cloud. She offers dokusan to over 50 students a week and runs our sesshin and zazenkai. Alongside her guiding work at Mountain Cloud\, Valerie leads sesshin (intensive Zen retreats) annually at two Zen centers in Germany. \n  \n \nNancy Mujo Baker Roshi is is a distinguished Zen teacher and writer\, renowned as the founding teacher of the No Traces Sangha within the lineage of Maezumi Roshi’s White Plum Sangha. A Dharma successor to Bernie Glassman\, she is among the first fully empowered lay Soto Zen teachers. She is Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Sarah Lawrence College\, where she taught for more than forty years\, and the author of Opening to Oneness: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to the Zen Precepts. She lives in New York City. \n \nWill W. Adams’ contemplative training includes four decades of practice with esteemed teachers\, both Buddhist and Christian. His primary mentors are Bruce Harris Roshi\, Ruben Habito Roshi\, David Loy Roshi\, and the great animate Earth. Will serves as Assistant Zen Teacher in the Sanbo Zen lineage. He works as an Associate Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh\, PA. Over the years Will has served as a psychotherapist\, ecopsychologist\, and meditation teacher. He is the author of an ecopsychology/ecospirituality book\, A Wild and Sacred Call: Nature-Psyche-Spirit. He has nearly completed a new book entitled Trauma\, Love\, and Meditation: Contemplative Dimensions of Healing. Will’s life is blessed with a wonderful wife\, two marvelous children\, two sweet dogs\, and a home in the woods. \n  \n∞ \nRegistration Fee: $99\nRegister Here \nRegistration is open throughout the course\, and upon signing up\, you will receive a digital copy of the previously sent daily emails\, along with recordings of all live events. \nIf you have any questions about the program\, feel free to contact Kieran.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/30-days-of-zen-july-2026/
CATEGORIES:30 Days of Zen,Community Events,Sanbo Zen,Special Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260728T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260728T183000
DTSTAMP:20260609T205114Z
CREATED:20250820T220201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T205114Z
UID:10069883-1785259800-1785263400@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-2019-10-04-4-2-4-4-2/2026-07-28/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260728T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260728T200000
DTSTAMP:20260609T205052Z
CREATED:20260609T204435Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T205052Z
UID:10118207-1785263400-1785268800@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Garden Samu (Work Practice)
DESCRIPTION:Tuesdays during the summer | 6:30-8:00pm \nHelp us tend our garden! Each Tuesday evening\, sangha member and resident Kayla Powers will lead land-based samu (work practice) in the Mountain Cloud garden. Tasks will vary depending on the time of the season but will include weeding\, pruning\, planting\, and harvesting. Some limited supplies like gloves will be available\, so if you have your own\, please bring them. \nEmail Kayla with any questions. \nEveryone is welcome to join us for Zazen (5:30-6:30pm) just before the work time in the main Zendo building.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/garden-samu-work-practice/2026-07-28/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center\, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail\, Santa Fe\, NM\, 87505\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Ecodharma
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260728T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260728T203000
DTSTAMP:20260713T202325Z
CREATED:20260629T170101Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260713T202325Z
UID:10118614-1785263400-1785270600@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Drawing as a Zen practice
DESCRIPTION:Tuesday\, July 28th | 6:30-8:30pm\nBy donation/pay what you can; suggested donation $15\nIn-person only; RSVP below\n“Drawing is the discipline by which I constantly rediscover the world.” — Frederick Franck\, The Zen of Seeing \nIn this short workshop\, we will be approach drawing as a simple contemplative practice.  Rather than using it as a method for representing things\, we will work with drawing as a way of sensing that relies less on the conceptual mind.  No drawing or Zen experience is necessary and simple materials will be supplied.  If you are an experienced drawer and want to bring your own materials\, you are welcome to. \nLydia Moyer was a professor of visual art for seventeen years at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  She left the university a few years ago to spend time living in Zen practice at several monasteries and has been a resident at Mountain Cloud more than once.  