To practice zazen together deep in this mountain refuge is the most wonderful thing. We enjoy an ancient communion with each other and this mountain Sangha. We are completely supported by these mountains and the many beings who make their home here. Mountain life in the form of hawks, hummingbirds, coyotes, trees, grasses and stones is completely embraced by the goodness and purity of this refuge.

We sit in this dynamic mountain stillness. A bird can fly over this mountain and a ground hog can burrow into it in complete safety. We can go walking and pee on this mountain with total ease because the mountain is confident in its mountain nature. A mountain sits as a mountain and nothing but a mountain and manifests its mountain nature. Mountain body and mind are one; there is nothing in this whole vast Dharmadhatu that is outside its realm. All the many beings arise, dwell and pass away as the display of mountain love. As Dogen said, "The whole world is mind ground, the whole world is blossom heart."

Now, we come here to study the way of the mountains because it is so simple and clear. We might ask ourselves, how does this mountain view its world? The mountain views its world from the Mountain View. It rises high out of this sane, imperturbable earth and gazes upon its world with great soft innocent eyes. Mountain eyes see but they don't look at anything. In their seeing there is only what is seen.

As the mountain has an unmoving seat and boundless view, it also has a great heart. The mountain heart is found in the tension between settling into a dimensionless point and expanding out in the ten-direction gaze. Here is its immense tenderness of heart and purity of effort.

We, as children of these mountains, want to express our gratitude for the mountain way in the sincerity of our practice. So we sit dynamically still, enter noble silence, gaze only upon ourselves and make our very best effort.

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