in the Cloud

Description: Henry continues his discussion of Unmon’s koan on Mt Sumeru. We learn more about Master Unmon, also known as Cloud Gate, founder of one of the five houses of zen. Unmon was famous for teaching with short phrases such as “Mt. Sumeru.” His phrases have the capacity to cut through our familiar thought streams, severing assumptions and conceptualizations while also covering the “whole of heaven and earth.” To illustrate this intriguing koan, Henry correlates the recent documentary film, Meru, with our zen practice and moments of awakening.

Post Image: Shivling and Meru, by Sharada Prasad CS, CC BY 2.0.

Featured Image Credit: Sunrise of Tengger Caldera, by Jean-Marie Hullot (edited), CC BY-SA 2.0.

Description: In this teisho, Henry begins an exploration of the compact koan, Unmon’s Mt. Sumeru: A monk asked Unmon, "Not a single thought arises: is there any fault or not?" Unmon said, "Mt. Sumeru!"   Henry probes the dangers of quietism, the hazards of self-assessment in meditation practice, and Unmon’s startling singular response, “Mt Sumeru" — which means center of the universe. We begin to learn about Unmon’s famous and powerfully effective one-word teachings.

Post and Featured Image Credit: Sunrise of Tengger Caldera, by Jean-Marie Hullot (edited), CC BY-SA 2.0.

Description: Father John Dear speaks at Mountain Cloud about his compelling vision for a nonviolent world. Father John is an internationally known voice for peace and nonviolence who has dedicated his life to working for peace as an organizer, lecturer, author, and retreat leader. He has organized and participated in nonviolent campaigns for over three decades and been arrested some 75 times in acts of civil disobedience against war and injustice. Archbishop Desmond Tutu nominated Father John for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Post Image Credit: Fountain at Womens Peace Camp, Greenham Common Berkshire, by Mike Cattell, CC BY 2.0.

Featured Image Credit: PEACE, by Baer Tierkel, CC BY 2.0.

Description: “Why should I, being subject to birth and death, seek what is likewise subject to birth and death?” Launching from these words of Shakyamuni Buddha, Henry concludes his series on the koan Mu and his exploration of Buddha nature. He explores the monk’s question to Joshu, “Why would Buddha nature crawl into a dog?” by looking at Tozan’s realization that all animate and inanimate things are preaching the Dharma. Henry reads a poem he wrote about Bodhidharma, Facing the Wall, and looks briefly at the verse that accompanies the koan.  With much caring, Henry encourages us to rest in the universal support that is our reality. Once we truly encounter Mu, we see that everything is a blessing.

P0st Image Credit: zen garden for a moment, by Kai Schreiber, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Featured Image Credit: zen-garden, by Spirit Fire, CC BY 2.0.

Description: Henry continues his lively exploration of the the Book of Equanimity’s version of the Mu koan. In this koan, Joshu replies to the monk’s question, “Does a dog have Buddha nature?” first by saying “U” or yes, then later by saying, “Mu” or no. Henry addresses Joshu’s apparently contradictory responses by paraphrasing from the Buddha, “If you are looking for big cosmic answers, you have come to the wrong place.” Joshu is baiting the monk with his answers to his questions about the dog.  We ourselves become like bait for the Dharma when we sit with Mu, waiting for the enormous “Dharma fish” to snatch us up.  Joshu was the original angler of this style of practice, which allows all the time in the world. While this teisho continues exploring Buddha nature, Henry includes a delightful story about his astonishing encounter with a village high in the Andes populated by wise indigenous peoples, the Arhuacos and Kogi, who see themselves as the elder brothers and sisters of humanity.

Post Image Credit: After the rain, by aotaro, CC BY 2.0 via flickr.com.

Featured Image Credit: zen-garden, by Spirit Fire, CC BY 2.0.