in the Cloud

Description:  Valerie and Henry explore Unmon’s Bright Light, Case 84 from the Blue Cliff Record in this final talk from our 2020 winter solstice retreat. Valerie opens with the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurring during this retreat, as a way to describe Zen practice. “Cutting the two into one… Light and darkness are one… your own great conjunction.” Valerie asks “what is your own bright light?”

Henry concludes with “ordinary mind is the way.” The dharma, or Zen, is not the way, just as the finger pointing to the moon is not the moon. Consider: the finger is the moon, is the treasure, but do not be attached.

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

Also, check out our Upcoming Events:

Introduction to Koans, Thursday evening 5:30pm MT, April 14 and 21, with Henry Shukman

Original Love Q&A with Henry Shukman, Saturday April 17, 10am-noon – open to all

Reading Group, Mindfulness in Plain English, Saturday April 24, 10am-noon, led by Valerie

Original Love, Zone 2 Support and Trust, 6-Week Sunday series May 1 – June 5

Zazenkai: a Day of Zen, Saturday May 17,  6am-3:30pm

Featured Image (edited): Man before keyhole of light by rolffimages, purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (this image is not permitted to be shared separately from this post).

“… The knot of self has become untied …”

Description:  Henry returns to the basics of practice in this third talk from the 2022 winter solstice retreat picking up on Valerie’s theme of trees and photosynthesis. “Pick up your Practice with a lot of hope. Know that your sitting is doing the photosynthesis of the world. Allowing the human to be.” Henry quotes from William Shakespeare, physicist David Bohm, writer David Hinton and Bodhidharma “when we get to the other shore we realize there isn’t another shore.”

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

Also, check out our Upcoming Events:

Introduction to Koans, Thursday evening 5:30pm MT, April 14 and 21, with Henry Shukman

Original Love Q&A with Henry Shukman, Saturday April 17, 10am-noon – open to all

Reading Group, Mindfulness in Plain English, Saturday April 24, 10am-noon, led by Valerie

Original Love, Zone 2 Support and Trust, 6-Week Sunday series May 1 – June 5

Zazenkai: a Day of Zen, Saturday May 17,  6am-3:30pm

“… the awakening of Shakyamuni Buddha and the simultaneous awakening of all existence, past, present and future …”

Description: To explore the origin point of practice in this second talk of our winter solstice retreat, Valerie revisits the Old Plum Tree, Case Zero, from the Transmission of Light Collection. This case is the the Head Chapter which we read on Rohatsu that narrates the awakening of Shakyamuni Buddha and the simultaneous awakening of all existence, past, present and future. Springing from the one branch of the old plum tree, Valerie then wanders among some delightful teachings associated with the interdependence of trees and equates practice with photosynthesis.

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

Also, check out our Upcoming Events:

Two-day Virtual Retreat with Valerie Forstman, April 9-10

Post & Featured Image (edited): Waterfall in rainforest by Deerphoto, purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (this image is not permitted to be shared separately from this post).

“… This moment – just as it is – is our reality. …”

Description: Henry describes how meditation practice exclusively focused on awakening (kensho) can bypass the enormous gains practice offers our ordinary lives. Zen practice directly meets our daily anxieties, joys, losses, and gains. It meets and supports us right where we are. The whole thrust of deep Buddhist teachings is to meet our lives in normal everyday reality. As we develop loving awareness (mindfulness) it’s possible to be peaceful with suffering. We can let ourselves know our suffering rather than distracting ourselves from it.

This moment – just as it is – is our reality.

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

Also, check out our Upcoming Events:

Original Love: Mindfulness, Self-love and Awakening Retreat, March 26-26.

Two-day Virtual Retreat with Valerie Forstman, April 9-10

Post & Featured Image (edited): Waterfall in rainforest by Deerphoto, purchased from depositphotos, for use only on our website/social channels (this image is not permitted to be shared separately from this post).

Description: Valerie Forstman explores the silence when Vimalakirti is asked, what is the bodhisattva entering the dharma-gate of non-duality (or the gate of not two)? Vimalakirti opens a portal to the world of many fragrances. How can we realize this world? Valerie turns to Chin Niu’s Rice Bucket – Dear Bodhisattvas come and eat rice. Chin Niu presents the entire world to the monks, if they see it, they enter the world of not two. If we see it, our separate self cannot survive. The rice is our whole body.

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

Also, check out our Upcoming Events:

Original Love: Mindfulness, Self-love and Awakening Retreat, March 26-26.

Two-day Virtual Retreat with Valerie Forstman, April 9-10