Practice Period Talks

An ango (安居), or kessei (結制), is a Japanese term for a three-month period of intense training for students of Zen Buddhism, lasting anywhere from 90 to 100 days. The practice during ango consists of meditation (zazen), study, and work (samu (作務)).

Ango is typically held twice a year, the first period from spring to summer and the second period from fall to winter. The word ango literally translates as "dwelling in peace"; the summer ango is referred to as ge-ango and the winter period is u-ango. Additionally, some monasteries and Zen centers hold just one ango per year.

Concerning Zen practice in the United States, author Ellen Birx writes,

Many centers now allow members to attend retreats on a part-time basis. Many have ango, a three-month-long period of intensified practice, that members can participate in while continuing to go off to work during the day." Taigen Dan Leighton writes a more traditional definition, "These are ninety-day training periods of concentrated practice without leaving the monastic enclosure (except for monks going out for necessary temple business). They date back to the summer rainy season retreats of Shakyamuni's time. In Japan, they have been held twice a year, summer and winter."

From Ango on Wikipedia

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Women Ancestors Class 2

Lay, Priest, Transmission, Monastic Practice, Dharma Transmission, Teacher-and-...
Nov 24 2020

Public Dokusan 11

Subject-and-Object, Intuition, Heart Sutra, Conversation, Posture, Karma, Birth-and-...
Oct 30 2020

Living On A Mountain

Dragons, Zoom, Bodhidharma, Lay Practice, Dharma Transmission, Ordination, Priest,...
Oct 24 2020

New Members Meeting

Offering, Berkeley Zen Center, Obstacles, Sangha, Aspects of Practice, Zoom, Practice...
Sep 14 2020

Public Dokusan

Zoom, Practice Period, Silence, Discrimination, Daily Life, War, Emotions, Sangha,...
May 29 2020

Making Refuge

Heart Sutra, Avalokiteshvara, confusion, Conversation, Practice Period, Subject-and-...
May 16 2020

Dogen's Three Minds

Berkeley Zen Center, Buddha Mind, Vows, Big Mind, Practice Period, Bodhisattva Way,...
May 02 2020

Ten Vows, Ten Practices, and Ten Cakes

Discrimination, Nirvana, Practice Period, Blue Cliff Record, Letting Go, Right Effort...
Mar 07 2020
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Good Karma

Karma, Conversation, Mahayana, Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, Vows, Building,...
Feb 22 2020

Buddha Has Reasons For Teaching Non-Self And Buddha Has Reasons For Teaching Self

Addiction, Discrimination, Anger, Practice Period, Dragons, Impermanence, Enthusiasm...
Feb 01 2020
PM
No Abode Hermitage

The Practice of Patience

Patience, Constancy, Blue Cliff Record, Cultivation, Concentration, Equanimity, Anger...
Nov 02 2019

Reaching Home Again Without Realizing It

Chanting, Suzuki Roshi, Practice Period, Priest, japanese, Faith, Impermanence, Lotus...
Oct 19 2019
AM
No Abode Hermitage

October 10th, 2019, Serial No. 02706

Karma, Mindfulness, Practice Period, Precepts, Instruction, Buddha Nature, Peace,...
Oct 10 2019

Give Up Hope

Hsin Hsin Ming, Bell, Lotus Sutra, Impermanence, uchiyama, Tassajara, Practice Period...
Sep 28 2019

Going Beyond

Heart Sutra, Intimacy, Impermanence, Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, Renewal,...
Aug 24 2019

What's Love Got To Do With It

Passions, Priest, Precepts, Impermanence, Bowing, Constancy, Daily Life, Practice...
Aug 10 2019

About the Shuso

Serial: BZ-02688

Sesshin Day 5

 

Practice Period, Bell, Tassajara, Posture, Cultivation, Mindfulness, Precepts,...
Jun 23 2019

Daowu's Condolence Call

Serial: BZ-02687

Sesshin Day 4

 

Blue Cliff Record, Doubt, Teacher-and-Student, Birth-and-Death, Funeral, Lineage,...
Jun 22 2019

Tosotsu's Three Barriers

Serial: BZ-02684

Sesshin Day 1

 

Birth-and-Death, Big Mind, Buddha Mind, Practice Period, Instruction, Buddha Nature,...
Jun 19 2019

Nirvana the Waterfall

Oneness, Composure, Nirvana, Big Mind, Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, Commitment,...
May 25 2019

Man up a Tree

Renunciation, Ego, Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Don't Know Mind, Priest,...
May 18 2019

Shuso Way-Seeking Mind Talk

Berkeley Zen Center, training, Practice Period, Religion, Emotions, Forgiveness,...
May 13 2019

Practice Period 31st Opening Sesshin

Practice Period, Birth-and-Death, Bodhidharma, Practice Position, Bodhisattva Vow,...
May 11 2019

Choosing Fredom

Mindfulness, Four Noble Truths, Intimacy, Obstacles, Instruction, Dependent...
May 04 2019

Just This Is: the Avatamsaka Sutra in the Zen Tradition

Perfect Wisdom, Discrimination, Buddha Mind, Practice Period, Karmic Consciousness,...
Apr 13 2019
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Buddha Activity

Intimacy, Doubt, Faith, true dharma, zen meditation, Complete Perfect Enlightenment,...
Mar 09 2019
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Let the Mystery Be

training, Heart Sutra, Skandas, Daily Life, Practice Period, Silence, Posture,...
Mar 09 2019

Being Shuso and Learning to Say Yes

Practice Period, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Nature, training, Lay, Patience, Bowing...
Dec 15 2018

Maylie Scott Bears the Unbearable Sesshin: Close Aspects of Practice

Berkeley Zen Center, Peace, Conversation, Transmission, Offering, Dharma Transmission...
Nov 03 2018

Silent Sitting and Social Action

All compounded phenomena are unworthy of confidence. Compassion to these unstable phenomena is our practice. Zen stories are about enacting awakening within social interactions. Attend to your body,...

Compassion, Four Foundations, Practice Period, Practice Period, Mindfulness, Observe...
Oct 20 2018
PM
No Abode Hermitage

Tea Ladies and Their Mind-Refreshing Teaching

Serial: BZ-02639

Sesshin Open Aspects of Practice

 

Sixth Patriarch, Heart Sutra, Soto Zen, Priest, Aspects of Practice, soto, Practice...
Oct 06 2018

Beating the Drum

Buddha Ancestors, Practice Period, Confession-and-Repentance, Vows, true dharma,...
Aug 11 2018

Habit Energy

Buddha Nature, Practice Period, Gratitude, Buddha Mind, Instruction, Doubt, training...
Jul 14 2018

Suzuki Roshi Sun-Faced Buddha, Moon-Faced Buddha

Serial: BZ-02621

Sesshin Day 5

 

Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, Emotions, Intimacy, Attachment, Dogen, Bell,...
Jun 17 2018

Triple Treasure: Buddha Dharma Sangha

Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Peace, War, Intuition, Equanimity, Passions, Hate...
Jun 02 2018

The Position of Shuso

Practice Period, Big Mind, Hate, Intimacy, Conversation, Culture
May 25 2018

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