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Legacy MC Podcast

by Mountain Cloud Zen Center

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.

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Episodes

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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 supporting Mountain

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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?’

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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 Shoyoroku

  14. 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 to this question. One of Shakyamuni Buddha’s earliest teachings points the way towards what he discovered: Stop and...

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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!” Recorded

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. Dharma Talk: “Falling into the Heart of the World” with Valerie Forstman

    In this first teisho since returning from the North American Sanbo Zan sesshin led by Yamada Ryoun Roshi, Valerie takes up Case 4 in the Shoyoroku or Book of Serenity,

  22. Dharma Talk: “The Practice of Insight Dialogue” with Nicola Redfern

    Insight Dialogue (ID) is a relational meditation practice for developing awareness, compassion and wisdom. It is designed to help us awaken together and integrate our understanding of Dharma teachings in

  23. Dharma Talk: “Homecoming: Not a single step taken” with Valerie Forstman

    In this first dharma talk after returning from a monthlong mini-ango in Germany, Valerie turns to the final case in the Mumonkan or Gateless Gate, “Kempo’s One Way,” a koan

  24. Dharma Talk: “Why I Love the Three Poisons” with David Loy

    In this talk, David explores the depth and application of this teaching to our modern lives. He notes, “We often do not appreciate that the three poisons is a profound

  25. Dharma Talk: “How to Disappear” with Katie Arnold

    Katie Arnold tells a story from her upcoming book How to Disappear about an arduous and illuminating long distance run in the high country. Katie Arnold is the author of

  26. Dharma Talk: “The Eightfold Path and Tribal Spirituality” with Karen Waconda-Lewis

    This talk was offered by Karen Waconda-Lewis at Mountain Cloud Zen Center on May 22nd, 2025. Karen discusses how the Noble Eightfold Path connects with Tribal spirituality. Please consider supporting

  27. Dharma Talk: “Zen is Basking in Love and Loving Back” with Ruben Habito

    This talk was offered by Ruben Habito at Mountain Cloud Zen Center on May 15th, 2025. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we

  28. Dharma Talk: “The Refuge of No Refuge” with David Loy

    In this talk, David explores the idea of refuge. To take refuge is to run away to a hiding place…Is that what we should do? Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud

  29. Dharma Talk: “The single stone ten thousand feet down in the sea of Ise” with Maria Reis Habito

    Zen is a practice to deeply explore and fully live our true Self. Might the Koan about the stone deep down in the sea of Ise be a helpful pointer

  30. Dharma Talk: Don’t Know, Can’t Know, Who Knows? with Shana Smith

    In this talk, Shana takes us right into “don’t know mind” as a portal to discovering our true nature and the freedom inherent in simply being alive. By tasting this

  31. Dharma Talk: The Benevolence of Awakening with Valerie Forstman

    In this early spring talk, Valerie turns to the way of awakening, discovered and explored as this world – in the midst – just as it is. Not-two. The talk

  32. Dharma Talk: “By Boat or By Land: Crossing over, fully arrived” with Valerie Forstman

    In this talk, Valerie begins by revisiting themes from our recent sesshin – the wellspring of zazen, the intimacy of not-knowing, the peace that passes all understanding. The talk explores

  33. Dharma Talk: “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and the ABC’s of Zen” with Shana Smith

    In this teisho, Shana uses Ruben Habito Roshi’s “ABC’s of Zen” as parallels for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She then explores Case 43 of the Shoyoroku as a pointer into

  34. Dharma Talk: “Waking up to this threshold moment” with Valerie Forstman

    In this talk, Valerie begins with poetry as a portal to the language of koans, a language that uses words to go beyond words. Koans don’t just describe or express

  35. Dharma Talk: “What Moves?” with Valerie Forstman

    In the Gateless Gate (Mumonkan) case 29, two monks watch a temple flag flapping in the wind. They argue back and forth: is it the flag that moves or the

  36. Dharma Talk: Love and Loss in a Seamless World with Valerie Forstman

    This talk is offered in gratitude for the life of Johanna Sindelar, a long-time sangha member who dedicated over a decade of service to Mountain Cloud. As a tribute to

  37. Dharma Talk: “Meeting Challenge with Equanimity” with Scott Thornton

    In this talk, Scott draws from the Gateless Gate case 13, “Tokusan Carries His Bowls” as a case study for how we can meet mistakes, challenges, and misunderstandings with equanimity.

  38. Dharma Talk: “Listen to the Heart of Things” with Maria Reis Habito

    In this talk, Maria sheds light on how listening to the voice of a bird or the sound of rain can bring us fully back home to our true nature.

  39. Dharma Talk: “The Year of the Snake” with Valerie Forstman

    On this first day of the Lunar New Year with the world in turmoil, Valerie turns to case 22 of the Blue Cliff Record, “Seppo’s ‘Poisonous Snake.’” What life-giving poison

  40. Dharma Talk: “What Meets the Eye” with Valerie Forstman

    This talk begins with a look at Zen’s parable of the second arrow. What does the story say to us now when we may find ourselves despairing about despair? In

  41. Dharma Talk: “The Path to Discernment” with Carolyn Seburn

    Carolyn discusses Mumonkan case 11: Jôshû Examines the Hermits as an invitation to examine and trust our own discernment.

  42. January 9th Dharma Talk from Valerie Forstman

  43. 2025’s First Dharma Talk with Valerie Forstman

    Welcome in the new year with this Teisho offered by Mountain Cloud’s Guiding Teacher, Valerie Forstman. To see what Mountain Cloud has planned for the upcoming year, visit www.mountaincloud.org/newyear/

  44. “Darkness and Light Reveal Our True Nature” with Maria Reis Habito

    During the season of Rohatsu, Solstice, Christmas and Hanukkha, Maria takes up the psalm of Isaiah: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” This psalm becomes a

  45. Breakthroughs Part 2 with Henry Shukman

    At this time when many of us may be feeling daunted and uncertain, we gather in the zendo to tap into our shared deeper nature that meditation can open up,

  46. Poetry, Practice, and the Wild Ethics of Love: A Conversation with David Hinton

    David Hinton has published numerous books of poetry and essays, and many translations of ancient Chinese poetry and philosophy—all informed by an abiding interest in deep ecological thinking. This widely-acclaimed

  47. Valerie Forstman: Zen’s Subverting Impulse: Overturning the One

    This week’s talk was offered by Mountain Cloud’s Guiding Teacher, Valerie Forstman. It was recorded on October 31st at the Zendo in Sante Fe. Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with

  48. Kali Basman: Cultivating Wonder

    Kali invites us to examine the wide array of features that comprise “The Practice Field,” the many aspects of our path of practice. She states that as a species we

  49. 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

  50. 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

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

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.

HOSTED BY

Mountain Cloud Zen Center

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Legacy MC Podcast have?

Legacy MC Podcast currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Legacy MC Podcast about?

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...

How often does Legacy MC Podcast release new episodes?

Legacy MC Podcast has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Legacy MC Podcast?

You can listen to Legacy MC Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Legacy MC Podcast?

Legacy MC Podcast is created and hosted by Mountain Cloud Zen Center.
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