Koan Talks

A kōan ( KOH-a(h)n; Japanese: 公案; Chinese: 公案; pinyin: gōng'àn [kʊ́ŋ ân]; Korean: 화두; Vietnamese: công án) is a story, dialogue, question, or statement from Chinese Chan Buddhist lore, supplemented with commentaries, that is used in Zen Buddhist practice in different ways. The main goal of kōan practice in Zen is to achieve kenshō (Chinese: jianxing 見性), to see or observe one's buddha-nature.

Extended study of kōan literature as well as meditation (zazen) on a kōan is a major feature of modern Rinzai Zen. They are also studied in the Sōtō school of Zen to a lesser extent. In Chinese Chan and Korean Seon Buddhism, meditating on a huatou, a key phrase of a kōan, is also a major Zen meditation method.

From koan on Wikipedia

Showing 72 talks

- Reset Search

Title	Speaker	Date
Zen Meditation on the Great Flower Adornment Scripture, Class 1 In this series of meetings, we will study and see how Zen is the key unlocking the innumerable meanings of this oceanic scripture. We will also explore how the sutra opens and illuminates our simple... #YRB-2023-Fall, Lotus Sutra, Practice Period, Diversity, Heart Sutra, Koan	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Oct 03 2023 1 of 8 The Yoga Room
After Generations Of Nobility, Temporarily Fallen Into Poverty Buddha nature. Story about Uncle Mi and Dongshan discussing a rabbit crossing the road.Lotus Sutra story about the destitute child. Enlightenment and delusion. Human agency (or training) and... Buddha Nature, Koan, Enlightenment,	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jun 08 2019 AM No Abode Hermitage
Compassion is a Conversation A conversation is what we are doing together. Buddhas are sitting upright and still, in the midst of everything, having a conversation with silence. The story of his Nanchuan and his sickle. Meeting... Compassion, Global Warming, Koan,	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Sep 15 2018 AM No Abode Hermitage
The Womb of the Tathagata #1 Case 67 of the Book of Serenity; there is not a single sentient being who does not fully possess the wisdom of the enlightened mind. Flower Adornment Sutra, Koan, Book of Serenity,	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Apr 14 2018 PM No Abode Hermitage
The Teaching of the Buddha’s Whole Lifetime Yunmen's appropriate response; being Buddha right where you are: Master Ma being ready to die; Koan,	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Aug 05 2017 AM No Abode Hermitage
I always think of Hunan in Spring Bodhisattva Vow, Koan, Perfection of Wisdom, Perfect Wisdom, japanese, Sangha,...	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Apr 12 2014 AM No Abode Hermitage
The Good Friendship of Shitou, Matsu and Yaoshan Shitou, Mazu, Yaoshan, Koan, Teacher-and-Student, Perfect Wisdom, Manjushri, Karmic...	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Feb 01 2014 Morning No Abode Hermitage
The Work of Going Beyond Buddha Realization in the body Going Beyond Buddha Sept 2013 PM No Abode Observe, Koan, Mill Valley, Zazen	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Sep 21 2013 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage
Chick and Hen -- Inquiring and Responding Chick and Hen -- Inquiring and Responding Tenshin Reb Anderson No Abode, July 1, 2012 Afternoon Karmic consciousness. Living beings live in a story-telling world. That’s where... Karmic Consciousness, Koan, Lineage, Vimalakirti	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jul 01 2012 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage
Xiang Yan hears the sound of stones striking bamboo Duality, Blue Cliff Record, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Koan, Commitment	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Sep 10 2011 Morning No Abode Hermitage
