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."
Title | Speaker | |
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Things Fall Apart Impermanence, Posture, War, Aspects of Practice, Liberation, confusion, Practice... |
Aug 07 2021 |
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Me Too, The Dharma of Friendship Constancy, Commitment, Vows, Intimacy, Bodhisattva Vow, Soto Zen, Lotus Sutra,... |
Jul 17 2021 |
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The Four Establishments Of Mindfulness, Part Two Mindfulness, Four Foundations, Anger, Observe, Instruction, Birth-and-Death, Practice... |
Jul 03 2021 |
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This Little Light Of Mine Blue Cliff Record, Practice Period, Zoom, Chanting, Addiction, Composure, Gratitude,... |
Jun 20 2021 |
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Sangha Jewel American, Vinaya, Sangha, Ordination, Building, Religion, Forgiveness, Culture, Dana... |
Jun 19 2021 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Four Establishments Of Mindfulness Mindfulness, Impermanence, Instruction, uchiyama, Concentration, Four Noble Truths,... |
Jun 18 2021 |
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The Five Skandhas Skandas, Heart Sutra, Practice Period, Four Noble Truths, Dependent Origination,... |
Jun 05 2021 |
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The Four Noble Truths Big Mind, Four Noble Truths, Practice Period, Conversation, Precepts, Religion,... |
May 22 2021 |
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Fukanzazengi, Part 2 Dragons, Instruction, soto, Rinzai, Concentration, Nirvana Sutra, Platform Sutra,... |
May 15 2021 |
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Zazen Instructions, Part 1 Posture, Instruction, Concentration, Practice Period, Echo, Liberation, confusion,... |
May 15 2021 |
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Zazen Instructions, Part 2 Posture, Instruction, Concentration, Practice Period, Echo, Liberation, confusion,... |
May 15 2021 |
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Zazen Instructions A Posture, Instruction, Concentration, Practice Period, Vows, Echo, Liberation,... |
May 15 2021 |
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Zazen Instructions B Posture, Instruction, Concentration, Practice Period, War, Echo, Liberation,... |
May 15 2021 |
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Fukanzazengi, Part 1 Practice Period, Instruction, Concentration, Four Noble Truths, Non-discrimination,... |
May 08 2021 |
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Alignment Practice Period, Posture, American, Instruction, Zoom, Fox, Impermanence, Silence,... |
Apr 24 2021 |
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Ramaytush Skillful Effort Four Noble Truths, Ordinary Mind, Vows, Platform Sutra, Daily Life, Practice Period,... |
Apr 03 2021 |
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Sojun And JiJuYu Zanmai Death-and-Dying, Practice Period, Monkey Mind, Tassajara, Ego, Silence, Heart Sutra,... |
Mar 13 2021 |
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Tail Of The Ox Instruction, Anger, Platform Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Subject-and-Object, Gratitude,... |
Feb 13 2021 |
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Teachers, Disciples Silence, Blue Cliff Record, Ordinary Mind, Practice Period, Transmission, Rinzai,... |
Feb 06 2021 |
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Test Silence, Practice Period, Ordinary Mind, Blue Cliff Record, Transmission, Teacher-and... |
Feb 06 2021 |
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Women Ancestors Class 2 Lay, Priest, Transmission, Monastic Practice, Dharma Transmission, Teacher-and-... |
Nov 24 2020 |
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Public Dokusan 11 Subject-and-Object, Intuition, Heart Sutra, Conversation, Posture, Karma, Birth-and-... |
Oct 30 2020 |
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Living On A Mountain Dragons, Zoom, Bodhidharma, Lay Practice, Dharma Transmission, Ordination, Priest,... |
Oct 24 2020 |
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New Members Meeting Offering, Berkeley Zen Center, Obstacles, Sangha, Aspects of Practice, Zoom, Practice... |
Sep 14 2020 |
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Public Dokusan Zoom, Practice Period, Silence, Discrimination, Daily Life, War, Emotions, Sangha,... |
May 29 2020 |
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Making Refuge Heart Sutra, Avalokiteshvara, confusion, Conversation, Practice Period, Subject-and-... |
May 16 2020 |
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Dogen's Three Minds Berkeley Zen Center, Buddha Mind, Vows, Big Mind, Practice Period, Bodhisattva Way,... |
May 02 2020 |
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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 |
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Good Karma Karma, Conversation, Mahayana, Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, Vows, Building,... |
Feb 22 2020 |
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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 |
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The Practice of Patience Patience, Constancy, Blue Cliff Record, Cultivation, Concentration, Equanimity, Anger... |
Nov 02 2019 |
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Reaching Home Again Without Realizing It Chanting, Suzuki Roshi, Practice Period, Priest, japanese, Faith, Impermanence, Lotus... |
Oct 19 2019 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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October 10th, 2019, Serial No. 02706 Karma, Mindfulness, Practice Period, Precepts, Instruction, Buddha Nature, Peace,... |
Oct 10 2019 |
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Give Up Hope Hsin Hsin Ming, Bell, Lotus Sutra, Impermanence, uchiyama, Tassajara, Practice Period... |
Sep 28 2019 |
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Going Beyond Heart Sutra, Intimacy, Impermanence, Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, Renewal,... |
Aug 24 2019 |
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What's Love Got To Do With It Passions, Priest, Precepts, Impermanence, Bowing, Constancy, Daily Life, Practice... |
Aug 10 2019 |
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About the ShusoSerial: BZ-02688 Sesshin Day 5
Practice Period, Bell, Tassajara, Posture, Cultivation, Mindfulness, Precepts,... |
Jun 23 2019 |
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Daowu's Condolence CallSerial: BZ-02687 Sesshin Day 4
Blue Cliff Record, Doubt, Teacher-and-Student, Birth-and-Death, Funeral, Lineage,... |
Jun 22 2019 |
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Tosotsu's Three BarriersSerial: BZ-02684 Sesshin Day 1
Birth-and-Death, Big Mind, Buddha Mind, Practice Period, Instruction, Buddha Nature,... |
Jun 19 2019 |
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Nirvana the Waterfall Oneness, Composure, Nirvana, Big Mind, Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, Commitment,... |
May 25 2019 |
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Man up a Tree Renunciation, Ego, Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Don't Know Mind, Priest,... |
May 18 2019 |
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Shuso Way-Seeking Mind Talk Berkeley Zen Center, training, Practice Period, Religion, Emotions, Forgiveness,... |
May 13 2019 |
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Practice Period 31st Opening Sesshin Practice Period, Birth-and-Death, Bodhidharma, Practice Position, Bodhisattva Vow,... |
May 11 2019 |
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Choosing Fredom Mindfulness, Four Noble Truths, Intimacy, Obstacles, Instruction, Dependent... |
May 04 2019 |
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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 |
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Buddha Activity Intimacy, Doubt, Faith, true dharma, zen meditation, Complete Perfect Enlightenment,... |
Mar 09 2019 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Let the Mystery Be training, Heart Sutra, Skandas, Daily Life, Practice Period, Silence, Posture,... |
Mar 09 2019 |
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Being Shuso and Learning to Say Yes Practice Period, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Nature, training, Lay, Patience, Bowing... |
Dec 15 2018 |
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Maylie Scott Bears the Unbearable Sesshin: Close Aspects of Practice Berkeley Zen Center, Peace, Conversation, Transmission, Offering, Dharma Transmission... |
Nov 03 2018 |
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Silent Sitting and Social ActionAll 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, |
Oct 20 2018 PM No Abode Hermitage |