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."
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September 21st, 1996, Serial No. 00791, Side A Blue Cliff Record, Book of Serenity, Culture, Intuition, resistance, Practice Period... |
Sep 21 1996 |
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1996.09.DD-serial.00259 Practice Period, Dharma Transmission, Buddha Nature, Zendo, Building |
Sep 1996 |
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Wednesday Lecture Hsin Hsin Ming, Zazen, Ordination, Practice Period, Obstacles, Mahayana, Anger,... |
Aug 14 1996 Unknown |
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July 2nd, 1996, Serial No. 00119Serial: BZ-00119 Lecture First Principle, Aspects of Practice, Practice Period, Observe, Teacher-and-Student,... |
Jul 02 1996 |
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Shosan and Shuso Ceremony PreparationSerial: BZ-00800B Appropriate Question and Respons, Sesshin Day 5 Shosan, Shuso, Ceremony, Practice Period, Karma, Commitment, Conversation, Ego,... |
Jun 23 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Hui Neng's Instruction on Dhyana and ImperturbabilitySerial: BZ-00800A Rohatsu Day 4 Hui Neng, Dhyana, Imperturbability, Big Mind, Dream World, Discrimination, Samadhi,... |
Jun 22 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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June 21st, 1996, Serial No. 00801, Side B Practice Period, Platform Sutra, Intimacy, Attachment, Buddha Nature, Composure,... |
Jun 21 1996 |
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June 8th, 1996, Serial No. 00802, Side B Buddha Nature, Practice Period, Oneness, resistance, Discrimination, Bell, Nirvana,... |
Jun 08 1996 |
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May 18th, 1996, Serial No. 00803, Side A Practice Period, Blue Cliff Record, soto, Lineage, Birth-and-Death, Offering, Rinzai... |
May 18 1996 |
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Work Practice (Fushin Samu)Serial: BZ-00804B Saturday Lecture Work, Monastic Practice, Aspects of Practice, Daily Life, Samadhi, Concentration,... |
May 11 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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May 11th, 1996, Serial No. 02704 Repentance, Precepts, Zazen, Practice Period, Triple Treasure, Ceremony, Monastic... |
May 11 1996 Unknown |
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May 6th, 1996, Serial No. 00804, Side A Practice Period, War, Impermanence, Happiness, Bell, Conversation, Offering, Posture... |
May 06 1996 |
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Setting the Tone for Practice PeriodSerial: BZ-00805B Saturday Lecture Practice Period, Practice Period, Monastic Practice, Family Practice, Daily Life,... |
May 05 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Work and PracticeSerial: BZ-00118 Lecture Practice, Work, Parinirvana, Samadhi, Tassajara, Continuous, Daily Life, Practice... |
Apr 24 1996 |
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Sunday LectureSerial: SF-03636 Cassette side B is labeled for a Sunday talk by Tenshin Reb Anderson on the same date - incorrect Practice Period, Ordination, Perfect Wisdom, Zendo, Emptiness, Ceremony, Monastic... |
Mar 24 1996 Green Gulch |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #57Serial: BZ-00748 Lecture BCR-57, Attachment, resistance, Hsin Hsin Ming, Duality, Non-duality, Soto Zen,... |
Jan 27 1996 Tassajara |
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Interview Dharma Transmission, Ceremony, Transmission, Practice Period, Soto Zen, Priest,... |
Jan 21 1996 Unknown |
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Practice of PatienceSerial: SF-03225 Sunday Lecture Global Warming, Patience, Practice Period, Ego, confusion, Emotions, Gratitude, Peace... |
Jan 21 1996 Green Gulch |
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Interview Suzuki Roshi, Peace, Practice Period, Intuition, Instruction, Emotions, Gratitude,... |
Jan 21 1996 Unknown |
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Sunday Lecture Practice Period, Letting Go, Enthusiasm, Addiction, New Year, confusion, Patience,... |
Jan 06 1996 Green Gulch |
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January 4th, 1996, Serial No. 00781, Side B Religion, New Year, Tassajara, Teacher-and-Student, Aspects of Practice, Practice... |
Jan 04 1996 |
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January 3rd, 1996, Serial No. 02706 Practice Period, Tassajara, Hsin Hsin Ming, Non-duality, Non-attachment, Suzuki Roshi... |
Jan 03 1996 Unknown |
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Title UnknownSerial: BZ-00816B Rohatsu Day 5 Repentance, Precepts, Evil, Buddha Nature, Anger, Practice Period, Ordination, Vinaya... |
Dec 07 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sunday LectureSerial: SF-03626 Our practice and our efforts that we make towards peace within ourselves and within our lives Practice Period, Birth-and-Death, Karma, Emptiness, Giving-and-Taking, Zazen,... |
Nov 05 1995 Green Gulch |
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November 4th, 1995, Serial No. 00819, Side B Bodhisattva Ceremony, Repentance, Sangha, Lineage, Right Speech, Duality, Lotus Sutra... |