Zen Stories Intimacy, Koan, Interview, difficulty, Zendo	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Apr 28 2011 The Yoga Room
Zen Stories Koan, Attachment, Zendo, Mahayana	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Apr 14 2011 The Yoga Room
Zen Stories Koan, Manjushri, Separation, Buddha Ancestors, Conversation	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Apr 07 2011 The Yoga Room
Zen Stories Lineage, Koan, Intimacy, Mahayana, japanese	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Mar 17 2011 The Yoga Room
Zen Stories Koan, Lineage, Silence, Zenki, Letting Go	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Mar 10 2011 The Yoga Room
The Unique Breeze of Reality and the Wondrous Function of Non-Dual Wisdom Emptiness, Faith, Koan, Lotus Sutra, Separation	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Aug 14 2010 Morning No Abode Hermitage
The Unique Breeze of Reality and the Wondrous Function of Non-Dual Wisdom Emptiness, Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Koan, Karmic Consciousness	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Aug 14 2010 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage
Dizang's Weakness: Case 20, Book of Serenity; Serial No. 01162 Serial: BZ-01162 Saturday talk Koan, Dizang, SER-20, Intimacy, Gratitude, Teacher-and-Student, Heart Sutra, Nirvana...	Karen Sundheim	Oct 04 2008 Berkeley Zen Center
Entering and Embodying Truth Suzuki Roshi, Koan, Community, Sangha, Evil	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jul 22 2008 The Yoga Room
June 7th, 2008, Serial No. 01137 Discrimination, Five Ranks, Separation, Blue Cliff Record, Impermanence,...		Jun 07 2008
What Is It That Comes? Serial: BZ-01443 Nangaku Ejo asks Daikan Eno, Sesshin Day 4 Nangaku Ejo, Daikan Eno, Koan, Gaining Mind, Monastic Practice, Practice Period,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Jun 23 2007 Berkeley Zen Center
This Is It Serial: BZ-01436A Saturday Lecture Mindfulness, Koan, Karma, Doubt, confusion, Big Mind, Instruction, Religion, Priest,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	May 19 2007 Berkeley Zen Center
The Gift of Nothing Serial: SF-00929 Sunday Lecture Children's Lecture: one who is not busy, one reality; the gift of nothing; sesshin, from Suzuki Roshi; our mind is the same as Buddha's; all things are... Buddha's Enlightenment, Sesshin, Koan, Daowu, Keizan, Suzuki Roshi, Nirvana...	Fu Schroeder	Dec 03 2006 Green Gulch
Zen Of Business Administration Serial: SF-00036 Sunday Talk. Life at Green Gulch in the 1970s; giving, fearlessness; improv; no mistakes; parenting. Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Interview, Suzuki Roshi, Mill Valley, Daily Life, Koan...	Marc Lesser	Mar 20 2005 Green Gulch Farm
February 19th, 2005, Serial No. 01010 Suzuki Roshi, Commitment, Practice Period, Koan, Letting Go, Patience, Interview,...	Marc Lesser	Feb 19 2005 Unknown
"Evo-revolution" Serial: BZ-01242 Working with Our Problems, Saturday Lecture Bodhisattva Vow, Koan, Manjushri, Bodhisattva Ceremony, Buddha Mind, Religion,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Aug 28 2004 Berkeley Zen Center
2004.01.19-serial.00212 training, Buddha Nature, Bell, Enthusiasm, Koan	Edward Brown	Jan 19 2004
Bathroom Zen Serial: BZ-01379 One-Day Sitting Daily Life, Monastic Practice, Koan, American, New Year, Culture, Continuous Practice...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Jan 10 2004 Berkeley Zen Center
The Brief Rule of St. Romuald Serial: NC-00051 The Little Rule of Saint Romuald Archival Photo OSB Cam, Romuald, Brief Rule of St. Romuald, zen, Instruction, Money, Koan,...	Peter-Damian Belisle	2003 1 of 4 New Camaldoli Hermitage
