Dharmatalk: Infinitely Open, Endlessly Bright with Valerie Forstman

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Dharmatalk: Infinitely Open, Endlessly Bright with Valerie Forstman

FromMountain Cloud Zen Podcasts

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Length:

41 minutes

Released:

Sep 13, 2022

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Valerie takes up case 29 of the Denkoroku, the record of the ‘transmission of light’ from Bodhidharma to Eka or Huike, as a way to explore the boundless clarity that

Released:

Sep 13, 2022

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (50)

Santa Fe, NM

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Dharmatalk: Winter Solstice Retreat: Bright Light (Part 4 of 4): 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 by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
37 min listen
Dharmatalk: Three Simple Lines: Description: Natalie speaks about her new book Three Simple Lines: A Writer’s Pilgrimage into the Heart and Homeland of Haiku. The final section includes a short exchange with Sanbo Zen by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
58 min listen
Dharmatalk: Introduction to Meditation Retreat: Invitation to Trust (Part 1 of 2): “When you sit, the whole world is sitting… We really don’t have to do anything, just show up”. Description: The invitation of Zen practice is to sit with the world, by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
34 min listen
Dharmatalk: Winter Solstice Retreat: It’s All Empty (Part 1 of 4): “… 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 by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
34 min listen
Dharmatalk: Winter Solstice Retreat: The Origin Point (Part 2 of 4): “… 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 by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
30 min listen
Dharmatalk: Moving Toward the Winter Light: 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 by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
36 min listen
Dharmatalk: Empty Hands: “We are always looking for the lack, like Eka (Huike) searching for his mind – this lack is so convincing and so untrue. It blinds us to who we really by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
33 min listen
Dharmatalk: Winter Solstice Retreat: Beginner’s Mind (Part 3 of 4): “… 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 by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
42 min listen
Dharmatalk: Reflection on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi with Will Brennan: Description: Senior Student Will Brennan gives a dharma talk, offering reflections on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, Recommending Zazen to all people. Will has recently been appointed as a Sanbo Zen Assistant Teacher and by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
43 min listen
Dharmatalk: Encounter of the Heart Retreat: Stop & See (Part 1 of 6): Empty, new and utterly fleeting, arriving now but already done. Description: In this first Teisho from the Encounter of the Heart Retreat, January 2021, Valerie Forstman reminds us that this by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
39 min listen
Introductory Day of Zen: Beginner’s Mind with Valerie Forstman: Valerie examines beginner’s mind and explores the question”what is Zen?” during our March 2021 one-day Introduction to Meditation retreat. Suzuki Roshi – a Japanese Zen master who brought Zen teaching by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
39 min listen
Dharmatalk: Introduction to Meditation Retreat: Abundant Advantage (Part 2 of 2): “May each and everybody whether staying still or standing up have ten thousand blessings….Today I have advantage after advantage, now, please practice.” ~ Dogen Description: Valerie explores the dharma hall discourse by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
31 min listen
Dharmatalk: Dosho Port speaks about his new book The Record of Empty Hall: One Hundred Classic Koans: Description: Dosho Port teaches with the Vine of Obstacles: Online Support for Zen Training and at the Nebraska Zen Center in Omaha, and he has been practicing Zen since 1977. by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
41 min listen
Dharmatalk: Reflection on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi: Description: Newly appointed assistant Sanbo Zen teacher Will Brennan offers reflections on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, (Recommending Zazen for all People) about how to practice, why practice, a beginner’s primer and much more. by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
43 min listen
