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PODCAST

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts

Mountain Cloud Zen Center

Zen Podcast series based on Mountain Cloud Zen Center"s Thursday evening dharma talks that explore classical koans of Zen. The podcasts help us in our mission of offering core Zen training in the lineage of Sanbo Zen to create healthier and kinder lives for all, while also supporting our Three Treasures Prison Project in which we work with inmates in a maximum security prison, as well as serving the immediate community of Santa Fe, New Mexico, our international sangha, and the broader world

religion & spirituality buddhism

All Episodes

35:54

Dharma Talk: "How to See in the Dark" with Valerie...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/10/29

This talk begins with the question, 'What is it to be human?' When Siddhartha Gautama was 29 years old, he leapt beyond the palace walls of his rarified life in search of an answer to this question. One of Shakyamuni Buddha's earliest teachings points the way towards what he discovered: Stop and see. Stop the conditioned activity of our discursive minds, our habitual ways of framing the world, our fixed concepts about who and what we are. Put down the artifice of that narrow flashlight. Turn off

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49:07

Dharma Talk: “Everywhere You Turn” with Valerie Forstman

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/10/15

This talk takes up case 34 in the Blue Cliff Record or Hekiganroku, “Kyozan’s ‘Not Wandering,’” as a guide to that exploration. Kyozan (Yangshan) asks a monk, “Where have you come from?” It’s a common question – a fundamental question – that the monks of record repeatedly fail to realize. Here, the monk responds in terms of geography, the distance between here and there, near and far, coming and going. The exchange unfolds with a turning word addressed to the student and to us: Can you wander in

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37:17

Dharma Talk: “Zen Practice: Sweeping the Ground of...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/10/15

In this talk, Valerie returns to the basics of Zen practice beginning with a beloved verse by the renowned 8th century Chinese poet, Li Po. The poem is both a practice pointer and an expression of the fundamental reality we can discover along the way as practice unfolds: the essential world that is empty, boundless, and one, while, at the same time, exactly the world of our everyday lives. As a pointer to this one reality, the talk takes up case 21 in the Shoyoroku or Book of Equanimity, “Ungan

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37:48

Dharma Talk: “The humanity of our life in a...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/07/29

In this talk, Valerie begins with the poetry of love and loss as a portal to a saying from the eminent 9th century Chan/Zen master Joshu (Zhaozhou) about the timelessness of our everyday lives. The talk explores Joshu’s response to a monk who asks, “During the 24 hours, how is mind put to use?” Joshu offers a response that calls us into the immeasurable dynamism of each present moment. We are creatures inured to time. What happens when, in a moment of zazen, time stands still? Or all time is

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23:46

Dharma Talk: “It’s Alive!” with Scott Thornton

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/07/22

Scott's talked is based on one of Joshu’s sayings. When asked “What is meditation?” he responded, “Non-meditation.” When asked how that could be, he said, “It’s alive! It’s alive!” Recorded on July 17th, 2025 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/

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45:48

Dharma Talk: “The Great Matter: Arriving in the Light...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/07/17

Fresh home from a memorial service for a beloved mentor and on the heels of the flooding in Texas, Valerie turns to case 41 of the Hekiganroku or Blue Cliff Record, “Joshu’s ‘Great Death.’” How does this case speak to the root of our human experience? What does it say about the coming and going of life and death? Might this ancient exchange between two masters – a generation apart in age – offer a word to us about the great matter? Recorded on July 10th, 2025 Please consider supporting Mountain

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47:06

Dharma Talk: “The World and Us” with Henry Shukman

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/07/16

In this talk, Henry explores our place in the world through koans and poems. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/

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35:53

Dharma Talk: “Falling into the Heart of the World”...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/07/16

In this first teisho since returning from the North American Sanbo Zan sesshin led by Yamada Ryoun Roshi, Valerie takes up Case 4 in the Shoyoroku or Book of Serenity, ‘The World-honored One Points to the Ground.’ “Here is a good place to build a temple,” says the Buddha, pointing to the ground at the place where we stand. Manjusri bends down, picks up a blade of grass and sticks it in the ground. The Budda acknowledges, “The temple has been built.” Why turn to this case at a time when wars are

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58:09

Dharma Talk: “The Practice of Insight Dialogue” with...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/07/15

