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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.
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Zen Meditation on the Great Flower Adornment Scripture, Class 1In 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 |
Oct 03 2023 1 of 8 The Yoga Room |
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Practice Awakened: Zen's Unified Path Separation, Observe, Koan |
Jan 2022 |
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Constructing Reality Through Zen PerceptionSerial: RB-03885 Talks Time, Koan, Practice Period |
Jan 22 2021 Crestone |
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Zen Through Dynamic ExperienceSerial: RB-03730 Dharma_Now_3 Suzuki Roshi, Koan, Practice |
Sep 20 2020 Crestone |
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Breath in Balance: Zen LivingSerial: RB-03874 Door-Step-Zen Time, Practice, Koan |
Oct 2019 Johanneshof |
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Collective Awakening Through Sangha WisdomSerial: RB-03879 Door-Step-Zen Time, Practice, Koan |
Oct 2019 Johanneshof |
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After Generations Of Nobility, Temporarily Fallen Into PovertyBuddha 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, Compassion, Practice, Work |
Jun 08 2019 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Choosing Beyond Choice: A Zen PathSerial: RB-03836 Door-Step-Zen Time, Koan, Faith |
Jun 2019 Johanneshof |
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Zen Silence: Gateway to TransformationSerial: RB-03831 Door-Step-Zen Time, Practice, Koan |
Jun 2019 Johanneshof |
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Compassion is a ConversationA 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, Global Warming, Stillness, Ceremony |
Sep 15 2018 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Trusting the Path to PerceptionSerial: RB-02888 Seminar_Koan Koan, Intention, Practice |
Aug 2018 Johanneshof |
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Beyond Binary: Engaging Koan RealizationSerial: RB-02886 Seminar_Koan Koan, Enlightenment, Culture |
Aug 2018 Johanneshof |
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Feelingfulness Over Mindfulness in ZenSerial: RB-02885 Seminar_Koan Practice, Monastic Practice, Koan |
Aug 2018 Johanneshof |
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Zen Performance: Living Unified PracticeSerial: RB-02393 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Koan, Wisdom, Practice |
Jun 2018 Rastenberg |
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Breath Pathways to Conscious AlivenessSerial: RB-02382 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Breath, Practice, Koan |
Jun 2018 Rastenberg |
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Embodied Zen: Koans and MetaphorsSerial: RB-02806 Seminar Koan, Posture, Zazen |
May 2018 Rastenberg |
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Embodied Insights Beyond ThoughtSerial: RB-02807 Seminar Koan, Stillness, Consciousness |
May 2018 Rastenberg |
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Embrace Immediacy: Zen's Living TruthSerial: RB-02808 Seminar Koan, Culture, War |
May 2018 Rastenberg |
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The Womb of the Tathagata #1Case 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, Book of Serenity, Forgiveness, Buddha... |
Apr 14 2018 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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April 3rd, 2018, Serial No. 04426 Nirvana, Koan, Poetry |
Apr 03 2018 |
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Zen Insights: Embracing The Unbusy PathSerial: RB-03939 Seminar_Koan Koan, Posture, Practice |
Feb 09 2018 Johanneshof |
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Breath-Vestigation: Zen's Path to EmptinessSerial: RB-03942 Seminar_Koan Koan, Time, Practice |
Feb 09 2018 Johanneshof |
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Unraveling Zen: Discovering the PresentSerial: RB-03941 Seminar_Koan Koan, Buddhism, Ordinary Mind |
Feb 08 2018 Johanneshof |
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Embodied Wisdom in Zen PracticeSerial: RB-03938 Seminar_Koan Posture, Koan, Time |
Feb 08 2018 Johanneshof |
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Embracing Stillness Through ZazenSerial: RB-03937 Seminar_Koan Posture, Zazen, Koan |
Feb 07 2018 Johanneshof |
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Zen Potential: Beyond Conventional BoundariesSerial: RB-03866 Seminar_Awareness,_Consciousness_and_the_Practice_of_Mindfulness Suffering, Koan, Practice |