She now lives in Santa Fe. \n\n\n                \n                        Name(Required)\n                            \n                            \n                                                    \n                                                    First\n                                                \n                            \n                            \n                                                    \n                                                    Last\n                                                \n                            \n                        Email(Required)\n                            \n                        Address    \n                    \n                        \n                                    \n                                    ZIP / Postal Code\n                                \n                                        AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire\, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo\, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea\, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea\, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine\, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena\, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania\, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands\, BritishVirgin Islands\, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands\n                                        Country\n                                    \n                    \n                Would you like to join our mailing list?\n			\n					\n					Yes please!\n			\n			\n					\n					No thanks!\n			Optional Donation\n					\n				$15 suggested donationHow did you hear about this event?\n          \n            \n            \n            \n            \n            \n            \n            \n            \n            \n            \n            \n            \n            \n        \n                        Δ
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/drawing-zen-practice/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center\, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail\, Santa Fe\, NM\, 87505\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Special Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260729T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260729T080000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204912Z
CREATED:20250820T220331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204912Z
UID:10112785-1785308400-1785312000@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-morning-7/2026-07-29/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260729T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260729T083000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204956Z
CREATED:20250820T222014Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204956Z
UID:10116647-1785312000-1785313800@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Tea and Toast
DESCRIPTION:Mondays\, Tuesdays\, and Wednesdays | 8:00 – 8:30am\nIn-person only \nJoin Assistant Sanbo Zen teacher Scott Thornton and current Mountain Cloud residents for tea and toast in the dining room after morning Zazen\, Monday – Wednesday\, 8:00 – 8:30am. This is a wonderful way to get to know the sangha and one of our Zen teachers more deeply. \nTea and toast are offered freely\, and donations are welcome and deeply appreciated to help sustain this offering. There is a donation cup in the dining room\, a donation box in the Mountain Cloud lobby\, and you can also donate online.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/tea-and-toast/2026-07-29/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center\, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail\, Santa Fe\, NM\, 87505\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Weekly/Daily Event
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260729T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260729T100000
DTSTAMP:20260702T183350Z
CREATED:20260701T184545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T183350Z
UID:10115386-1785315600-1785319200@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Book Group with Scott Thornton
DESCRIPTION:Each week\, local and online sangha members gather to dive into a book together in this informal book study guided by Sanbo Zen Teacher\, Scott Thornton. This is a great way to touch into diverse voices and peer support along your meditation path. Feel free to drop in any Wednesday\, to try out the group\, whether or not you’ve read the book. If you’d like to know what part of the book we’ll be discussing\, reach out to Scott. \n\nCurrent book (as of July 8\, 2026): Taking Our Places by Norman Fischer. On July 8th we will discuss the Introduction and Chapter 1. \nUpcoming book (once Taking Our Places finishes): The Other Shore by Thich Nhat Hanh\n\nMeet the group in the Zendo in person\, or join online at sit.mountaincloud.org with password mountain22  \nBuy the Book & Help Mountain Cloud at no extra cost to you!  \n\n\nOrder the Normal Fischer book to your local bookstore OR to ship directly: https://bookshop.org/a/107723/9780060587192\nBackorder the Thich Nhat Hanh book: https://bookshop.org/a/107723/9781941529140\nMountain Cloud’s Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/mountaincloud\n\n\n\nWhat is Mountain Cloud’s Bookshop?  \nMany of the books that shape our retreats\, webinars\, and study groups can be found on Mountain Cloud’s Bookshop.org page. We use Bookshop.org because it is a certified B Corp created to strengthen independent bookstores and the broader literary community. Their platform and business model is designed to help support local booksellers\, as well as to help authors increase their own earnings. Every purchase made through Mountain Cloud’s curated bookstore also generates a commission that helps sustain our programs and charitable mission—at no additional cost to you. It’s a simple way to deepen your practice while supporting independent booksellers\, the authors whose work nourishes our community\, and Mountain Cloud.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/book-group-with-scott-thornton-2-2-2-4-5/2026-07-29/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Book Group with Scott,Community Events,Weekly/Daily Event
