Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts

In celebration of Shakyamuni Buddha’s awakening, Valerie takes up the Head Chapter of the Denkoroku or Transmission of Light. “I and the great earth and all beings simultaneously attain the Way.” The invitation of this practice is to taste and see: Our sitting, standing, bowing, walking is nothing but that awakening – fully expressing it in every breath, every gesture. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Daylong Sit / ZazenkaiSaturday February 18, 2023Join Valerie Forstman and our Sangha for a Zazenkai. The Zazenkai will be both on-site and on-line. Spring Online RetreatThursday-Sunday, March 23-26 Four-day online retreat led by Valerie Forstman Original Love 2023: Click here for full details

Henry asks the question, matters most? When you reflect on this question, have any open mind, beyond ordinary or day to day concerns. He asks, what is this experience and what is it to be alive? And… who is having this experience? Watch this exploration of what actually matters and why. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Daylong Sit / ZazenkaiSaturday January 21, 2023Join Valerie Forstman and our Sangha for a Zazenkai. The Zazenkai will be both on-site and on-line. Spring Online RetreatThursday-Sunday, March 23-26 Four-day online retreat led by Valerie Forstman Original Love 2023: Click here for full details

In this talk from the first day of the Rohatsu sesshin, 2022, Valerie offers a tribute to Sr. Elaine MacInnes, Roshi, who died a week ago and whose celebration of life will be December 8. Drawing on the experience Sr. Elaine described as “light sitting in light,” Valerie turns to the koan, Mu – a tiny spark that can ignite an inexhaustible flame, opening our eyes to a world of boundless clarity and infinite love. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Daylong Sit / ZazenkaiSaturday January 21, 2023Join Valerie Forstman and our Sangha for a Zazenkai. The Zazenkai will be both on-site and on-line. Spring Online RetreatThursday-Sunday, March 23-26 Four-day online retreat led by Valerie Forstman

Join Stephen Snyder, a seasoned teacher in Jhana practice and coauthor of Practicing the Jhānas, as he unpacks the deep roots and transformative power of concentration meditation. He explores how Jhana predates Buddhism, serving as a precursor to the Zen lineage. Listeners learn about the essence of meditative absorption, the significance of present-moment awareness, and how breath techniques cultivate relaxation. Stephen guides us through the intricate layers of meditation, emphasizing the synthesis of traditional practices with modern mental wellness.

It is said that the Buddha teaches only suffering and its end, but what is suffering? Guest speaker Rick Hanson attempts to define this suffering, challenging that suffering is only a small part of everything that exists. Understanding this can help break the pattern of seeing meditation and mindfulness practices as a solution to suffering, rather than a practice worth immersing yourself in. While there is suffering in this world, this world is not all suffering. Rick invites all listeners to embrace this and examine their own experiences with suffering in a new light. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Thursday Evening EventsDecember 15, Sangha Listening Session led by Valerie.  This will be a hybrid event.  Original Love Stay tuned for Original Love 2023 details

“We don’t study koans, we use koans to investigate our life.” ~ Maezumi Roshi Guest teacher Peggy Sheehan from Zen Center Denver says that koans have been a life long practice, for her. In this talk she explores Case 3 from the Gateless Gate, Gutei’s Finger. Peggy’s work as a pediatrician informs her interest in this koan. Babies become interested in their finger from a young age; first simply pointing upward then, then pointing at things they want, expressing curiosity, often expecting a response. Peggy asks, where is this finger when you are living your life? Don’t underestimate the universe of one finger. Stay with just one; with just this breath, with Mu, with this finger, with just sitting. When going about your daily activitiesy, how do you present one finger? And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Thursday Evening EventsDecember 15, Sangha Listening Session led by Valerie. Stay tuned for more details. This will be a hybrid event.  Original LoveStay tuned for Original Love 2023 details Rohatsu Sesshin, December 5-12. Hybrid Event.  Online space available for full and part time participation. 

On this first day of Fall, Teshin takes up case 27 of the Blue Cliff Record, Unmon’s Complete Exposure. The Case reads as follows: A monk asked Unmon, “What is it when the tree withers and the leaves fall?” Unmon answered, “Complete exposure of the golden wind”. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Thursday Evening EventsNovember 23, Thanksgiving Day, no eventDecember 1, Maria Habito guest speaker, online only. Original LoveStay tuned for Original Love 2023 details Rohatsu Sesshin, December 5-12. Hybrid Event.  Online space available for full and part time participation. 

Upon being welcomed home from Germany, Valerie describes briefly what it’s like being thrown immediately into the chaotic activity of moving from her home in Dallas to Santa Fe: “Constant activity… we are moving, all this activity and at the same time, so still.” While taking a walk with co-teacher John Gaynor in Sonnenhoff, John offers Valerie this rather cerebral quote from Master Ummon, “The manifestation of the great function, knows no laws.” The great function, what is it? Valerie turns to Case 60, Ummon’s Staff from the Blue Cliff Record as a way of exploring this great function. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Thursday Evening EventsNovember 10 with Henry Shukman, hybrid event streamed from our zendo November 17 5:30pm – Fundraising Celebration in the place of our Thursday evening eventDecember 1, Maria Habito guest speaker, online only. Original LoveNovember 14, Free webinar about Original Love’s Awakening weekend workshop. November 19-20, Awakening Weekend Workshop Rohatsu Sesshin, December 5-12. Hybrid Event. 

In this talk – an offering of gratitude for the life of a beloved sangha member, Valerie turns to Case 41 in the Transmission of Light or Denkoroko. A monk who has put to rest love of worldly attachments asks, “What, master, do you love?” The master’s response is an invitation to us to realize love beyond any measure. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Thursday Evening EventsNovember 10 with Henry Shukman, hybrid event streamed from our zendo November 17 5:30pm – Fundraising Celebration in the place of our Thursday evening eventDecember 1, Maria Habito guest speaker, online only. Original LoveNovember 14, Free webinar about Original Love’s Awakening weekend workshop. November 19-20, Awakening Weekend WorkshopRohatsu Sesshin, December 5-12. Hybrid Event. 

Scott explores Case 32 from the Gateless Gate, A non-buddhist questions the Buddha. The non-buddhist says, in all earnestness to the Buddha: I do not ask about words, I do not ask about no-words. The world honored one, just sat still. The non-buddhist experiences a great opening as he witnesses the Buddha’s stillness and says, The world-honored one on his great benevolence and great mercy has opened the clouds of my delusion and enabled me to enter the way. Bowing, the non-Buddhist took his leave. The Buddha answered every question in his silence, Who am I? Why are we here? What happens when we die? Why do we suffer? Buddha’s sitting isn’t just answering the question, his sitting is the question. Scott digs into additional gems form this koan. Be sure to watch, listen and absorb. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Thursday Evening EventsNovember 3 with Bill Bruce, hybrid event streamed from our zendoNovember 10 with Henry Shukman, hybrid event streamed from our zendo  Rohatsu Sesshin, December 5-12. Hybrid Event.  Registration opens soon. Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash