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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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Paramitas: Virya (Effort)Serial: BZ-00613 Class 4 of 6 Right Effort, Enemies, Attachment, Patience, Birth-and-Death, confusion, Practice... |
Oct 08 1992 4 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #44Serial: BZ-00638A Hoshan's Knowing How to Beat the Drum, Saturday Lecture BCR-44, Daily Life, Attachment, Buddha Mind, Don't Know Mind, Teacher-and-... |
Sep 19 1992 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Shusho HossenSerial: BZ-00630 Ceremony Giving-and-Taking, Bodhidharma, Absolute-and-Relative, Dragons, Practice Period,... |
Jun 28 1992 Berkeley Zen Center |
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GenjokoanSerial: BZ-00709A Sesshin Day 1 Genjokoan, Duality, Birth-and-Death, Non-duality, Emotions, Practice Period,... |
Jun 24 1992 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Shosan CeremonySerial: BZ-00708A Ceremony Shosan, Forgiveness, Right Effort, Silence, Practice Period, Gratitude, Peace... |
Jun 15 1992 Berkeley Zen Center |
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What is Buddha?Serial: BZ-00713A Sesshin Day 1 Buddha, Big Mind, Practice Period, Daily Life, Buddha Nature, Absolute-and-Relative,... |
May 17 1992 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Introduction to Buddhism: Heart Sutra, EmptinessSerial: BZ-00278 Class 5 of 5 Heart Sutra, Dependent Origination, Bell, Practice Period, Chanting, Bodhisattva... |
Feb 20 1992 5 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Avatamsaka Sutra: The Ten Stages; First Two StagesSerial: BZ-00274 Class 1 of 4 Four Noble Truths, Enthusiasm, Passions, Vow, Lineage, Concentration, Practice Period... |
Nov 07 1991 1 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Fire, Suffering, and Relationship With JapanSerial: BZ-00702B Saturday Lecture Japan, Current Events, Practice Period, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Demons, Birth-... |
Oct 26 1991 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Talk to Tokubetsu SesshinSerial: BZ-00624 Sesshin Practice Period, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Building, Gratitude, confusion,... |
Oct 13 1991 |
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Early Days of Suzuki-rôshiSerial: BZ-00750B Tokubetsu Sesshin: Japanese and American, Saturday Lecture Suzuki Roshi, Sesshin, Tokubetsu, Practice Period, American, Transmission, War,... |
Sep 28 1991 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Saturday Lecture Precepts, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Practice Period, Suzuki Roshi, Ceremony,... |
Sep 21 1991 Unknown |
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Embracing Zen Through Community Practice Period, Suzuki Roshi, Intimacy, Posture, Zazen, Ceremony, Composure,... |
Sep 18 1991 |
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Bringing Zendo Life to the WorldSerial: BZ-00715B Lecture Family Practice, Daily Life, Giving-and-Taking, Precepts, Practice Period, Vow,... |
Sep 14 1991 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Bodhisattva Ceremony: Plunging InSerial: BZ-00971A Lecture Confession-and-Repentance, Repentance, Vow, Buddha Ancestors, Three Treasures,... |
Jul 27 1991 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Shusho CeremonySerial: BZ-00969 Ceremony Practice Period, Three Treasures, Giving-and-Taking, Sangha, Attachment, Dragons,... |
Jul 01 1991 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Title UnknownSerial: BZ-00726 Lecture part 2, part 1 is missing Hindrances, Addiction, Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Anger, Doubt, Lay, Ego,... |
May 13 1991 2 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Shuso Way-Seeking Mind TalkSerial: SF-01077 #shuso-talk Suzuki Roshi, Bell, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Zazen, Conversation, Practice... |
Feb 20 1991 Unknown |
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Heart Sutra: The Sutra’s Place in HistorySerial: BZ-00267 Class 1 of 4 Heart Sutra, Chanting, Avalokiteshvara, Monastic Practice, Lineage, Practice Period,... |
Feb 07 1991 1 Berkeley Zen Center |
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GenjokoanSerial: BZ-00698A Firewood and Ash, Rohatsu Day 6 Birth-and-Death, Monastic Practice, Buddha Nature, Peace, Impermanence, Liberation,... |
Dec 07 1990 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Mumonkan Case 19: Ordinary Mind is the Way Ordinary Mind, Big Mind, Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Dragons, Teacher-and-Student... |
Aug 03 1990 Tassajara |
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Trust Your Inner Zen Compass Sutra, Discrimination, Practice Period, Beginners |
Aug 02 1990 Tassajara |
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Ungan and YakusanSerial: BZ-00514B Sesshin day 3 Birth-and-Death, Hate, Teacher-and-Student, confusion, Practice Period, Attachment,... |
Jun 22 1990 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Tozan Today: Not OneSerial: BZ-00515A Lecture Five Ranks, Practice Period, Light-and-Darkness, Monastic Practice, Absolute-and-... |
Jun 16 1990 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Hinge; Ordinary MindSerial: BZ-00505B Lecture Ordinary Mind, Commitment, Practice Period, Posture, Lotus Sutra, Attachment, Daily... |
May 26 1990 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Ordinary Mind is the WaySerial: BZ-00506B One-Day Sitting Ordinary Mind, Ordinary Mind, Posture, Ego, Practice Period, Eight Aspects, Doubt,... |
May 12 1990 Berkeley Zen Center |
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April 2nd, 1990, Serial No. 00131, Side B Practice Period, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Doubt |
Apr 02 1990 |
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Blue Cliff Record Case #2Serial: BZ-00498B Lecture Mill Valley, Bell, Practice Period, Conversation, Priest, Karma, Discrimination,... |
Feb 17 1990 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Pope's EdictSerial: BZ-00503B Saturday Lecture Religion, Doubt, New Year, Practice Period, Renewal, War, Peace, Building |
Dec 16 1989 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Fall Practice PeriodSerial: BZ-00386 Saturday Lecture Practice Period, Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Commitment, Priest, Daily Life,... |
Nov 05 1989 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Abbot's Zuisse Ceremony in JapanSerial: BZ-00385 Saturday Lecture Zuisse, Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Practice Period, Soto Zen, Study Period,... |
Oct 28 1989 Berkeley Zen Center |
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What Is It?Serial: BZ-00376B Sesshin Day 2 Practice Period, Absolute-and-Relative, confusion, Subject-and-Object, Equanimity,... |
Jun 22 1989 Berkeley Zen Center |
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May 27th, 1989, Serial No. 00721Serial: BZ-00721 Lecture Precepts, Daily Life, Cultivation, Practice Period, Emotions, Posture, Anger, Birth-... |
May 27 1989 Tassajara |
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Title UnknownSerial: BZ-00717 Sesshin Day 7 Birth-and-Death, Observe, Bell, Impermanence, Happiness, Liberation, Mindfulness,... |
Feb 24 1989 Green Gulch Farm |
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Title UnknownSerial: BZ-00327 Monday Evening Happiness, Enemies, Passions, Practice Period, Emotions, Equanimity, Mindfulness,... |
Jan 09 1989 Green Gulch Farm |
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Title UnknownSerial: BZ-00330 Sunday Talk Practice Period, Hate, Non-duality, Monastic Practice, Ego, Buddha Nature, Duality,... |
Jan 08 1989 Green Gulch Farm |
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December 14th, 1988, Serial No. 01471Serial: BZ-01471 Seventh day of Rohatsu sesshin at Tassajara. Teacher-and-Student, Priest, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Intimacy, Commitment,... |
Dec 14 1988 7 of 7 Tassajara |
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December 9th, 1988, Serial No. 01476, Side ASerial: BZ-01476A Sojun Roshi gives the Dharma talk on the second day of Rohatsu sesshin at Tassajara. Genjokoan, Priest, Teacher-and-Student, Patience, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center,... |
Dec 09 1988 2 of 7 Tassajara |
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December 8th, 1988, Serial No. 01473Serial: BZ-01473 The first talk of the 1988 Rohatsu sesshin at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. Genjokoan, Posture, Emotions, Buddha's Birthday, Daily Life, Heart Sutra,... |
Dec 08 1988 1 of 7 Tassajara |
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Title Unknown Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Priest, Practice Period, Lay, Lay Practice,... |
Oct 13 1988 Tassajara |
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Breathing Compassion into Suffering Practice Period, confusion, Obstacles, Emotions, Letting Go, Passions, Instruction,... |
Aug 03 1988 |
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On Bowing and ChantingSerial: BZ-01491 Morning talk. Offering, Diversity, Heart Sutra, Passions, Practice Period, Soto Zen, Lineage,... |
Jun 27 1988 Tassajara |
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Life and DeathSerial: BZ-00897A Lecture Happiness, Birth-and-Death, Fasting, Nirvana, Evil, Heart Sutra, Tassajara Zen... |
May 07 1988 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sunday Lecture Interview, Demons, Doubt, Manjushri, Soto Zen, Gratitude, Practice Period, Enemies,... |
Apr 03 1988 Green Gulch Farm |
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January 13th, 1988, Serial No. 00302Serial: BZ-00302 Wednesday Lecture Passions, Mindfulness, Practice Period, Building, Offering, Religion, Attachment,... |
Jan 13 1988 |
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New Year's EveSerial: BZ-00902B Priest Ordination, Saturday Lecture Ordination, Priest, Priest, New Year, Commitment, Lay, Practice Period, Attachment,... |
Dec 19 1987 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Rule of St. BenedictSerial: NC-01062 Rule of St. Benedict lecture series OSB Cam, Practice Period, Funeral, Delusion, Instruction, Intention |
Dec 1987 3 of 6 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Setting The Tone For Practice PeriodPractice Period, Monastic Practice, Conversation, Discrimination, Harmonizing,... |
Oct 16 1987 Tassajara |
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No Title Practice Period, Pure Existence, Happiness, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Precepts,... |
Jul 06 1987 Green Gulch Farm |
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Making Our Lives Part of PracticeSerial: BZ-00886B Saturday Lecture Practice, Concentration, Daily Life, Zazen Mind, Chanting, Continuous Practice,... |
Mar 14 1987 Berkeley Zen Center |