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260729T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260729T183000
DTSTAMP:20260726T205824Z
CREATED:20260706T213950Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260726T205824Z
UID:10118627-1785346200-1785349800@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Wisdom Wednesday: "Bringing It All Back Home" with Scott Thornton
DESCRIPTION:Wednesday\, July 29th  |  5:30–6:30 PM\nMeditation begins at 5:30 pm MT\, followed by the practice share and discussion at 6:00 pm MT \nLed by Scott Thornton\, this evening features meditation\, a brief practice share\, an opportunity to ask questions\, and a chance to share your experiences with practice. \nThese sessions are designed to enhance your practice and also provide an opportunity to connect with the local sangha community. This hybrid event is free and registration is not required. Please arrive five to ten minutes ahead of the scheduled time.  \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below.\n \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTrouble logging on to our online sits? Click here for guidance. Need help with time zone conversion? Use the World Time Buddy \n∞ \n\nScott Thornton (San’un-ken) is a Teacher in the Sanbo Zen lineage and a Teacher and Residency Advisor at Mountain Cloud. Scott provides practice guidance to residents and leads our weekly Book Group\, monthly Aging Buddhas gatherings\, and weekly Intro to Zen classes. \nScott and his wife\, Guiding Teacher Valerie Forstman Roshi\, came to work at Mountain Cloud in July of 2022. After an early career as an actor and singer\, he turned to Clinical Psychology\, a profession he has worked in for over 45 years (and from which he plans to retire in early 2026)\, though he still enjoys the occasional singer-songwriter gig! He began meditating on his own for 12 years before joining The Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas and beginning Koan study with Ruben Habito Rōshi in 2000. He continues his training with Henry Shukman Roshi.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/wisdom-wednesday-07-29-2026/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Talks & Workshops,Wisdom Wednesday
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260730T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260730T080000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204912Z
CREATED:20250820T220331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204912Z
UID:10112786-1785394800-1785398400@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-morning-7/2026-07-30/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260730T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260730T190000
DTSTAMP:20260629T162844Z
CREATED:20260629T162844Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T162844Z
UID:10118611-1785432600-1785438000@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Dharma Talk: Valerie Forstman
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, July 30th |  5:30–7:00 PM\nMeditation begins at 5:30 pm MT\, followed by the Dharma Talk (teisho) at 6:00 pm MT.\n \nYou are invited to join us for an evening with Valerie Forstman at Mountain Cloud Zen Center’s zendo\, where she will be leading the Dharma Talk. \nThis hybrid event is free and registration is not required. Please arrive five to ten minutes ahead of the scheduled time. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below.\n \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTrouble logging on to our online sits? Click here for guidance. Need help with time zone conversion? Use the World Time Buddy. \nIf you miss a dharma talk\, you can find it on our YouTube channel within one to two weeks. \nKindly consider contributing dana (a traditional Buddhist offering) to express financial gratitude to our teacher. Dana to Valerie can be made through Venmo: @Valerie-Forstman or Paypal: paypal.me/vforstman \n \n \n \n \n∞ \nValerie Forstman is an Associate Zen Master of the Sanbo Zen lineage and our Guiding Teacher here at Mountain Cloud. Her first teacher\, with whom she continues to work\, was Ruben Habito Roshi. Since 2003\, she has also trained under the guidance of Yamada Ryoun Roshi\, current abbot of Sanbo Zen. \nValerie came to Mountain Cloud with a shared vision of the core of the Zen path\, a way of coming home to who we truly are. In keeping with the Sanbo Zen tradition\, this path or ‘way’ may include koan training\, “just sitting” practice\, or simple breath awareness practice\, all of which funnel into what it means to undergo the immense change of heart implied by the term “awakening.” What a joy and what a rich process it can be\, not just to taste this\, but to embody it and live it out in lives of compassionate service. \nA first-career classical musician\, Valerie holds degrees from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and Stony Brook University in NY. She has taught and performed in the U.S.