Teisho: Valerie Forstman: Celebration of Sister Elaine MacIness

This teisho is given on the 100th birthday of Sister Elaine MacIness. Valerie shares a sketch of the remarkable life and work of Sister Elaine who was a Roman Catholic nun as well as a student and Dharma heir of Yamada Koun Roshi. With great warmth and respect, Valerie describes Sister Elaine’s experience during sesshin on December 6, 1972. “The heart-spot burst open, and its beautiful contents exploded right through the whole of me, until there was no-Elaine left.” To honor sister Elaine, Valerie shares the koan “Obaku’s Devourer of Dregs,” which is case 11 of the Blue Cliff Record and also found as Case 53 of the Book of Serenity. Listen and discern why Obaku asserts, “there is no Zen teacher.”

Dana can be made through paypal: paypal.me/vforstman

Please consider supporting Mountain Cloud with a donation or becoming a member so we can continue to provide online programs such as this.

Donations: https://www.mountaincloud.org/donate/

Become a member: https://www.mountaincloud.org/about/m...

Check out our website: https://www.mountaincloud.org/

All are welcome to join us for sitting and dharma talks. Use this link to join us: https://sit.mountaincloud.org