in the Cloud

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/ Bec...

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...

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/

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....

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 medi...

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...

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 year...

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.mountaincl...

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/

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/donat...

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:...

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.or...

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 su...

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 a...

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 availab...

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...

In this talk, Valerie begins with poetry as a portal to the language of koans, a language that uses words to go beyond words. Koans don't just describe or express the reality of who we truly are. They offer a turning word – a seed of awakening – that can open our eyes to that fundamental reality right in our midst. The talk will turn to case 12 in the Mumonkan (Gateless Gate), a single word that "...

In the Gateless Gate (Mumonkan) case 29, two monks watch a temple flag flapping in the wind. They argue back and forth: is it the flag that moves or the wind that moves? Seeing this, the 6 th  Chinese ancestor, Huineng, intervenes: "It is not the wind that moves. It is not the flag that moves. It is your mind that moves." Centuries of Zen students have taken up this case. What is mind? What is mov...

This talk is offered in gratitude for the life of Johanna Sindelar, a long-time sangha member who dedicated over a decade of service to Mountain Cloud. As a tribute to Johanna, Valerie begins with a look at the Heart Sutra in a rendering by Thich Nhat Hahn that was set to music in harmonies Johanna loved. The talk then turns to case 18 in the Blue Cliff Record, a koan that asks a renowned national...

In this talk, Scott draws from the Gateless Gate case 13, "Tokusan Carries His Bowls" as a case study for how we can meet mistakes, challenges, and misunderstandings with equanimity.

In this talk, Maria sheds light on how listening to the voice of a bird or the sound of rain can bring us fully back home to our true nature. In this context, Maria takes the experience of Fr. Shigeto Oshida as a spring board for Koan No. 46 in the Blue Cliff Record: Kyôsei's "Voice of the raindrops." Recorded on February 7th, 2025 _______ Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation...

On this first day of the Lunar New Year with the world in turmoil, Valerie turns to case 22 of the Blue Cliff Record, "Seppo's 'Poisonous Snake.'" What life-giving poison is the koan presenting? What happens if you encounter the snake? The turning word in Seppo's own awakening story offers a pointer: If you want to expound a great teaching, it must flow forth from your own breast to cover heaven a...

The talk begins with a look at Zen's parable of the second arrow. What does the story say to us now when we may find ourselves despairing about despair? In response, Valerie turns to the teaching of two root masters who lived during a particularly precarious time in China. Asked "What is the essential meaning of Chan?" Baso (Mazu) replied, "What is the meaning of this moment?" Baso's counterpart,...

Carolyn discusses Mumonkan case 11: Jôshû Examines the Hermits as an invitation to examine and trust our own discernment. 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 for sitting and dharma talks. Use this link to join us: https://sit.mountaincloud....

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 for sitting and dharma talks. Use this link to join us: https://s...