Dharmatalk: Encounter of the Heart Retreat: Stop & See Q&A (Part 2 of 6): To be able to hear the dharma is truly rare. To do so we must: Stop and see, sit still and let go. Description: This is the Question & Answer by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
35 min listen
Dharmatalk: Meet your Life: Description: Natalie Goldberg gives an inspiring talk about Zen in action. She describes some of her background experiences in both Zen and writing and how they interact and nourish each by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
40 min listen
Introduction to Meditation Weekend, Talk Two: All: “Love sitting in Zazen, as if putting out a fire on top of your head” ~ Dogen Valerie Forstman gives the second talk during the April Intro to Meditation weekend. by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
53 min listen
Dharmatalk: Encounter of the Heart Retreat: Zen’s Origin Story Q&A (Part 4 of 6): Description: This is the Question & Answer companion to Encounter of the Heart Retreat: Zen’s Origin Story, Part 3. Valerie Forstman is the speaker and teacher for this session. And, by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
30 min listen
Dharmatalk: Nansen Kills the Cat: “… Does Nansen really kill the cat? …” Description: Maria Reis Habito gives a teisho on Case 14 from the Gateless Gate, Nansen Kills the Cat. And, here’s a link by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
45 min listen
Dharmatalk: Encounter of the Heart Retreat: Love (Part 6 of 6): “Anyone who wants to gain enlightenment, do not enter.” Description: Valerie turns to Love, which knows nothing of rank and order. She looks at a koan from Keizan’s Transmission of Light by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
34 min listen
Dharmatalk: Encounter of the Heart Retreat: Zen’s Origin Story (Part 3 of 6): Description: Valerie explores Zen’s origin story about the flower, a smile and universal space, case six from the Gateless Gate. And, here’s a link to our YouTube video of this by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
33 min listen
Introduction to Meditation Weekend, Talk One: What is the Shout?: Listen to this talk by Valerie Forstman from the April 2021 Introduction to Meditation Weekend Retreat. A talk at a Zen retreat is traditionally called a teisho which means, Presentation by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
53 min listen
Dharmatalk: Encounter of the Heart Retreat: The Invitation (Part 5 of 6): “Who would waste the spark from a flint stone?” – Dogen Description: Anything could be that spark. Ryoun Roshi says “koans are a message from the oneness world.” They offer by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
39 min listen
Dharmatalk: Compassion and Curiosity, Part 1, Valerie Forstman: “Zen is awakening to the dynamic reality of the present moment…..Zen is finding love in all things at all times. ” ~ Ruben Habito Valerie explores Zen practice from the by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
39 min listen
Dharmatalk: Case 20 from the Book of Equanimity with Valerie Forstman: “… Zazen has been described as silently not influencing anything …” Koans can provide helpful perspectives for dealing with the uncertainty of current world events. In this talk, Valerie Forstman by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
38 min listen
Introduction to Meditation Weekend: Q&A 1 with Valerie Forstman: Description: This is Question & Answer session 1 from the Introduction to Meditation Virtual Weekend. Valerie Forstman is the speaker and teacher for this session. And, here’s a link to by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
56 min listen
Dharmatalk: The World Honored One, Just Sat Still with Scott Thornton: Scott explores Case 32 from the Gateless Gate, A non-buddhist questions the Buddha. The non-buddhist says, in all earnestness to the Buddha: I do not ask about words, I do by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
31 min listen
Dharmatalk: Life is Not Suffering with Rick Hanson: It is said that the Buddha teaches only suffering and its end, but what is suffering? Guest speaker Rick Hanson attempts to define this suffering, challenging that suffering is only by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
60 min listen
Dharmatalk: Henry Shukman on Presence: “Your consciousness does not exist separately from what it contains” Henry explores presence from several different angles, including Internal Family Systems (IFS). The word presence includes some of what mindfulness by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
46 min listen
Dharmatalk: Infinitely Open, Endlessly Bright with Valerie Forstman: Valerie takes up case 29 of the Denkoroku, the record of the ‘transmission of light’ from Bodhidharma to Eka or Huike, as a way to explore the boundless clarity that by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
41 min listen