Sep 2017 Kassel |
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The Teaching of the Buddha’s Whole LifetimeYunmen's appropriate response; being Buddha right where you are: Master Ma being ready to die; Koan, Mindfulness, Delusion, Nirvana |
Aug 05 2017 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Zen's Living Tapestry of PracticeSerial: RB-03905 Seminar_Layers_of_Awareness_and_Consciousness Koan, Practice, Commitment |
Jun 2017 Rastenberg |
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Looming in the Dharma RainSerial: RB-03906 Seminar_Layers_of_Awareness_and_Consciousness Consciousness, Time, Koan |
Jun 2017 Rastenberg |
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Identity Unveiled: Zen's Timeless ReflectionSerial: RB-03719 Practice-Period_Talks Koan, Practice, Time |
Nov 05 2016 Johanneshof |
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Zen Imagery and Attentive AwarenessSerial: RB-03926 Sesshin Koan, Time, Practice |
Oct 2016 Johanneshof |
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Intimacy Beyond Thought in ZenSerial: RB-03960 Seminar_The_Intimacy_with_the_Other Practice, Koan, Intimacy |
Sep 2016 Hannover |
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Embodied Words: Zen's Living LanguageSerial: RB-02922 Seminar_To_Realize_Our_Innermost_Request Practice, Koan, Consciousness |
May 2016 Rastenberg |
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Zen of Emptiness and PerceptionSerial: RB-03558 Talk Emptiness, Practice, Koan |
2015 Johanneshof |
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Zen Mindfulness: Bridging Philosophy and PsychotherapySerial: RB-02280 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Koan, Bodhisattva, Buddha |
Sep 2014 Kassel |
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Zen and the Fluid SelfSerial: RB-03702 Seminar_The_Continuum_of_the_Self Time, Buddhism, Koan |
Sep 2014 Hannover |
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Mountains, Rivers, and Awakening PathsSerial: RB-02911 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Time, Work, Koan |
Jun 2014 Rastenberg |
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I always think of Hunan in SpringBodhisattva Vow, Koan, Perfection of Wisdom, Perfect Wisdom, japanese, Sangha,... |
Apr 12 2014 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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The Good Friendship of Shitou, Matsu and YaoshanShitou, Mazu, Yaoshan, Koan, Teacher-and-Student, Perfect Wisdom, Manjushri, Karmic... |
Feb 01 2014 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Alchemy of Awakening in ZenSerial: RB-04171 Sesshin Time, Practice, Koan |
2014 Johanneshof |
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Endless Dialogues of Zen UnderstandingSerial: RB-04173 Sesshin Koan, Practice, Time |
2014 Johanneshof |
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Zen Attire: Koans in PracticeSerial: RB-04175 Sesshin Koan, Practice, Blue Cliff Record |
2014 Johanneshof |
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Integrating Western Views in ZenSerial: RB-04174 Sesshin Koan, Culture, japanese |
2014 Johanneshof |
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The Work of Going Beyond BuddhaRealization in the body Observe, Koan, Mill Valley, Zazen |
Sep 21 2013 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Chick and Hen -- Inquiring and RespondingChick and Hen -- Inquiring and Responding Karmic consciousness. Living beings live in a story-telling world. That’s where... Karmic Consciousness, Koan, Lineage, Vimalakirti |
Jul 01 2012 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Zen Koans: Pathways to EmptinessSerial: RB-03978 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Practice, Koan, Emptiness |
Jun 2012 Rastenberg |
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Shining Jewel: Unveiling Zen TruthsSerial: RB-03913 Sesshin Practice, Buddhism, Koan |
2012 Crestone |
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December 6th, 2011, Serial No. 03910 Koan, Yakusan, Precious Mirror |
Dec 06 2011 |
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Xiang Yan hears the sound of stones striking bamboo Duality, Blue Cliff Record, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Koan, Commitment |
Sep 10 2011 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Living Koans: Embracing Life's FluxSerial: RB-03551 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Time, Koan, Practice |
Jun 2011 Rastenberg |