in the Cloud

Description: This talk opens with some reflections on what we are doing practicing Zen. Henry describes some of the ways and means by which Zen practice came to America during the mid 20th century, noting that meditation has now become mainstream, and many students are hungry to learn from the ancient masters in order to experience true peace, freedom and kindness.  Henry then looks at Case 18 in the Book of Equanimity, which is a fuller version of the Mu koan. The essence of the koan is realization of Buddha nature which Henry begins to explore, quoting from Muso Soseki, who said: “Zen aims for the fundamental state prior to the distinction between enlightened and unenlightened.”

Post Image Credit: "Ninnaji Kyoto16s3s4592" by 663highland, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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

Description: Stephen Batchelor returned to Mountain Cloud on Thursday April 2  for a conversation on early Buddhism, the Zen tradition and ancient Greek Philosophy with Mountain Cloud’s guiding teacher, Henry Shukman. Their wide ranging discussion continued the exploration of contact, connection and congruence between the ancient East and West begun the previous June, when Stephen and Henry sat down for an engaging conversation on “Going Back to the Source.”  This episode is part 2 of the April 2nd conversation - questions and answers with the audience. 

Stephen Batchelor is a contemporary Buddhist teacher and writer, best known for his secular approach to Buddhism. He is the author of Buddhism without Beliefs and Confession of a Buddhist Atheist. Stephen considers Buddhism to be a constantly evolving culture of awakening rather than a religious system based on immutable dogmas and beliefs.

Post Image Credit: Snapshot from "Going Back to the Source" video.

Featured Image Credit: Centre, by Geralt, CC0 Public Domain.

Description: Stephen Batchelor returned to Mountain Cloud on Thursday April 2  for a conversation on early Buddhism, the Zen tradition and ancient Greek Philosophy with Mountain Cloud’s guiding teacher, Henry Shukman. Their wide ranging discussion continued the exploration of contact, connection and congruence between the ancient East and West begun the previous June, when Stephen and Henry sat down for an engaging conversation on “Going Back to the Source.”  

Stephen Batchelor is a contemporary Buddhist teacher and writer, best known for his secular approach to Buddhism. He is the author of Buddhism without Beliefs and Confession of a Buddhist Atheist. Stephen considers Buddhism to be a constantly evolving culture of awakening rather than a religious system based on immutable dogmas and beliefs.

Post Image Credit: Snapshot from "Going Back to the Source" video.

Featured Image Credit: Centre, by Geralt, CC0 Public Domain.

Description: David Loy made a special appearance at Mountain Cloud on Wednesday September 16, 2015. He spoke from topics discussed in his latest book, A New Buddhist Path, about the convergence of western traditions of social reform with Asian traditions of inner transformation. Loy’s talk contrasts moral ideals within the Abrahamic traditions with those in Buddhism and proposes that each of these ideals needs the other.  David Loy is a professor, writer, and Zen teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition of Japanese Zen Buddhism. His articles appear regularly in major journals and Buddhist magazines including Tricycle, Shambhala Sun, Inquiring Mind, and Buddhadharma and in scholarly journals.

Post Image Credit: PONTO DE CONVERGÊNCIA (Convergence Point), by Jônatas Cunha, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Description: In this koan, Uncle Misshi and Tozan see a white rabbit then have a short exchange about swiftness, white clothing, respect, nobility and poverty.  Using this case as a starting point, Henry explores, in depth, the purpose of studying koans, showing us how each koan addresses the most profound aspect of our experience—what it is to exist. Henry infuses this exploration with experiences and insights gained from his recent visit to Greece, which concludes with a definition of Eros—the longing of the soul to reconnect with reality.  In Zen, this longing is the way-seeking mind which brings us to practice.

Post & Featured Image Credit: Buddha is a Bridge, by Hartwig HKD, CC BY-ND 2.0.

Episode Description: In this final talk of the 2015 summer sesshin Henry clarifies what has been explored during the week. He recites the opening couplets of the Shinjinmei, Verses of the Faith Mind, and discusses both Mumon’s and Dogen’s awakenings (who were alive at the same time and came somewhat close to meeting).  We hear a story about the Pang family of lay practitioners, who all became enlightened masters during the Chinese Tang period. The talk explores how our opinions, our likes and dislikes, are our primary hindrances, and draws modern physics into the discussion, before returning to the source of our practice, Shakyamuni Buddha, and his seeing through life, death and himself, thus resolving the “ultimate matter,” and opening up the Buddhist tradition of practice. The talk closes with encouragement for constant and everlasting practice.

Post Image Credit: On the Path, by Hartwig HKD, CC BY-ND 2.0.

Featured Image Credit:  Deep Meditation, by Hartwig HKD, CC BY-ND 2.0.