Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts Dharma Talk: “Zen Practice: Sweeping the Ground of our Lives” with Valerie Forstman
Aug 5, 2025
Valerie explores the foundations of Zen practice, emphasizing posture, breath, and calming the mind. She introduces a poem by Li Po that reflects the unity of self and nature. The discussion includes a koan about sweeping the ground, illustrating the relationship between effort and ultimate emptiness. Valerie connects everyday actions, like sweeping, to deeper awakenings and encourages integrating mundane tasks with profound insights. Ultimately, the talk urges listeners to fully engage in each moment of their lives.
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Practice As Whole Occupation
- Living must be your whole occupation, practiced moment to moment on and off the cushion.
- Valerie Forstman frames practice as continuous engagement rather than a separate task.
Three Essentials Of Zazen
- Sit with the three essentials: posture, breathing, and stilling the mind.
- Prioritize posture as the grounding element, and use a chair if needed.
Abbot Demonstration And Quick Answer
- Valerie recounts Abbot Yamadariyan Roshi demonstrating posture and answering a student's question.
- The abbot immediately answered "posture" when asked which element matters most.
