Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts

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

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

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

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

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?’