Welcome to the MCZC 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’ll be releasing a conversation series, titled Path(less), which will explore the “pathless path” of practice and life.Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud Zen Center through donation and membership, both of which allow us to offer these and other programs. Visit mountaincloud.org for our daily meditation schedule, weekly talks, upcoming retreats, and more.Reach out to [email protected] with any comments/suggestions.
Latest episodes
-
30 min
Dharma Talk: “The Oak Tree of Life” with Maria Habito
This talk is in reference to the Biblical “Tree of Life,” from which we disconnected when we ate from the “Tree of Knowledge.” How does our Zen practice help us
-
37 min
Dharma Talk: “Taking Care of the One Who is Not Ill” Valerie Forstman
Zen practice invites us to sit in the midst of things just as they are without being tossed about by difficulties. As the waves settle, it can happen – in
-
40 min
Dharma Talk: “Opening the Floodgates” with Shana Smith
Shana delves into Case 9 of the Hekiganroku and Case 15c of the Miscellaneous Koans as pointers to navigating the polycrisis. Recorded on February 5th, 2026 Please consider support…
-
38 min
Dharma Talk: “Sun-faced Buddha, Moon-faced Buddha” with Valerie Forstman
This talk begins with the question of how to embody the freedom and ease of Zen’s empty hands while being fully attuned to the cries of the world – including
-
34 min
Dharma Talk: “The ‘Such-as-this’ Sutra” with Valerie Forstman
Opening with a reading of Mountain Cloud’s Land Acknowledgment, this talk is framed by a tribute to Joanna Macy through poetry that helped to inspire her deep and abiding support
-
30 min
Dharma Talk: “Sitting in the Midst of Tragedy” with Scott Thornton
Scott takes up Case 6 of the Blue Cliff Record, Unmon’s “Every Day is a Good Day.” Recorded on January 15th, 2026 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation
-
36 min
Dharma Talk: “Begin Again: The timeless gift of a new day” with Valerie Forstman
In this first Dharma talk of the new year, Valerie reads from a recently published collection of poetry, Begin Where You Are, then turns to the question, ‘Where Are You?’
-
34 min
Dharma Talk: “One Treasure – Endlessly Functioning” with Valerie Forstman
In the wake of the Rohatsu sesshin at Mountain Cloud and our deep dive into Hakuin’s Song of Zazen, Valerie begins this talk with a painting by Hakuin, an image
-
38 min
Dharma Talk – Illumined; Illumining: The Full Moon of Our Lives
On the occasion of the last full moon of this calendar year, Valerie turns to case 100 in the Blue Cliff Record or Hekiganroku. Speaking directly to our life and
-
26 min
Dharma Talk: “The Boundless Way” with Maria Habito
Maria turns to Mumonkan Case 7, Joshu’s “Wash your Bowl”, his advice to a newcomer who earnestly asked him for instruction about the way. How does this simple instruction reflect
-
25 min
Dharma Talk: “Freedom and the Sound of the Bell” with Carolyn Seburn
How do we reconcile the wondrous and borderless reality of the essence with the messiness of our everyday lives? Are changing diapers, checking a phone or driving to work really
-
26 min
Dharma Talk: “Nothing Lacking” with Scott Thornton
In this talk, Scott takes up Case 10 of the Mumonkon, “Seizei the Poor.” Recorded on November 6th, 2025 Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a
-
53 min
Dharma Talk: “Bring me the Rhinoceros” with Valerie Forstman and Natalie Goldberg
For this talk, Valerie is joined by friend, author, artist, and dharma teacher, Natalie Goldberg. Together, Natalie and Valerie take up case 25 in the Book of Equanimity or Shoyoro…
-
36 min
Dharma Talk: “How to See in the Dark” with Valerie Forstman
This talk begins with the question, ‘What is it to be human?’ When Siddhartha Gautama was 29 years old, he leapt beyond the palace walls of his rarified life in search of an answer…
-
49 min
Dharma Talk: “Everywhere You Turn” with Valerie Forstman
This talk takes up case 34 in the Blue Cliff Record or Hekiganroku, “Kyozan’s ‘Not Wandering,’” as a guide to that exploration. Kyozan (Yangshan) asks a monk, “Where have you
-
37 min
Dharma Talk: “Zen Practice: Sweeping the Ground of our Lives” with Valerie Forstman
In this talk, Valerie returns to the basics of Zen practice beginning with a beloved verse by the renowned 8th century Chinese poet, Li Po. The poem is both a practice
-
38 min
Dharma Talk: “The humanity of our life in a borderless now” with Valerie Forstman
In this talk, Valerie begins with the poetry of love and loss as a portal to a saying from the eminent 9th century Chan/Zen master Joshu (Zhaozhou) about the timelessness
-
24 min
Dharma Talk: “It’s Alive!” with Scott Thornton
Scott’s talked is based on one of Joshu’s sayings. When asked “What is meditation?” he responded, “Non-meditation.” When asked how that could be, he said, “It’s alive! It’s alive!”…
-
46 min
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
-
47 min
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