August 22nd, 2002, Serial No. 00481 Don't Know Mind, Buddha Mind, Blue Cliff Record, Manjushri, Birth-and-Death,...		Aug 22 2002
June 9th, 2001, Serial No. 00103, Side B Buddha Nature, Intuition, Culture, Don't Know Mind, Karma, Buddha's...		Jun 09 2001
Sun-face Buddha, Moon-face Buddha Serial: BZ-00123B Saturday Lecture Buddha, Koan, Buddha Nature, Blue Cliff Record, Thoroughness, Priest, Ordinary Mind,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Nov 18 2000 Berkeley Zen Center
Sunday Lecture Interview, Mill Valley, Birth-and-Death, Koan, Bell, Vow, Faith, Liberation, Delusion...	Fu Schroeder	May 21 2000 Green Gulch
Wednesday Lecture Bowing, Emptiness, Koan, Suzuki Roshi, Soto Zen, Chanting, Tassajara Zen Mountain...	Teah Strozer	Oct 06 1999 City Center
Failure/Success Serial: BZ-00192B Saturday Lecture Ego, Koan, Teacher-and-Student, Bodhidharma, Big Mind	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Aug 21 1999 Berkeley Zen Center
Universe As Medicine Serial: BZ-00356B Saturday Lecture Ummon, Koan, Religion, Manjushri, Bell, Sixth Patriarch, Demons, Ego, Attachment,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Aug 22 1998 Berkeley Zen Center
1998.08.10-serial.00319 Freedom, Letting Go, Hyakujo, Intention, Koan	Edward Brown	Aug 10 1998
Sunday Lecture Heart Sutra, zen meditation, Mindfulness, Religion, Koan, resistance, Letting Go,...	Zoketsu Norman Fischer	May 17 1998 Green Gulch
Recognizing Enlightenment Serial: BZ-00322B Saturday Lecture Enlightenment, Koan, Doubt, Constancy, Discrimination, Duality, Buddha Nature,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Sep 26 1997 Berkeley Zen Center
Obaku's Address to the Monks Serial: BZ-00628B There Are No Zen Teachers in This Realm, Sesshin Day 2 Obaku, Koan, training, Non-discrimination, Rinzai, Dragons, Bowing, Bell, American...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Sep 05 1993 Berkeley Zen Center
Participation and Poetry in the New Testament Serial: NC-00061 Part of "Spirituality in a Secular World: Poetry and Wisdom" 3. Participation and Poetry in the New Testament Archival Photo OSB Cam, Enlightenment, Forgiveness, Conversation, Koan	Bruno Barnhart	1993 3 of 4 New Camaldoli Hermitage
1992.11.08-serial.00173 Priest, Buddha Nature, Silence, Hate, Koan	Edward Brown	Nov 08 1992
1992.11.08-serial.00243 Silence, Priest, Buddha Nature, Hate, Koan	Edward Brown	Nov 08 1992
Sun Faced Buddha/Moon Faced Buddha Serial: BZ-00505A Saturday Lecture Buddha, Koan, Subject-and-Object, Buddha Nature, Constancy, First Principle, Observe...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	May 19 1990 Berkeley Zen Center
Mind Refresher Cakes Serial: BZ-00376A Sesshin Day 1 Koan, Deshan, Dragons, Lineage, Gratitude, Passions	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Jun 21 1989 Berkeley Zen Center
June 12th, 1988, Serial No. 00299 Serial: BZ-00299 Sunday Lecture Ordinary Mind, Doubt, Attachment, Koan, Daily Life, Intuition, Soto Zen, confusion,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Jun 12 1988
Genjokoan I Serial: BZ-01501B Sesshin lecture Birth-and-Death, true dharma, Sixth Patriarch, Koan, Attachment, Heart Sutra, Soto...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Jun 03 1987 Berkeley Zen Center
1986.09.07-serial.00323 Bodhidharma, Koan, Tozan, Peace, Composure	Edward Brown	Sep 07 1986
Blue Cliff Record: Case #3 Serial: BZ-00409A Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha, Saturday Lecture Buddha, Koan, BCR-3, First Principle, Buddha Nature, Cultivation, Commitment, Greed,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Feb 02 1985 Berkeley Zen Center
1984.04.10-serial.00317 Vow, Koan, Hate, Greed	Edward Brown	Apr 10 1984

Koan Talks

Pages