Sesshin Talks

Zen Meditation Retreat

A sesshin (接心, or also 摂心/攝心 literally "touching the heart-mind") is a period of intensive meditation (zazen) retreat in a Japanese Zen monastery, or in a Zen monastery or Zen center that belongs to one of the Japanese Zen traditions outside of Japan.

While the daily routine in the monastery requires the monks to meditate several hours a day, during a sesshin they devote themselves almost exclusively to zazen practice. The numerous 30- to 50-minute-long meditation periods are interleaved with short rest breaks, meals, and sometimes short periods of work (Japanese: 作務 samu) all performed with the same mindfulness; nightly sleep is kept to a minimum, at six hours or fewer. During the sesshin period, the meditation practice is occasionally interrupted by the master giving public talks (teisho) and individual direction in private meetings (which may be called dokusan, daisan, or sanzen) with a Zen Master.

In modern Buddhist practice in Japan and the West, sesshins are often attended by lay students and are typically one, three, five, or seven days in length. Seven-day sesshins are held several times a year at many Zen centers, especially in commemoration of the Buddha's awakening to full enlightenment (anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi). At this Rohatsu sesshin, practitioners seek to relax and quiet the mind to the point of cessation of mental chatter and emotional impulse, samadhi, kensho, or satori.

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Title	Speaker	Date
OLD - When You Have A New Experience Serial: 67-08-02 August 20, 1967 (evening) [misdate?] Zen Mountain Center Edited by Brian Fikes [The first part of this lecture was not recorded. Roshi was talking about the... Sesshin,	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 02 1967 Tassajara
Sesshin Lecture: Three Treasures Serial: 67-06-11 Sunday, June 11, 1967 [Suzuki seems to be commenting on Shi Sho Ku* (?) of Dogen. When this is evident, Dogen's words are in quotation marks.] SHUSHOGI [jrb... Sesshin, Shushogi, Precepts,*	Suzuki Roshi	Jun 11 1967
You Must Give Up Worldly Desires Serial: SF-05100B Saturday, April 22, 1967 Sesshin Lecture A San Francisco Sesshin, Family Practice, Doubt, Dragons, resistance, Priest, Hate, Freedom	Suzuki Roshi	Apr 22 1967 A Sokoji
This Sesshin Was Wonderfully Done Serial: SF-05100C Saturday, April 22, 1967 Sesshin Lecture B San Francisco Sesshin, Priest, Evil, Doubt, training	Suzuki Roshi	Apr 22 1967 B Sokoji
OLD - The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking Mind Serial: 66-12-17-B Hidden as we had a reel that corresponded to this transcript - SDH Saturday, December 17, 1966 DECEMBER ONE-DAY SESSHIN LECTURE: Saturday Evening Lecture... Sesshin, Dogen, training, Compassion, zen, Patience, Zazen, Instruction, Building,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji
OLD - In the first instruction of ten instructions in Gakudō-yōjin-shū Serial: SR-00089 Reel was wrongly dated - transcript matches 66-12-17-A ___ Discussion of fascicle Shobogeno Gakudo Yojinshu. Way-seeking mind and responding to encountering the... Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Sixth Patriarch, training, Birth-and-Death, Instruction,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 17 1966 A Sokoji
OLD - The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking Mind Serial: SF-05838 This had been labeled as A - transript matches B. temporary audio from this date hidden - SDH Saturday, December 17, 1966 DECEMBER ONE-DAY SESSHIN LECTURE:... Sesshin, Dogen, training, New Year, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Nature, Practice...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji
In the first instruction of ten instructions in Gakudō-yōjin-shū Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Sixth Patriarch, Platform Sutra, training, Instruction,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 17 1966 A Sokoji
The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking Mind Serial: SF-05121B Original recording Sesshin, Dogen, training, Buddha Nature, Hate, Observe, Instruction, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji
OLD - Don't Be Attached To Your Attainment Serial: 66-08-19-B Sesshin Lecture: Friday Morning during Zazen, Lecture B Sokoji Temple, San Francisco Sesshin, Zazen, Attachment, lecture	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 19 1966 B Sokoji
Blue Cliff Records Case 45 Serial: SF-05097E Friday, August 19, 1966 Sesshin Lecture: Friday Evening, Lecture D Sokoji, San Francisco Blue Cliff Record, Sesshin, Joshu, Eiheiji, Observe, Diversity, Duality	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 19 1966 D Sokoji
OLD - Mind Itself Is Buddha Serial: SR-00087 Friday, August 19, 1966 Sesshin Lecture, Lecture C Sokoji, San Francisco --------------------------- Explanation of fascicle Shobogenzo Sokushin Ze... Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Blue Cliff Record, Silence, Instruction, Anger,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 19 1966 C Sokoji
