in the Cloud

Really enjoyed this conversation with author, journalist, and ultra-endurance athlete, Katie Arnold. Her latest book, "Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World", is a beautiful Zen meditation wrapped in a memoir.

And check out all of the great things Katie is up to, including her next "Flow Camp", in Telluride, Colorado ...

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Ben's talk is based on his new book, Inside the Flower Garland Sutra: Huayan Buddhism and the Modern World.

Huayan Buddhism arose in the sixth century in China rooted in the Mahayana Flower Garland (Huayan) Sutra. Huayan is relational, practical, and positive. Its emphasis on interdependence, celebration of the sensual world, and diversity of people and practices has much to offer during this era when many folks see ever-deepening divisions.

Ben will illustrate the teachings with stories and lessons from his recent involvement with an array of nonviolent community responses to the violence ICE brought to his hometown Minneapolis over the last few months.

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It was an honor to sit down with David Loy for this next conversation in the Path(less) series. David will be joining us here at Mountain Cloud for our May EcoDharma Residency.

To learn more about David, his teachings, books and appearances, check out his webiste: https://www.davidloy.org

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Reach out to [email protected] with any comments or suggestions.

Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member, so we can continue to offer these programs freely.

Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/

Membership: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/

Reach out to [email protected] with any comments or suggestions.

Ukraine … Gaza … Iran … Can Buddhist teachings help us understand what is happening, and how we might respond?

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Such a pleasure to sit down with Valerie Forstman, Guiding Teacher for Mountain Cloud Zen Center, for this first conversation in the Path(less) series.

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In this first dharma talk following the Spring Sesshin, Valerie begins with a poem that whimsically maps the trajectory of practice. The talk then turns to Case 7 in the Mumonkan or Gateless Gate, "Joshu's 'Wash Your Bowls.'" A monk arrives at the monastery and asks for instruction. On the surface, Joshu's response is a word of practice guidance to the monk and to us. Deeper still, Joshu's every word presents the world where there is not the slightest bit of dust to wipe away. This world. This fact. The Gateless Gate that is always exactly where you are.

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Welcome to a new converation series, titled "Path(less)," on the "in the Cloud" podcast. In this introductory episde, host, Grant Goulet, provides a brief orientation to the theme of the series: the pathless path of practice and life.

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In this Teisho, Carolyn takes up Mumonkan Case 20: A Person of Great Strength – Seeing Shôgen's World From the Midst of Fire.

Recorded on March 12, 2026

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Valerie begins this talk with an exploration of Zen's invitation to 'come home' to who we truly are. What kind of path is it that can arrive fully without taking a single step? And what are we to make of this homecoming when the suffering of the world is fully included?

As a way of exploring these questions, the talk turns to a koan: Blue Cliff Record or Hekiganroku Case 69, "Nansen Draws a Circle." Three monks, dharma siblings, set out together to visit a renowned master. Along the way, they stop to share the teaching – and to offer us a glimpse of home that is always right where we are.

Recorded on March 5, 2026

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