in the Cloud

By Mountain Cloud Zen CenterReligion & Spirituality Buddhism

in the Cloud episodes

July 15, 2025 Dharma Talk: “The Great Matter: Arriving in the Light of Day” with Valerie Forstman
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
46 min
July 15, 2025 Dharma Talk: "The Practice of Insight Dialogue" with Nicola Redfern

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 interested in getting meditation and dharma insight fully integrated and embodied in life, work, social justice, and all relationships. She has taught multiple courses on eco-dharma, unlearning racism, and Nonviolent Communication, as well as programs for LGBTQIA+. Nicola is originally from the UK and now lives near Santa Fe, NM.

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/

View our upcoming events: https://www.mountaincloud.org/schedule/
59 min
July 14, 2025 Dharma Talk: "Homecoming: Not a single step taken" with Valerie Forstman
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: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/membership/

View our upcoming events: https://www.mountaincloud.org/schedule/
45 min
July 08, 2025 Dharma Talk: “The World and Us” with Henry Shukman
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
48 min
July 01, 2025 Dharma Talk: “Falling into the Heart of the World” with Valerie Forstman
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,
36 min
June 30, 2025 How to Disappear
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 Outside Online. She has written for The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Sunset, Runner's World, ESPN: The Magazine, Elle, and many others, and her narrative nonfiction has been recognized in Best American Sportswriting. A competitive ultra-distance runner, she has run and won races at every distance from 5K to 100 miles. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her husband and two daughters.

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/
39 min
June 25, 2025 The Eightfold Path and Tribal Spirituality

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/

1 hr 21 min
June 24, 2025 Zen is Basking in Love and Loving Back
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/
58 min
June 24, 2025 Dharma Talk: “The Practice of Insight Dialogue” with Nicola Redfern
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
59 min
June 17, 2025 Dharma Talk: “Homecoming: Not a single step taken” with Valerie Forstman
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
45 min

About in the Cloud

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the Mountain Cloud Zen Center "in the Cloud" podcast. Here, we'll be sharing our weekly Teisho's exploring classical Zen Koans, offered by Mountain Cloud teachers, and some guest teachers. Additionally, we have a conversation series, titled Path(less), which explores the "pathless path" of practice and life.