Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts

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

In this talk from our Thursday night series, Valerie takes up Case 26 of the Gateless Gate, Hogen’s “Two Monks Roll Up the Blinds.” The setting is in Master Hogen’s teaching room and the issue at hand is our propensity to judgment. What freedom is unleashed when the boundaries we imagine don’t hold up? And what compassion. Hogen points to the blinds, presenting the bright clarity that has been there all along. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Thursday Evening EventsOctober 27 with Shana SmithNovember 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.

“Your sitting is not for the world, it is the world.” How can our practice be an offering to the world? asks meditation teacher Shana Smith. The question arose from the Florida Sanbo Zen Sangha as response to Russian’s invasion of Ukraine. Like all koans this question lived on in the weeks to follow. A number of koans came to mind as Shana thought about giving a talk to the MCZC community that addressed how our practice can be an offering to the world. Having a performance background, she considered the talk to be a presentation of the shout, a performance of sorts. Instead, however, Shana got quite ill with Covid. A strong NO resounded through her being. The dharma waits for no other time but now, to be ready. Still wanting to explore this life koan, “How can our practice be an offering to the world?” Shana turned to another well known koan from both the Gateless Gate and the Book of equanimity, Wash your Bowl, for support. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Original Love: Awakening: Ultimate Healing a six part series, starts Sunday October 9.  Details and registration here. Rohatsu Sesshin, December 5-12. Hybrid Event.  Registration opens soon. Photo by John Peters on Unsplash

Delve into the profound teachings of Dogen as the conversation explores the concept of the two-fold truth in Zen. Discover how conventional and absolute truths intertwine through the lens of Zen koans. The discussion emphasizes the significance of present-moment awareness and the interconnectedness of all existence. Valerie highlights the importance of resolving life and death matters, illustrating how Zazen serves as a means to deepen our understanding of this essential truth.

“Your consciousness does not exist separately from what it contains” Henry explores presence from several different angles, including Internal Family Systems (IFS). The word presence includes some of what mindfulness means, and more. All you have to do is taste it. Presence is really about coming back to yourself, to your own experience. I am here. It requires no blistering kensho experience, but presence softens the way we cling to ourselves. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: Original Love: Awakening: Ultimate Healing a six part series, starts Sunday October 9.  Details and registration here. Zazenkai, a Day of Zen led by Valerie Forstman. Register here

Guest Speaker Karin Kempe of the Zen Center of Denver joins our Thursday Night Sit to offer a talk on Dogen’s statement, “Practice is Enlightenment, Enlightenment is Practice.” While this sounds great, it doesn’t always feel easy. We face resistance that comes up over and over again. Karin offers perspective on the Genjokoan and reminds us that the way is already here. It is not contingent on some method of practice, but within us. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: 10 Days of Koans: An Introductory Intensive with Henry Shukman and Shana Smith and daily instruction. On-line event Sept 16-26. Details here. Autumn Virtual Retreat, September 29-October 4, led by Valerie and Henry Original Love: Awakening the Great Matter, starts in October.  Details here.

Valerie takes up case 29 of the Denkoroku, the record of the ‘transmission of light’ from Bodhidharma to Eka or Huike, as a way to explore the boundless clarity that is none other than this immediate world. One clarity, void of any separation. Hearing a turning word, Eka awakens to the reality Bodhidharma called “vast and void,” and illumines the way. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: 10 Days of Koans: An Introductory Intensive with Henry Shukman and Shana Smith and daily instruction. On-line event Sept 16-26. Details here. Sangha Meeting, Saturday September 17, 10am Autumn Virtual Retreat, September 29-October 4, led by Valerie and Henry Original Love: Awakening the Great Matter, starts in October.  Details here.

“Love sitting in Zazen, as if putting out a fire on top of your head” ~ Dogen Valerie Forstman gives the second talk during the April Intro to Meditation weekend. What are you practicing for? We sit in the midst of it all, the pandemic, climate change, suffering and joy… all. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk. Also, check out our Upcoming Events: 10 Days of Koans: An Introductory Intensive with Henry Shukman and Shana Smith and daily instruction. On-line event Sept 16-26. Details here. Sangha Meeting, Saturday September 17, 10am Autumn Virtual Retreat, September 29-October 4, led by Valerie and Henry Original Love: Awakening the Great Matter, starts in October.  Details here.