\, Canada\, and around Europe. After discovering Zen\, Valerie went on to earn a Masters of Theological Studies and Ph.D. from Brite Divinity School. \nAs Guiding Teacher\, Valerie is responsible for the quality and integrity of Zen offerings at Mountain Cloud. She offers dokusan to over 50 students a week and runs our sesshin and zazenkai. Alongside her guiding work at Mountain Cloud\, Valerie leads sesshin (intensive Zen retreats) annually at two Zen centers in Germany. \n \n∞ \nTeisho literally means “presentation of the shout.” It is not a lecture or a didactic discourse but a direct sharing of the dharma springing from the teacher’s experience. A teisho or dharma talk is not intended to engage the discursive mind. Rather\, the invitation is to let the language wash over the listener and\, if something strikes\, to let that resound. \nAt Mountain Cloud\, teisho often take up a koan\, a record of an exchange between Chan/Zen masters or masters and disciples that conveys the world they are sharing and carries the seeds of awakening. Teisho invite us to keep company with the ancestors whose practice-awakening (a term from Dogen) is freshly conveyed each time we turn to this living tradition.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/dharma-talk-07-30-2026/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Dharma,Talks & Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Valerie.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260731T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260731T080000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204912Z
CREATED:20250820T220331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204912Z
UID:10112787-1785481200-1785484800@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-morning-7/2026-07-31/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260801T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260801T093000
DTSTAMP:20260705T205640Z
CREATED:20250820T190025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T205640Z
UID:10116167-1785573000-1785576600@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats or sesshins. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-2019-10-04-3-2-2-2/2026-08-01/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260802T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260802T093000
DTSTAMP:20260705T205640Z
CREATED:20250820T190025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260705T205640Z
UID:10077707-1785659400-1785663000@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats or sesshins. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-2019-10-04-3-2-2-2/2026-08-02/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260802T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260802T100000
DTSTAMP:20260617T150315Z
CREATED:20241003T231457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T150315Z
UID:10111276-1785663000-1785664800@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Community Tea
DESCRIPTION:In-person only \nEvery Sunday between morning meditation* and the Intro to Zen class**\, all are welcome to enjoy tea together in the Mountain Cloud dining room. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with each other and strengthen sangha\, one of the Three Refuges on the path to liberation. \nAttending morning meditation and/or the Intro to Zen class before or after Community Tea is strongly encouraged.  \n*For morning meditation\, please arrive a few minutes before either meditation period to join. The first silent meditation period begins at 8:30am\, and the second at 9:00am. Sitting together in meditation is a powerful way to support our personal practice\, as it can strengthen our resolve for being here now and hone our focus as we experience the energy of our fellow practitioners. \n**The Intro to Zen class is open to practitioners of all experience levels\, whether you have been meditating for decades or are looking to start a practice. \n To attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/community-tea/2026-08-02/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center\, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail\, Santa Fe\, NM\, 87505\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/MC-sangha.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260802T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260802T110000
DTSTAMP:20260617T150412Z
CREATED:20260208T214428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T150412Z
UID:10115085-1785664800-1785668400@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Members Lab
DESCRIPTION:Sundays | 10:00 – 11:00am MT\nOnline; Members Only \nMembers Lab is a weekly sangha-driven event dedicated to creating space for shared exploration of emerging topics close to our heart-minds. \nThe idea is to strengthen sangha ties in so many directions – to hear from each other about things we might never touch on without this deliberate effort and to start to map a few of the infinite creative and communal possibilities hidden in our midst. \nWhile each Sunday will be different depending on members’ continuing inspirations\, some likely recurring formats include: \n\nCouncil or talking-stick circle\nText study (such as reviewing our chants)\nTeisho discussion (about the most recent Thursday Dharma talk)\nMusic/poetry/art appreciation and show-and-tell (bring your favorite piece to enthuse about\, or just respond to what others bring)\nSpecial teach-ins by members\n\nWrite to kieran@mountaincloud.org for more info or to propose a MembersLab idea\, and look for regular updates in the Mighty Networks “Members’ Zone.” \nMembers can join via their regular Members link. \nNot a member yet? Click here to learn more about the benefits of membership at Mountain Cloud.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/members-lab-3/2026-08-02/