OLD - Shōbōgenzō Serial: SR-00092 Friday, August 19, 1966 Sesshin Lecture: Friday Morning, Lecture A Sokoji, San Francisco Translation and discussion of fascicle Shobogenzo Sokushin Ze Butsu... Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Subject-and-Object, War, Faith, Lay,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 19 1966 A Sokoji
OLD - Blue Cliff Records Case 45 Serial: SF-05097E Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 3 Suzuki 7:30pm lecture Friday night ending sesshin Sesshin, Blue Cliff Record, Eiheiji, Joshu, Duality, Observe	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 19 1966 D Sokoji
This Fascicle of Shobogenzo Serial: SF-05097F Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 2: Suzuki 1pm lecture Friday Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Blue Cliff Record, Attachment, Instruction, Freedom,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 19 1966 C Sokoji
Don't Be Attached To Your Attainment Serial: SF-05097H Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 4 Friday lecture by Suzuki during morning zazen Friday Sesshin, Instruction, Attachment	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 19 1966 B Sokoji
This is the Fourth Day of our Sesshin Serial: SF-05097C Reconstruction of Lecture from Second Zazen Period (Before Morning Service) Thursday Morning, August 18, 1966, Lecture A Sokoji, San Francisco [This tape is... Sesshin, Suzuki Roshi	Zentatsu Richard Baker	Aug 18 1966 A Sokoji
Shobogenzo Serial: SF-05097D Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 1 contd: Most of Suzuki's 6pm Lecture, Thursday evening continued on track 4 Track 4 continuation and finish of 6pm lecture of... Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Subject-and-Object, Attachment, Buddha Nature,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 18 1966 C Sokoji
Shōbōgenzō Serial: SF-05093F Thursday, August 18, 1966 SESSHIN LECTURE: Thursday, 1:00 pm, Lecture B Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Buddha Mind, Birth-and-Death, Dana, Fasting, Interdependence	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 18 1966 B Sokoji
OLD - This is the Fourth Day of our Sesshin Serial: SF-05097C Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 ; Track 1 My reconstruction from memory and notes of Suzuki Roshi's beautiful lecture Thursday morning during 2nd period of zazen before morning... Sesshin, Suzuki Roshi	Zentatsu Richard Baker	Aug 18 1966 A Sokoji
Causality Serial: SF-05093J Suzuki lecture 6pm Weds Track 2, continued on Track 3 Sesshin, Time, Freedom, Happiness, Fox, Oneness, Enemies, Offering, Evil, Lay...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 17 1966 6:00pm Sokoji
Our Mind Should Be Calm Serial: SF-05093L Tuesday, August 16, 1966 Sesshin: Zazen short instruction Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Instruction,	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 16 1966 Sokoji
OLD - The Second Paragraph of the Genjo Koan Serial: SR-00196 Monday, August 15, 1966 Sesshin Lecture, Lecture A Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Genjokoan, Dogen, Consciousness, Attachment, Instruction, Doubt, reality,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 15 1966 A Sokoji
Genjo Koan Serial: SF-05111C This is the bulk of the talk attributed to this date. It sounds distinct from the earlier fragment, and the date may not be accurate, though the subject is appropriate for the... Sesshin, Attachment, Instruction, Freedom, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 15 1966 C Sokoji
Think Everything Out Serial: SF-05093C Monday, August 15, 1966, Lecture C Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, causation, Attachment, Hate, Intuition, Concentration, Evil, Instruction,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 15 1966 C Sokoji
The first day of the sesshin is almost finished Serial: SF-05093K Monday, August 15, 1966 Sesshin: Evening Lecture, Lecture D Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Freedom, causation, Composure, Posture	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 15 1966 D Sokoji
You Cannot Appreciate Our Teaching In Its True Sense Serial: SF-05093B Monday, August 15, 1966 Sesshin: Lunch Lecture, Lecture B Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Oryoki, Instruction,	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 15 1966 B Sokoji
Talk on Shobogenzo Serial: SF-05111B Other Japanese lecture [case replaced 12/95. Case notes transcribed verbatim] Sesshin, Happiness	Unknown	Aug 15 1966 B Sokoji
We Are Not Perfect Serial: SF-05080A Sesshin talk. At the beginning, Suzuki Roshi is drawing from Dogen's "Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance." The methods are also in Shushogi. Sesshin, Bodhisattva, Shushogi, Happiness, Enemies	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 23 1966 Sokoji
Sesshin Lecture: Genjo-Koan, Paragraphs 1–2 Serial: SF-05096B May Sesshin (25 26 added later) 1 or 6pm lecture plus lecture the following morning. SR 009 Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Precepts, Mahayana, Freedom, Observe, Balance, Attachment...	Suzuki Roshi	May 26 1966 Sokoji
Liberty and Restriction Serial: SF-05116A March sesshin, only 1pm lecture. Evening lecture goofed up during recording. SR 007 Saturday, March 26, 1966 Sesshin, Balance, Freedom, Doubt, Faith, Ceremony	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 26 1966 BN Sokoji
