in the Cloud

Description: Senior Student Will Brennan gives a dharma talk, offering reflections on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, Recommending Zazen to all people. Will has recently been appointed as a Sanbo Zen Assistant Teacher and he lead Wednesdays with Will, the first two Wednesday evenings of each month in Mountain Cloud’s Zendo.

And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk.

Also, check out our Upcoming Events:

Original Love, Deep Clear Lake: 6 Sundays beginning July 31, 10am – 12pm
And Weekend Retreat, September 10-11 led by Henry Shukman

Wednesdays with Will,  August 3 and 10, 5:30-7pm, both on line and at Mountain Cloud

Sangha Meeting, Saturday September 17, 10am

Autumn Virtual Retreat, September 29-October 4, led by Valerie and Henry
Registration opens soon.

Photo by petr sidorov on Unsplash

“Anyone who wants to gain enlightenment, do not enter.”

Description: Valerie turns to Love, which knows nothing of rank and order. She looks at a koan from Keizan’s Transmission of Light collection. Keizan is said to have an inscription at the entrance of his zendo (paraphrased), “Anyone who wants to gain enlightenment, do not enter.”

There is nothing to gain, if there is anything like enlightenment, it’s the living dharma right where you are, right now. This koan records the transmission or the awakening experience of the 41st ancestor after Shakyamuni Buddha. Valerie asks, what is transmission? what is there to transmit? You are already that. She explores this koan.

Case Verse: The mind, the moon, the eyes, the blossoms; beautiful light, beautiful color, opening wide beyond kalpas. Who is playing with them?

And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk.

Also, check out our Upcoming Events:

30 Days of Zen, July 1-31
Thursday Evening Hybrid Events, Thursday July 21, 5:00 – 7:00pm, led by Henry Shukman
Original Love, Deep Clear Lake: 6 Sundays beginning July 31,10am – 12pm led by Henry Shukman

“Who would waste the spark from a flint stone?” – Dogen

Description:  Anything could be that spark. Ryoun Roshi says “koans are a message from the oneness world.” They offer an invitation into our deepest curiosity. Valerie explores Case 22 of the Gateless Gate: Kashyapa’s Flagpole, and Ananda’s awakening.

And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk.

Also, check out our Upcoming Events:

30 Days of Zen, July 1-31
Zazenkai – Day of Zen, Saturday July 16, led by Valerie Forstman
Original Love, Deep Clear Lake: 6 Sundays beginning July 31,10am – 12pm led by Henry Shukman

Description:  This is the Question & Answer companion to Encounter of the Heart Retreat: Zen’s Origin Story, Part 3. Valerie Forstman is the speaker and teacher for this session.

And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk.

Also, check out our Upcoming Events:

30 Days of Zen, July 1-31
Q&A with Henry Shukman July 11 @ 5:00 pm – July 11 @ 7:00 pm
Zazenkai – Day of Zen, Saturday July 16, led by Valerie Forstman
Original Love, Deep Clear Lake: 6 Sundays beginning July 31,10am – 12pm led by Henry Shukman

Description:  Valerie explores Zen’s origin story about the flower, a smile and universal space, case six from the Gateless Gate.

And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this talk.

Also, check out our Upcoming Events:

30 Days of Zen, July 1-31
Q&A with Henry Shukman July 11 @ 5:00 pm – July 11 @ 7:00 pm
Zazenkai – Day of Zen, Saturday July 16, led by Valerie Forstman
Original Love, Deep Clear Lake: 6 Sundays beginning July 31,10am – 12pm led by Henry Shukman