Insight Dialogue (ID) is a relational meditation practice for developing awareness, compassion and wisdom. It is designed to help us awaken together and integrate our understanding of Dharma teachings in a direct and immediate way. Nicola's talk was followed with a brief period of Q&A. Nicola Redfern is an Insight Dialogue Retreat Teacher with an extensive background in both Zen and Vipassana meditation. With a strong belief that awakening is not simply a solo endeavor, Nic is particularly

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44:35

Dharma Talk: “Homecoming: Not a single step taken”...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/07/14

In this first dharma talk after returning from a monthlong mini-ango in Germany, Valerie turns to the final case in the Mumonkan or Gateless Gate, “Kempo’s One Way,” a koan that presents the world of absolute immediacy and infinite capacity, and invites us to taste and see. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member:

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38:25

How to Disappear

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/06/30

Katie Arnold tells a story from her upcoming book How to Disappear about an arduous and illuminating long distance run in the high country. Katie Arnold is the author of Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World as well as critically acclaimed RUNNING HOME: A Memoir, published by Random House in March 2019. She is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine, where she worked on staff for twelve years. Her “Raising Rippers” column about bringing up adventurous, outdoor children appears monthly on

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01:20:27

The Eightfold Path and Tribal Spirituality

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/06/25

This talk was offered by Karen Waconda-Lewis at Mountain Cloud Zen Center on May 22nd, 2025. Karen discusses how the Noble Eightfold Path connects with Tribal spirituality. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/

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57:50

Zen is Basking in Love and Loving Back

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/06/24

This talk was offered by Ruben Habito at Mountain Cloud Zen Center on May 15th, 2025. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/

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48:25

Dharma Talk: “Why I Love the Three Poisons” with...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/06/12

In this talk, David explores the depth and application of this teaching to our modern lives. He notes, “We often do not appreciate that the three poisons is a profound teaching, perhaps especially important today.” Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/

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44:18

Dharma Talk: “The Refuge of No Refuge” with David Loy

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/05/09

In this talk, David explores the idea of refuge. To take refuge is to run away to a hiding place…Is that what we should do? Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/ Check out our website: https://www.mountaincloud.org/

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31:49

Dharma Talk: “The single stone ten thousand feet down...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/05/09

Zen is a practice to deeply explore and fully live our true Self. Might the Koan about the stone deep down in the sea of Ise be a helpful pointer in this exploration? Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/ Check out our website: https://www.mountaincloud.org/ All are welcome to join us

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39:53

Dharma Talk: Don’t Know, Can’t Know, Who Knows? with...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/04/25

In this talk, Shana takes us right into “don’t know mind” as a portal to discovering our true nature and the freedom inherent in simply being alive. By tasting this freedom, we become better able to live, function, and respond compassionately even through difficult times. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this. Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/ Become a member:

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37:34

Dharma Talk: The Benevolence of Awakening with...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/04/17

In this early spring talk, Valerie turns to the way of awakening, discovered and explored as this world – in the midst – just as it is. Not-two. The talk weaves together a cross-section of experiences of homecoming with case 100 of the Book of Equanimity (Shoyoroku). In the case, Master Kaku of Roya receives the student’s question and responds in kind: “The essential state is pure and clear; how are mountains, rivers, and the great earth produced at once?” How, indeed. Can we enter the wonder and

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34:29

Dharma Talk: “By Boat or By Land: Crossing over,...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/04/03

In this talk, Valerie begins by revisiting themes from our recent sesshin – the wellspring of zazen, the intimacy of not-knowing, the peace that passes all understanding. The talk explores these themes by taking a fresh look at case 51 in the Book of Equanimity, ‘Hogen’s “Boat or Land,”’ Master Hogen’s question to a visiting monk elicits a response that resounds with the homecoming that is available to us all. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can

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36:47

Dharma Talk: “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and the...

Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts ·

2025/04/03

In this teisho, Shana uses Ruben Habito Roshi’s “ABC’s of Zen” as parallels for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She then explores Case 43 of the Shoyoroku as a pointer into finding our own unique ways to support the healing of a seemingly divided world. Shana will be leading a weekend retreat at Mountain Cloud in April - for more visit https://www.mountaincloud.org/event/intro-retreat-april-2025/ Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to

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135 results

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