Nov 04 1995 |
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Hungry Ghosts - Seijiki CeremonySerial: SF-03093 Sunday Lecture Four Noble Truths, Ceremony, Letting Go, Peace, Vows, Commitment, resistance,... |
Oct 29 1995 Green Gulch |
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October 14th, 1995, Serial No. 02701 Faith, Vows, Hsin Hsin Ming, Continuous, Buddha Mind, Bodhisattva Vow, Bodhisattva... |
Oct 14 1995 Unknown |
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September 23rd, 1995, Serial No. 02744 Practice Period, Hsin Hsin Ming, Diversity, Dharma Transmission, Zendo, Hate, Suzuki... |
Sep 23 1995 Unknown |
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Our Relationship with Form - Speech & FoodSerial: SF-00151 Wednesday dharma talk. Practice Period, Conversation, Happiness, Ceremony, Silence, Bodhisattva Vow, Funeral... |
Sep 06 1995 Green Gulch Farm |
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July 26th, 1995, Serial No. 00919 Emptiness, Suzuki Roshi, Echo, Tassajara, Zazen, Global Warming, Letting Go, Practice... |
Jul 26 1995 Unknown |
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Five Attributes of a TeacherSerial: SF-03218 One-day sitting Book of Serenity, Teacher-and-Student, Humility, Blue Cliff Record, Letting Go,... |
Jul 15 1995 Green Gulch |
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June 24th, 1995, Serial No. 00830, Side A Family Practice, Culture, Building, Karma, Practice Period, Funeral, Separation,... |
Jun 24 1995 |
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June 18th, 1995, Serial No. 00978, Side B Practice Period, Teacher-and-Student, Instruction, Emotions, Funeral, Obstacles,... |
Jun 18 1995 |
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Hsin Hsin Ming IVSerial: BZ-00978A Sesshin Day 4 Hsin Hsin Ming, confusion, Oneness, Continuous, Duality, Subject-and-Object,... |
Jun 17 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sunday Lecture Practice Period, Ceremony, Religion, Suzuki Roshi, Commitment, Evil, Priest, Right... |
Jun 04 1995 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Triple Treasure, Greed, Practice Period, Delusion, Hate, Repentance, Sangha, Karma,... |
May 28 1995 Green Gulch |
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May 20th, 1995, Serial No. 00975, Side A Practice Period, Instruction, Birth-and-Death, Samsara, Silent Illumination, Book of... |
May 20 1995 |
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May 8th, 1995, Serial No. 00976, Side A Instruction, Practice Period, Obstacles, Bowing, Hindrances, Tassajara, Conversation... |
May 08 1995 |
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Six Taints of ZenSerial: BZ-00973A Saturday Lecture Aspects of Practice, Practice Period, Demons, Commitment, Ordination, Lay Practice,... |
Apr 29 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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April 29th, 1995, Serial No. 00973, Side B Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Big Mind, Peace, Lay Practice, Buddha Mind, Subject-... |
Apr 29 1995 |
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Hongzhi's Silent IlluminationSerial: BZ-00974A Saturday Lecture Hongzhi, Practice Period, Silent Illumination, Echo, Daily Life, Instruction,... |
Apr 22 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Tassajara Practice PeriodSerial: BZ-00909B Saturday Lecture Tassajara, Dharma Transmission, American, Practice Period, Transmission, Family... |
Apr 15 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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1995.04.08-serial.00021 Buddha Ancestors, Sangha, Dragons, Religion, Diversity, Practice Period, Compassion,... |
Apr 08 1995 |
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1995.04.06-serial.00056 Precepts, Buddha Ancestors, Practice Period, Vinaya, Family Practice, Beginners,... |
Apr 06 1995 |
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April 4th, 1995, Serial No. 02697 Daily Life, Practice Period, Happiness, Hate, Addiction, Posture, Delusion, Zendo... |
Apr 04 1995 Unknown |
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March 31st, 1995, Serial No. 00765 Culture, American, Monastic Practice, Transmission, Practice Period, Humility, Non-... |
Mar 31 1995 |
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Importance of ShikantazaSerial: SF-03104 Description of Tokubetsu Sesshin Ceremony, Lotus Sutra, Priest, Letting Go, Buddha's Birthday, realization, Soto... |
Mar 19 1995 Green Gulch |
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March 11th, 1995, Serial No. 00912, Side B Mindfulness, Four Foundations, Bodhidharma, Perfect Wisdom, Practice Period, Mahayana... |
Mar 11 1995 |
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March 10th, 1995, Serial No. 00742Serial: BZ-00742 Lecture Monastic Practice, Tassajara, Culture, Practice Period, Enemies, Judgement, Building... |
Mar 10 1995 |
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March 9th, 1995, Serial No. 00762 Discrimination, Absolute-and-Relative, Soto Zen, Practice Period, Buddha Nature,... |
Mar 09 1995 |