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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The Wholehearted Way - Self Receiving and Employing Samadhi Practice Period, Instruction, Non-duality, resistance, Priest, Transmission, Posture... |
Oct 20 2012 |
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Genjo Koan - Section 10B-Part-1Serial: BZ-02248 Firewood and Ash, Sesshin Day 3 Birth-and-Death, Impermanence, Dogen, Birth-and-Death, Triple Treasure, Six Realms,... |
Jun 22 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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To Study the Way is to Study the SelfSerial: BZ-02246 The Self and Myriad Dharmas, Sesshin Day 1 Enlightenment, Five Ranks, Nishiari Bokusan, Attachment, Birth-and-Death, Subject-and... |
Jun 20 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Family PracticeSerial: BZ-02245 Saturday Lecture Zazen, Family Practice, Practice Period, Intuition, Observe, Bell, Tassajara,... |
Jun 16 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Getting to Yes with Giving In Vows, Heart Sutra, Practice Period, Karma, Bodhisattva Ceremony, Precepts, Culture,... |
Jun 02 2012 |
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Practice Period AdmonitionsSerial: BZ-02242 Peaceful Abiding, One-Day Sitting Karma, Shuso, Ceremony, Effort, Admonitions, Practice Period, Daily Life, Family... |
May 12 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Right Communication Precepts, Practice Period, Bodhidharma, Bodhisattva Precepts, Right Speech, Intimacy... |
May 05 2012 |
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Sangha Practice Berkeley Zen Center, Four Noble Truths, Sangha, Liberation, Bodhisattva Precepts,... |
Mar 31 2012 |
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Suffering and Delight - Darlene Cohen Mindfulness, training, Book of Serenity, Tassajara, Priest, Practice Period, Vows,... |
Feb 11 2012 |
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The Bodhisattva's Creativity and Freedom Monkey Mind, Practice Period, Hindrances, difficulty, Bodhisattva Way |
Dec 01 2011 The Yoga Room |
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The Bodhisattva's Creativity and Freedom Letting Go, practicing generosity, Mindfulness, Breath, Practice Period |
Nov 17 2011 The Yoga Room |
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Seijiki and HalloweenSerial: BZ-02211 Feeding the Hungry Ghosts, Saturday Lecture Hungry Ghosts, Seijiki, Demons, Current Events, Evil, Culture, Religion, Practice... |
Oct 29 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Investigating the Heart of our Forms Sanctuary, Aspects of Practice, Instruction, Buddha Nature, Book of Serenity,... |
Oct 22 2011 |
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Giving and Receiving Impermanence, Soto Zen, Big Mind, Evil, Practice Period, Ego, soto, Observe, Bell,... |
Oct 01 2011 |
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The Heart of Our Forms Precepts, Monastic Practice, Practice Period, Aspects of Practice, Family Practice,... |
Sep 25 2011 |
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Monastic PracticeSerial: BZ-02206 Founding of Tassajara, Saturday Lecture Bodhisattva, Suzuki Roshi, Monastic Practice, Practice Period, Composure, American,... |
Sep 24 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Study of delusion is the Buddha Way Bodhisattva Vow, Practice Period, Precepts, Karmic Consciousness, Equanimity... |
Aug 13 2011 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Fire Monks Tassajara, Equanimity, Monastic Practice, Don't Know Mind, Building, resistance... |
Aug 06 2011 |
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It's All Right Here Practice Period, Ordinary Mind, resistance, Branching Streams, Lay Practice, Platform... |
Jun 25 2011 |
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Sesshin Mind - What Is ItSerial: BZ-02187 Shuso talk Sesshin Day 3 Ordinary Mind, Big Mind, Monkey Mind, Practice Period, confusion, Posture, Emotions,... |
Jun 17 2011 |
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Ordinary Mind - Practice and ComposureSerial: BZ-02184 Shuso talk Composure, Ordinary Mind, Doubt, Daily Life, Practice Period, Silent Illumination,... |
Jun 11 2011 |
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Zazenshin Lojong and Real Life Obstacles, Practice Period, Instruction, training, Mindfulness, Teacher-and-Student,... |
Jun 04 2011 |
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Ordinary Mind Is The WaySerial: BZ-02178 Shuso talk Ordinary Mind, Practice Period, Teacher-and-Student, Subject-and-Object, Birth-and-... |
May 21 2011 |
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Our Approach To Practice PeriodSerial: BZ-02174 Peaceful and Harmonious Abiding, One-Day Sitting Sangha, Ango, Practice Period, Practice Period, Continuous, Commitment, Forgiveness,... |
May 07 2011 Berkeley Zen Center |
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How Life Is Like Playing In A Bluegrass Band Practice Period, Ego, Silence, Observe, Conversation, Culture, Religion |
Apr 30 2011 |
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Going Beyond Teachers and Ourselves Half-Smile, Study Period, resistance, Instruction, Patience, Practice Period, Hate,... |
Jan 22 2011 |
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Commentary on True ConcentrationSerial: BZ-02148 Not Always So, Rohatsu Day 6 Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Mudra, Posture, Concentration, Four Noble Truths, Posture,... |
Dec 10 2010 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Receiving With Gratitude Practice Period, Intimacy, Lotus Sutra, Gratitude, Tassajara, Anger, Patience,... |
Nov 20 2010 |
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Maha Parinirvana Sutra Mindfulness, Aspects of Practice, Funeral, Vinaya, Happiness, Practice Period,... |
Nov 06 2010 |
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2010.11.02-serial.00226Serial: EB-00226 Joining the Tassajara practice period; reminiscences of the first Tassajara practice period; kitchen practice and the Tenzokyokun; Practice Period, Way-Seeking Mind, Tenzo, Zendo, Ordinary Mind |
Nov 02 2010 |