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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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March 31st, 1995, Serial No. 00765 Culture, American, Monastic Practice, Transmission, Practice Period, Humility, Non-... |
Mar 31 1995 |
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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 |
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March 4th, 1995, Serial No. 00912, Side A Buddha Nature, Transmission, Buddha Mind, Echo, Patience, resistance, Tassajara,... |
Mar 04 1995 |
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March 1st, 1995, Serial No. 00741Serial: BZ-00741 Lecture Practice Period, Gratitude, Discrimination, Daily Life, Samadhi, Concentration,... |
Mar 01 1995 |
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1995.02.22-serial.00076 Hate, Suzuki Roshi, Repentance, Constancy, Sangha, Practice Period, Tassajara, Karma... |
Feb 22 1995 |