More Episodes from Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts

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Spring Retreat Talk 4, Gathering the Heart Mind with Valerie Forstman: Dwelling no-where, mind comes forth~ from the Diamond Sutra Heart mind directs us to the fundamental point of who and what we are. In Chinese there is one term for by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
56 min listen
Spring Retreat Talk 3, The Boat is on the River with Valerie Forstman: Valerie explores the clarity and simplicity of Master Hogen who came to be known as the dharma eye of deep clarity. Focusing on Case 51 from Book of Equanimity, Valerie by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
41 min listen
Spring Retreat Talk 2, The Stone Bridge: Crossing Over with Valerie Forstman: Something puts our feet on this path, starting from the ordinary dualistic world. Gradually, as we practice and practice, in some unguarded moment, everything falls away, and it’s just this. by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
44 min listen
Spring Retreat Talk 1, Joshu’s Dog: Crossing Over, Fully Arrived with Valerie Forstman: Crossing over to the other shore is the heart of our practice and the heart of Buddha’s teaching. Eventually we realize that we were always on the shore, here and by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
39 min listen
Dharmatalk: Diamond Sutra and Living Beings with Maria Habito: “Abiding no-where mind comes forth.” Maria Habito returns to Mountain Cloud’s zoom zendo and talks about the Diamond Sutra. When we enter deep silence, the diamond cuts through every notion by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
52 min listen
Rohatsu 2022: Day 6, Vibes, Awakening and What then? with Henry Shukman: For this final Rohatsu talk, Henry looks at three questions. What are we doing here, just sitting with each other? What is awakening? and What then? We are living “it” by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
46 min listen
Rohatsu 2022: Day 5, Cannot Get Wet, Cannot Get Dry with Valerie Forstman: In this talk from day 5 of the Rohatsu sesshin, Valerie picks up on the previous day’s talk by Henry where he presents the title and first line of the by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
53 min listen
Rohatsu 2022: Day 4, Prajnaparamitra, The Heart Sutra with Henry Shukman: What is this practice? Why do it? Essentially, it’s all about slowing down and things falling away. Our very existence, our being gets simpler. Henry looks at the title and by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
39 min listen
Rohatsu 2022: Day 3, All-Inclusive Awakening with Valerie Forstman: In celebration of Shakyamuni Buddha’s awakening, Valerie takes up the Head Chapter of the Denkoroku or Transmission of Light. “I and the great earth and all beings simultaneously attain the by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
41 min listen
Rohatsu 2022: Day 2, What Matters Most with Henry Shukman: Henry asks the question, matters most? When you reflect on this question, have any open mind, beyond ordinary or day to day concerns. He asks, what is this experience and by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
39 min listen
Rohatsu 2022: Day 1, Light Sitting in Light with Valerie Forstman: In this talk from the first day of the Rohatsu sesshin, 2022, Valerie offers a tribute to Sr. Elaine MacInnes, Roshi, who died a week ago and whose celebration of by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
50 min listen
Dharmatalk: Zen Jhanas with Stephen Snyder: Guest speaker Stephen Snyder of the Jhana tradition visits Mountain Cloud and offers a teisho on the Buddha’s first and last practice. Jhana practice predates the Buddha by at least by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
45 min listen
Dharmatalk: Life is Not Suffering with Rick Hanson: It is said that the Buddha teaches only suffering and its end, but what is suffering? Guest speaker Rick Hanson attempts to define this suffering, challenging that suffering is only by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
60 min listen
Dharmatalk: Towards Healing with Peggy Sheehan: “We don’t study koans, we use koans to investigate our life.” ~ Maezumi Roshi Guest teacher Peggy Sheehan from Zen Center Denver says that koans have been a life long by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
55 min listen
Dharmatalk: Complete Exposure of the Golden Wind with Matt Sweger: On this first day of Fall, Teshin takes up case 27 of the Blue Cliff Record, Unmon’s Complete Exposure. The Case reads as follows: A monk asked Unmon, “What is by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
40 min listen
Dharmatalk: Each is All, All is One with Valerie Forstman: Upon being welcomed home from Germany, Valerie describes briefly what it’s like being thrown immediately into the chaotic activity of moving from her home in Dallas to Santa Fe: “Constant by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
31 min listen
Dharmatalk: Coming Home, I am Already That with Valerie Forstman: In this talk – an offering of gratitude for the life of a beloved sangha member, Valerie turns to Case 41 in the Transmission of Light or Denkoroko. A monk by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
38 min listen
Dharmatalk: The World Honored One, Just Sat Still with Scott Thornton: Scott explores Case 32 from the Gateless Gate, A non-buddhist questions the Buddha. The non-buddhist says, in all earnestness to the Buddha: I do not ask about words, I do by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
31 min listen
Dharmatalk: Endless Depth of Field with Valerie Forstman: In this talk from our Thursday night series, Valerie takes up Case 26 of the Gateless Gate or Mumonkan, Hogen’s “Two Monks Roll Up the Blinds.” The setting is in by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
40 min listen
Dharmatalk: An Offering to the World with Shana Smith: “Your sitting is not for the world, it is the world.” How can our practice be an offering to the world? asks meditation teacher Shana Smith. The question arose from by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
26 min listen
Dharmatalk: Valerie Forstman on The Two-Fold Truth: Genjokoan: “Showing their backs then their fronts – falling maple leafs.” ~ Ryokan “Resolving the matter of Life and death is of prime importance.” To explore this phrase which is recited by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
30 min listen
Dharmatalk: Henry Shukman on Presence: “Your consciousness does not exist separately from what it contains” Henry explores presence from several different angles, including Internal Family Systems (IFS). The word presence includes some of what mindfulness by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
46 min listen
Dharmatalk: Within Practice We Meet Ourselves: Guest Speaker Karin Kempe of the Zen Center of Denver joins our Thursday Night Sit to offer a talk on Dogen’s statement, “Practice is Enlightenment, Enlightenment is Practice.” While this by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
35 min listen
Introduction to Meditation Weekend, Talk Two: All: “Love sitting in Zazen, as if putting out a fire on top of your head” ~ Dogen Valerie Forstman gives the second talk during the April Intro to Meditation weekend. by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
53 min listen
Introduction to Meditation Weekend: Q&A 1 with Valerie Forstman: Description: This is Question & Answer session 1 from the Introduction to Meditation Virtual Weekend. Valerie Forstman is the speaker and teacher for this session. And, here’s a link to by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
56 min listen
Introduction to Meditation Weekend, Talk One: What is the Shout?: Listen to this talk by Valerie Forstman from the April 2021 Introduction to Meditation Weekend Retreat. A talk at a Zen retreat is traditionally called a teisho which means, Presentation by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
53 min listen
Introductory Day of Zen: Beginner’s Mind with Valerie Forstman: Valerie examines beginner’s mind and explores the question”what is Zen?” during our March 2021 one-day Introduction to Meditation retreat. Suzuki Roshi – a Japanese Zen master who brought Zen teaching by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
39 min listen
Dharmatalk: Compassion and Curiosity, Part 1, Valerie Forstman: “Zen is awakening to the dynamic reality of the present moment…..Zen is finding love in all things at all times. ” ~ Ruben Habito Valerie explores Zen practice from the by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
39 min listen
Dharmatalk: Case 20 from the Book of Equanimity with Valerie Forstman: “… Zazen has been described as silently not influencing anything …” Koans can provide helpful perspectives for dealing with the uncertainty of current world events. In this talk, Valerie Forstman by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
38 min listen
Dharmatalk: Reflection on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi with Will Brennan: Description: Senior Student Will Brennan gives a dharma talk, offering reflections on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, Recommending Zazen to all people. Will has recently been appointed as a Sanbo Zen Assistant Teacher and by Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts
43 min listen

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Dharmatalk: Infinitely Open, Endlessly Bright with Valerie Forstman

Dharmatalk: Infinitely Open, Endlessly Bright with Valerie Forstman

Description

Titles in the series (50)

More Episodes from Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts