in the Cloud

Path(less): Will & Lucie Brennan

For this episode, we're reaching back in time with Will & Lucie Brennan, two of the original founders and builders of Mountain Cloud. So fun to take a trip down memory la

Teisho: "On the Way Without Ever Leaving Home" with Valerie Forstman

Freshly returned from the annual Sanbo Zen teacher training in Germany and a sesshin she led there, Valerie reflects on these experiences and on the many gifts of practic

Path(less): Vanessa Zuisei Goddard

Such a delight to chat with Vanessa Zuisei Goddard. Zuisei has a fascinating pathless path. She joined me online, from her home in Panama City. You, too, can join Zuisei

Teisho: "Three Bright Pearls: Honoring our Masters" with Shana Smith

Shana reflects upon the recent Kenshukai in Germany, and examines Case 86 of the Blue Cliff Record, "Unmon's Bright Light." Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud wi

Path(less): Daisy Lin

We're back with another episode of Path(less)! Today with the lovely Daisy Lin. We had a great time chatting about a whole host of interesting topics. Please enjoy! If

Teisho: "Falling into the Heart of the World" with Valerie Forstman

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

Path(less): Henry Shukman

What a pleasure and a privilege to sit down with Henry Shukman for a conversation in the Study at Mountain Cloud. Henry's app, The Way, is a single-path meditaton program

Teisho: "Walking Into Wholeness" with Vanessa Zuisei Goddard

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 lon

Path(less): Light Watkins

A real joy chatting Light Watkins from his home in Mexico City. Light's latest book, The Year You Transform, is a wonderfully practical guide to how small, daily behavior

Teisho: "Abundance in an Undivided World" with Valerie Forstman

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" –

Path(less): Sarah Giffin

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 ha

Teisho: "In coming and going we never leave home" with Valerie Forstman

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 sitti

Teisho: "Wild Thing!" with Scott Thornton

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 me

Path(less): Eric Zimmer

Really enjoyed this conversation with Eric Zimmer. Eric was in Santa Fe while touring in support of his latest book, How A Little Becomes A Lot. Also check out his incred

Dharma Talk: "Touching the Earth" with David Loy

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

Path(less): Elena Brower

Such a pleasure to sit down with Elena Brower in the Study at Mountain Cloud for a beautiful conversation around the pathless path of practice and life. Please check ou

Teisho: "The Circle Game" with Shana Smith

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.

Path(less): Tias Little

Such a joy to sit down with Tias Little (during a break from writing his latest book) on the beautiful grounds of Prajna Yoga. Tias and Surya offer amazing courses and cl

Teisho: "Where the Active Wheel Revolves" with Valerie Forstman

In this talk, Valerie begins with an Earth Day reflection, acknowledging and honoring what Hakuin Zenji calls "this earth where we stand." The talk then turns to case 8 i

Path(less): Katie Arnold

Really enjoyed this conversation with author, journalist, and ultra-endurance athlete, Katie Arnold. Her latest book, "Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World", is a beau