Teisho: "Falling into the Heart of the World" with Valerie Forstman
in the Cloud
As our 30 Days of Dogen course comes to an end, Valerie invites a return to Dogen’s seminal awakening: Body and mind fallen away. What geography of awakening does Dogen’s experience lay bare for us and can it be anywhere but here? Looking into this, the talk turns to case 27 in the Blue Cliff Record, “Unmon’s ‘Complete Exposure.’” The koan asks, ‘When everything falls away, what then?’ Our practice itself offers a response. Fallen away, fallen away and simultaneously falling headlong into the heart of this beautiful, broken world. Please consider supporting...
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Path(less): Henry Shukman
in the Cloud
What a pleasure and a privilege to sit down with Henry Shukman for a conversation in the Study at Mountain Cloud. Henry's app, , is a single-path meditaton program designed to bring the depth of traditional practice into the digital age. He's also the author of the excellent books, and . Henry and The Way offer opportunities to gather around the world, as well. If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to continue offering these programs freely. Reach out to with any...
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Teisho: "Walking Into Wholeness" with Vanessa Zuisei Goddard
in the Cloud
Many of us come to spiritual practice because of a persistent feeling that there’s something wrong—something off about us or about the world. Perhaps we struggle with loneliness or a sense of alienation. Perhaps we crave intimacy but are afraid to get close. Perhaps we wonder why there’s so much conflict everywhere. Is there a better way to relate to others and to ourselves? In this Teisho, Zuisei Goddard, Guiding Teacher of Ocean Mind Sangha, takes up the koan of Senjo and Her Soul to show that when we look closely, we realize that our sense of separation is an illusion. That when we...
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Path(less): Light Watkins
in the Cloud
A real joy chatting Light Watkins from his home in Mexico City. Light's latest book, , is a wonderfully practical guide to how small, daily behaviors can have truly transformative power. If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to continue offering these programs freely. Reach out to with any comments or suggestions.
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Teisho: "Abundance in an Undivided World" with Valerie Forstman
in the Cloud
In this talk, Valerie begins with a look into Dogen’s phrase, “mountain-still sitting,” asking how this practice of divesting ourselves – “dropping away body and mind” – is, at the same time, an invitation to realize the inexhaustible abundance that runs through all things. The talk then turns to a koan that embodies this realization: case 10 of the Gateless Gate, “Seizei the Poor.” In the case, a seasoned monk presents himself to a renowned master: “I am solitary and poor.” This is no lament but the meeting ground for an exchange that freely illumines the awake world and...
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Path(less): Sarah Giffin
in the Cloud
So nice to chat with Sarah Giffin, the Executive Director of Mountain Cloud Zen Center. Sarah's had an interesting pathless path to her current role at the Center, and has such a gift for storytelling. If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to continue offering these programs freely. Reach out to with any comments or suggestions.
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Teisho: "In coming and going we never leave home" with Valerie Forstman
in the Cloud
Returning to the zendo after co-leading a monthlong ‘mini-ango’ at a beautiful Zen center in the Black Forest region of Germany, Valerie reflects on travel and long sitting and Zen’s ever-present invitation to come home to what we truly are. The talk then turns to case 9 in the Gateless Gate or Mumonkan, “Daitsu Chisho,” another name for the essential wisdom that pervades all places. This koan hinges on the question, can you - or can anyone - “attain Buddhahood”? More to the point, can you become anything? If not, what is awakening? What liberating wisdom is it that...
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Teisho: "Wild Thing!" with Scott Thornton
in the Cloud
Scott explores Case 53 of the Blue Cliff Record or Hekiganroku: “Hyakujo and the Wild Ducks.” Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member, so we can continue to offer these programs freely. Donations: Membership: Reach out to with any comments or suggestions.
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Path(less): Eric Zimmer
in the Cloud
Really enjoyed this conversation with . Eric was in Santa Fe while touring in support of his latest book, . Also check out his incredibly popular podcast, . If you're enjoying these conversations, please consider supporting Mountain Cloud through donation and membership. Your contribution is a meaningful way for us to continue offering these programs freely. Reach out to with any comments or suggestions.
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Dharma Talk: "Touching the Earth" with David Loy
in the Cloud
When the Buddha touched the Earth (bhumisparsha), was the Earth touching him? What does our nonduality with the Earth really mean? Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member, so we can continue to offer these programs freely. Donations: Membership: Reach out to with any comments or suggestions.
info_outlineWelcome 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.
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 grant@mountaincloud.org with any comments or suggestions.