Real Calmness Is In A Noisy Place Serial: SF-05116B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #12, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk is another example of a track that was somehow overlooked for many years, while... Sesshin, Shobogenzo, Beginner’s Mind, Beginners, Ego, Silence, Hate, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 26 1966 Sokoji
Genjō Kōan, 1–3 Serial: SF-05095C Sesshin Lecture: Genjo-Koan, Paragraphs 1–3 Sunday Morning, March 13, 1966, Lecture A Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Duality, Faith, Buddha Nature, Attachment, Discrimination...	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 13 1966 A Sokoji
Shushōgi, Section 1 Serial: SF-05095B Sesshin Lecture: SHUSHOGI, Section 1 Sunday, March 13, 1966, Lecture B Sokoji, San Francisco Tape operator's comments and bells at beginning of tape, left... Sesshin, Dogen, Shushogi, Attachment, Balance	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 13 1966 B Sokoji
To Study The Self Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Bell, training, Faith	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 19 1966 pm Sokoji
Tokusan and The Old Lady Serial: SF-05114C ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #10, by Shundo David Haye ===== This is another track from the same problematic reel as the previous two talks in this series.... Sesshin, Diamond Sutra, Balance, training, Religion	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 19 1966 1:00pm Sokoji
Where There is Some Limitation, There is Universality Serial: SF-05114B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #9, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk is found on the same reel as the one previously discussed (https://suzukiroshi.engagewisdom.... Sesshin, Dogen, Buddha Nature, Faith, Evil, confusion, Freedom, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 18 1966 Sokoji
Shushōgi, Sections 11–17 Serial: SF-05113A January Sesshin Lecture: Lecture A ,1 PM Shushogi: Sections 11–17 Friday, January 21, 1966 Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Precepts, Shushogi, Precepts, Subject-and-Object, Happiness, Priest,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jan 21 1966 A Sokoji
Most Of You Are Beginners Serial: SF-05124D One-Day Sesshin Afternoon Lecture Saturday, December 11, 1965, Lecture A Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Precepts, Precepts, Observe, Beginners, Enemies,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 11 1965 A Sokoji
Buddhism Has Many Annual Layers Like A Big Tree Serial: SF-05124B One-Day Sesshin Evening Lecture Saturday, December 11, 1965, Lecture B Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Precepts, Precepts, Three Treasures, Observe, Doubt, Composure, Priest,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 11 1965 B Sokoji
Chanting Service Sesshin, Chanting,	Group	Dec 11 1965 Sokoji
Buddhism is Very Philosophical, and Sometimes Intellectual and Logical Serial: 65-11-00-A One-Day Sesshin Lectures November, 1965 (Wind Bell, Jan.–Feb. 1966) - this was held on 13th per previous Wind Bells. Early Afternoon Lecture Sesshin,	Suzuki Roshi	Nov 13 1965 A Sokoji
You Have Made Great Progress Serial: 65-11-00-B One-Day Evening Sesshin Lecture November 1965 (Wind Bell, Jan.–Feb. 1966) - this was held on 13th per previous Wind Bells. Sesshin,	Suzuki Roshi	Nov 13 1965 B Sokoji
Kinhin Instruction Sesshin,	Suzuki Roshi	Oct 16 1965 K Sokoji
It Is A Great Joy To Practice Sesshin With You In This Way Serial: 65-10-16-A October Sesshin Lecture October 16, 1965 (Wind Bell, Nov.–Dec. 1965) Transcribed by Trudy Dixon Afternoon Lecture Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen,	Suzuki Roshi	Oct 16 1965 A Sokoji
We Have Finished Sesshin With Unusual Results Serial: 65-10-16-B October Sesshin Lecture October 16, 1965 (Wind Bell, Nov.–Dec. 1965) Late Afternoon Lecture: Sesshin, Dogen, Baso, Beginner’s Mind,	Suzuki Roshi	Oct 16 1965 B Sokoji
OLD - Confucius Said The Most Visible Is Something Invisible Serial: 65-08-28-A One-Day Sesshin Lecture: 1 PM Saturday, August 28, 1965 San Francisco Sesshin, Culture, Hate, Composure, Transmission, Building, Pain, Observe, difficulty...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 28 1965 A Sokoji
Confucius Said the Most Visible is Something Invisible Serial: SF-05125A SR 002 Tape 1 copy Sesshin 1pm lecture Sesshin, Faith, Interview, Observe, confusion, Hate, Peace	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 28 1965 A Sokoji
I Have Nothing In My Mind Serial: SF-05125B One-Day Sesshin Lecture: 5 PM Saturday, August 28, 1965, Lecture B San Francisco Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Baso, Big Mind, Faith, Fox, Duality, Hate	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 28 1965 B Sokoji
OLD - Science or Philosophy is Like a Dissection Serial: 65-07-30-B Sesshin Lecture, Lecture B Friday, July 30, 1965, 9 AM Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Peace, Buddha Nature, Instruction, Meditation, Truth	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 30 1965 B Sokoji

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