LOCATION:Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Member Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/rhondak-native-florida-folk-artist-_Yc7OtfFn-0-unsplash.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260802T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260802T111500
DTSTAMP:20260617T150341Z
CREATED:20260303T225815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T150341Z
UID:10079059-1785664800-1785669300@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Intro to Zen class
DESCRIPTION:Introduction to silent sitting meditation. Open to all.\nSundays\, 10:00 – 11:15am MT\nIn-person only \nWe’ve Updated our Intro to Zen Format!  \nA 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. \nWhile 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. \n~~~~ \nIntro 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. \nSection 1 will cover the Buddha’s origin story\, and an overview of the history of Buddhism\, Zen\, Sanbo Zen\, and Mountain Cloud. \nSection 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. \nSection 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). \nThese first three classes are typically led by Sanbo Zen Teacher Scott Thornton. \nSection 4 will be a more open ended meeting led by Assistant Teacher and founding member of Mountain Cloud\, Will Brennan.  \nAll 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. \n \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Friday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nMonday – Tuesday\n5:30–6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n5:30–6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n5:30–7:00pm • Dharma Talk (Teisho)\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30–10:00am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10:00–11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Intro to Zen Meditation during retreats or sesshin. Please check the calendar for any changes in our schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/intro-to-zen-class-3-3-2-2-2/2026-08-02/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center\, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail\, Santa Fe\, NM\, 87505\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Intro-Class.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260803T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260803T080000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204912Z
CREATED:20250820T220331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204912Z
UID:10112788-1785740400-1785744000@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-morning-7/2026-08-03/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260803T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260803T083000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204956Z
CREATED:20250820T222014Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204956Z
UID:10116648-1785744000-1785745800@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Tea and Toast
DESCRIPTION:Mondays\, Tuesdays\, and Wednesdays | 8:00 – 8:30am\nIn-person only \nJoin Assistant Sanbo Zen teacher Scott Thornton and current Mountain Cloud residents for tea and toast in the dining room after morning Zazen\, Monday – Wednesday\, 8:00 – 8:30am. This is a wonderful way to get to know the sangha and one of our Zen teachers more deeply. \nTea and toast are offered freely\, and donations are welcome and deeply appreciated to help sustain this offering. There is a donation cup in the dining room\, a donation box in the Mountain Cloud lobby\, and you can also donate online.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/tea-and-toast/2026-08-03/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center\, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail\, Santa Fe\, NM\, 87505\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Weekly/Daily Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/20250503_193337-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260803T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260803T183000
DTSTAMP:20260609T205114Z
CREATED:20250820T220201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T205114Z
UID:10069886-1785778200-1785781800@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-2019-10-04-4-2-4-4-2/2026-08-03/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260804T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260804T080000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204912Z
CREATED:20250820T220331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204912Z
UID:10112789-1785826800-1785830400@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-morning-7/2026-08-04/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260804T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260804T083000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204956Z
CREATED:20250820T222014Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204956Z
UID:10116649-1785830400-1785832200@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Tea and Toast
DESCRIPTION:Mondays\, Tuesdays\, and Wednesdays | 8:00 – 8:30am\nIn-person only \nJoin Assistant Sanbo Zen teacher Scott Thornton and current Mountain Cloud residents for tea and toast in the dining room after morning Zazen\, Monday – Wednesday\, 8:00 – 8:30am. This is a wonderful way to get to know the sangha and one of our Zen teachers more deeply. \nTea and toast are offered freely\, and donations are welcome and deeply appreciated to help sustain this offering. There is a donation cup in the dining room\, a donation box in the Mountain Cloud lobby\, and you can also donate online.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/tea-and-toast/2026-08-04/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center\, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail\, Santa Fe\, NM\, 87505\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Weekly/Daily Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/20250503_193337-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260804T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260804T183000
DTSTAMP:20260609T205114Z
CREATED:20250820T220201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T205114Z
UID:10069887-1785864600-1785868200@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-2019-10-04-4-2-4-4-2/2026-08-04/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260804T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260804T200000
DTSTAMP:20260609T205052Z
CREATED:20260609T204435Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T205052Z
UID:10118208-1785868200-1785873600@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Garden Samu (Work Practice)
DESCRIPTION:Tuesdays during the summer | 6:30-8:00pm \nHelp us tend our garden! Each Tuesday evening\, sangha member and resident Kayla Powers will lead land-based samu (work practice) in the Mountain Cloud garden. Tasks will vary depending on the time of the season but will include weeding\, pruning\, planting\, and harvesting. Some limited supplies like gloves will be available\, so if you have your own\, please bring them. \nEmail Kayla with any questions. \nEveryone is welcome to join us for Zazen (5:30-6:30pm) just before the work time in the main Zendo building.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/garden-samu-work-practice/2026-08-04/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center\, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail\, Santa Fe\, NM\, 87505\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Ecodharma
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20260528_160515-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260805T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260805T080000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204912Z
CREATED:20250820T220331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204912Z
UID:10112790-1785913200-1785916800@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-morning-7/2026-08-05/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260805T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260805T083000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204956Z
CREATED:20250820T222014Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204956Z
UID:10116650-1785916800-1785918600@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Tea and Toast
DESCRIPTION:Mondays\, Tuesdays\, and Wednesdays | 8:00 – 8:30am\nIn-person only \nJoin Assistant Sanbo Zen teacher Scott Thornton and current Mountain Cloud residents for tea and toast in the dining room after morning Zazen\, Monday – Wednesday\, 8:00 – 8:30am. This is a wonderful way to get to know the sangha and one of our Zen teachers more deeply. \nTea and toast are offered freely\, and donations are welcome and deeply appreciated to help sustain this offering. There is a donation cup in the dining room\, a donation box in the Mountain Cloud lobby\, and you can also donate online.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/tea-and-toast/2026-08-05/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center\, 7241 Old Santa Fe Trail\, Santa Fe\, NM\, 87505\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Weekly/Daily Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/20250503_193337-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260805T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260805T100000
DTSTAMP:20260702T183350Z
CREATED:20260701T184545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T183350Z
UID:10115387-1785920400-1785924000@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Book Group with Scott Thornton
DESCRIPTION:Each week\, local and online sangha members gather to dive into a book together in this informal book study guided by Sanbo Zen Teacher\, Scott Thornton. This is a great way to touch into diverse voices and peer support along your meditation path. Feel free to drop in any Wednesday\, to try out the group\, whether or not you’ve read the book. If you’d like to know what part of the book we’ll be discussing\, reach out to Scott. \n\nCurrent book (as of July 8\, 2026): Taking Our Places by Norman Fischer. On July 8th we will discuss the Introduction and Chapter 1. \nUpcoming book (once Taking Our Places finishes): The Other Shore by Thich Nhat Hanh\n\nMeet the group in the Zendo in person\, or join online at sit.mountaincloud.org with password mountain22  \nBuy the Book & Help Mountain Cloud at no extra cost to you!  \n\n\nOrder the Normal Fischer book to your local bookstore OR to ship directly: https://bookshop.org/a/107723/9780060587192\nBackorder the Thich Nhat Hanh book: https://bookshop.org/a/107723/9781941529140\nMountain Cloud’s Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/mountaincloud\n\n\n\nWhat is Mountain Cloud’s Bookshop?  \nMany of the books that shape our retreats\, webinars\, and study groups can be found on Mountain Cloud’s Bookshop.org page. We use Bookshop.org because it is a certified B Corp created to strengthen independent bookstores and the broader literary community. Their platform and business model is designed to help support local booksellers\, as well as to help authors increase their own earnings. Every purchase made through Mountain Cloud’s curated bookstore also generates a commission that helps sustain our programs and charitable mission—at no additional cost to you. It’s a simple way to deepen your practice while supporting independent booksellers\, the authors whose work nourishes our community\, and Mountain Cloud.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/book-group-with-scott-thornton-2-2-2-4-5/2026-08-05/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Book Group with Scott,Community Events,Weekly/Daily Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Taking-our-places-norman-fischer.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260806T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260806T080000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204912Z
CREATED:20250820T220331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204912Z
UID:10112791-1785999600-1786003200@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-morning-7/2026-08-06/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260806T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260806T200000
DTSTAMP:20251113T180149Z
CREATED:20251113T180148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251113T180149Z
UID:10114222-1786042800-1786046400@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Turtles EcoDharma Group
DESCRIPTION:New members welcome!\nThe EcoDharma group\, known as the Turtles\, convenes on the FIRST & THIRD Thursday of the month at 7pm MST following teisho. \nMeetings take place both in person at Mountain Cloud and online via: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nDuring these gatherings\, we’ll delve into the question: “How can we\, as Zen practitioners\, respond to the current ecological crises with open hearts?” Our discussion will include analysis of recent environmental events\, relevant media\, and our personal reflections on these issues. \n∞ \nSince 2023\, members of Mountain Cloud have been engaging in deep dialogue and learning about key environmental and ecological issues and how we respond. We gather as sangha to support each other in our commitment to the healing of the world and welfare of all beings. We learn from and inspire one another through reading\, discussion\, and sharing our personal interests and actions. As we acknowledge and become more aware of the magnitude of our planetary crisis\, we aspire to transform climate grief and confusion into energy and direction for wise\, compassionate action.  \nAs one Turtle member put it: “I am coming to see that this work is about facing the unknown. My feelings of powerlessness and guilt are changing as I see\, honor\, and am inspired by other’s actions. I realize that they are like seeds germinating in my life.” \nAll Mountain Cloud members are most welcome to join.  For more information or to join the email list\, email Abby Shepard: abby@mountaincloud.org
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/turtles-ecodharma-group-1-2/2026-08-06/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Community Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/bernd-dittrich-hB4cs0wH5Pg-unsplash-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260807T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260807T080000
DTSTAMP:20260609T204912Z
CREATED:20250820T220331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T204912Z
UID:10112792-1786086000-1786089600@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazen
DESCRIPTION:Silent sitting meditation. Open to all. \nThis sit occurs both online via Zoom and in-person at Mountain Cloud Zen Center. \nParticipants will be guided through two rounds of 25-minute sits\, with a 5-minute walking meditation in between. You’re welcome to attend both sits\, or just one if you’re new to silent sitting. \nTo participate online\, please click on the zoom link below: \nsit.mountaincloud.org\nPasscode: mountain22 \nTo attend in person\, please read and follow our COVID-19 Protocols for MCZC’s current policies on masks\, vaccinations\, and testing. \n∞ \nZazen\, derived from the Japanese term meaning ‘sitting meditation’\, is a cornerstone practice in Zen Buddhism. At its essence\, Zazen is the act of simply sitting\, yet it encompasses much more than mere physical stillness. Practitioners engage in Zazen with a deliberate posture and mental focus unique to Zen meditation\, emphasizing mindfulness and awareness of breath. Through dedicated practice\, Zazen cultivates clarity\, presence\, and insight\, serving as a pathway to deepening one’s understanding of the self and the nature of reality. \n∞ \nYou may sit with us in our zendo as follows*:\nMonday – Tuesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Zazen \nWednesday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n8:00-8:30am • Tea and Toast with Zen teacher Scott Thornton and Residents (in-person only)\n5:30-6:30pm • Wisdom Wednesday\nmeditation + guidance + brief talk/Q&A \nThursday\n7:00-8:00am • Zazen\n5:30–7:00pm • Zazen\nmeditation & dharma talk at 6:00pm \nFriday\n7:00–8:00am • Zazen \nSaturday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen \nSunday\n8:30–9:30am • Zazen\n9:30- 10am • Community Tea (in-person only)\n10- 11:15am • Introduction to Zen Meditation (in-person only) \n*There is no Zazen during retreats. Please check the calendar for any changes in our regular meditation schedule.
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazen-morning-7/2026-08-07/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Weekly/Daily Event,Zazen
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260808T063000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260808T153000
DTSTAMP:20260721T215755Z
CREATED:20251027T234626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260721T215755Z
UID:10117419-1786170600-1786203000@www.mountaincloud.org
SUMMARY:Zazenkai (Daylong Retreat)
DESCRIPTION:Our Zen Ancestors: Keeping Company with Women Who Light the Way\nSaturday\, August 8th\, 2026\nIn-person and online \nRegister for August Zazenkai  \nIn this six-part Zazenkai/Daylong Retreat series throughout 2026\, Associate Zen Master Valerie Forstman invites all of us\, regardless of gender identity\, into the lives and teachings of modern women ancestors who have contributed deeply to the shape of our modern Zen practice and lineage. After exploring women ancestors of the distant past in 2025\, Valerie now turns to contemporary teachers such as Blanche Hartman\, Katherine Thanas\, Silvia Ostertag\, Joan Rieck\, and Elaine McInnes— whose lives and teachings illuminate new pathways into practice. \nValerie brings a rare combination of authentic dharma experience and scholarly depth\, helping us encounter these ancestors not only as historical figures but as living presences whose clarity\, courage\, and compassion continue to shape our own gateless world. \nAugust’s Focus \nFor the August Zazenkai\, we will be keeping company with Katherine Thanas Roshi\, founding teacher for the Monterey Bay Zen Center and abbot of the Santa Cruz Zen Center. As noted by Shambhala Publications\, Katherine was introduced to Zen by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi in 1967\, and she trained with him at Sokoji\, San Francisco Zen Center\, Tassajara\, and Green Gulch Farm. She received lay ordination from Suzuki Roshi\, was ordained as a priest by Zentatsu Baker Roshi in 1975\, and received shiho (dharma transmission) from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1988. She died in 2012 at the age of 85. \nNatalie Goldberg will join Valerie for the Dharma talk to share stories of her long friendship with Katherine. \nEach Zazenkai offers a full day of practice\, including: \n\nSilent sitting and walking meditation\nBreakfast\, coffee\, and tea (in-person)\nOne or two guided movement sessions\nA Dharma talk from Valerie\nAfternoon Q&A\n\nWhether you are new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner\, this is a rich opportunity to experience extended practice while meeting the lineage of women who light our way. \nThis Zazenkai will be available both online and on-site. If you plan to attend in person\, please bring your own lunch; tea will be provided.  \n∞ \nZazenkai is a term used in Zen Buddhism to refer to a day of intensive meditation practice. The word “Zazenkai” is of Japanese origin\, where “za” means sitting\, and “zenkai” means gathering. During a Zazenkai\, participants engage in periods of sitting meditation (zazen)\, walking meditation (kinhin)\, and may also include chanting\, dharma talks\, and other activities related to Zen practice. Zazenkais provide an opportunity for practitioners to deepen their meditation experience and strengthen their commitment to the path of Zen Buddhism. These events can vary in length\, with some lasting a full day. \n∞ \nSchedule (Mountain Time)\n6:30-8:00am: Sitting\n8:45: Movement\n9:00am-12:00pm: Sitting and a Dharma talk\n12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch\n1:00-3:30pm: Sitting and Q&A \n∞ \nParticipation Fee \nIn-Person: $60\nOnline: $30 \nMembers receive 15% off. See the registration page for details. If you’re not a member\, learn more about membership here. \nRegister for August Zazenkai \n∞ \nJoin us onsite – and stay the night! \n \n  \n \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nImmerse yourself — stay onsite for a Zazenkai:\nPersonal retreats are one of the ways you can stay onsite at Mountain Cloud for a Zazenkai. During their stay\, personal retreatants can freely enjoy the Zendo and land\, 1-1 guidance with Sanbo Zen Teacher Scott Thornton\, and the supportive embrace of daily community activity of residents. Choose from a range of lodging options from our dormitory style cottage\, private cabins\, and even camping. Members receive 50% discount for personal retreat stays. \nResidency is another way you can stay with us. Residents stay for 1-3 months\, in an intimate cohort setting designed for lay practitioners seeking refuge in a moment of transition\, depth for their practice\, or community support. The residency fee includes any retreats or Zazenkai happening that month and training with Sanbo Zen Teacher Scott Thornton. \nZazenkai/Daylong dates in 2026 \n\nJanuary 17\nFebruary 21\nApril 18\nMay 16*\nJuly 11\nAugust 8\nOctober 17\n\n*Ecodharma-themed; not included as part of the 2026 Zazenkai series with Valerie
URL:https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/zazenkai-08-08-2026/
LOCATION:Mountain Cloud Zen Center and Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:Sanbo Zen,Special Events,Zazenkai
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.mountaincloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Valerie-in-Zendo.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR