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Soto Zen Talks

Sōtō Zen or the Sōtō school (曹洞宗, Sōtō-shū) is the largest of the three traditional sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism (the others being Rinzai and Ōbaku). It is the Japanese line of the Chinese Cáodòng school, which was founded during the Tang dynasty by Dòngshān Liángjiè. It emphasizes Shikantaza, meditation with no objects, anchors, or content. The meditator strives to be aware of the stream of thoughts, allowing them to arise and pass away without interference.

The Japanese brand of the sect was imported in the 13th century by Dōgen Zenji, who studied Cáodòng Buddhism (Chinese: 曹洞宗; pinyin: Cáodòng Zōng) abroad in China. Dōgen is remembered today as the ancestor of Sōtō Zen in Japan along with Keizan Jōkin.

With about 14,000 temples, Sōtō is one of the largest Japanese Buddhist organizations. Sōtō Zen is now also popular in the West, and in 1996 priests of the Sōtō Zen tradition formed the Soto Zen Buddhist Association based in North America.

From Sōtō on Wikipedia

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Title	Speaker	Date
Embracing Life's Ordinary Wonder Intention, Precepts, Right Speech, Lay, Soto Zen	Edward Brown	Oct 26 2008
Beginner's Sitting; Serial No. 01163 Serial: BZ-01163 Beginners' Sesshin Zazen, Monastic Practice, Soto Zen, Religion, Don't Know Mind, Priest, Precepts...	Hozan Alan Senauke	Oct 05 2008 Berkeley Zen Center
Twelve Links as Conditioned By Delusion and True Minds Serial: BZ-01156A Twelve Links, Continued from morning session, Teaching Retreat Dependent Origination, Dependent Origination, Karma, Mindfulness, Ego, Attachment,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Aug 31 2008 Part 2 of 2 Berkeley Zen Center
Entering and Embodying Truth Soto Zen, Japan, Bodhisattva Precepts, Perfect Wisdom	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jul 29 2008 The Yoga Room
July 29th, 2008, Serial No. 03580 Soto Zen, Love, Compassion	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jul 29 2008
Ordinary Mind is the Way Serial: BZ-01149 Saturday lecture Ordinary Mind, Instruction, Lotus Sutra, Teacher-and-Student, Passions, Daily Life,...	Ron Nestor	Jul 26 2008 Berkeley Zen Center
Bodhisattva Action is to Remain Unmoved Lotus Sutra, Manjushri, Complete Perfect Enlightenment, Bodhisattva Way, Soto Zen...	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jun 14 2008 No Abode Hermitage
Medicine and Disease Serial: BZ-01137 Saturday Lecture Discrimination, Five Ranks, Separation, Blue Cliff Record, Impermanence,...	Gerry Oliva	Jun 07 2008 Berkeley Zen Center
2008.05.01-MZMC-pm Soto Zen, Bodhisattva Precepts, Desire, Commitment, Buddha Ancestors, Confession-and-...	Tenshin Reb Anderson	May 01 2008 Minnesota Zen Center
Judging Habit Mind Serial: BZ-01126 Saturday lecture Karma, Right Speech, Soto Zen, Conversation, Culture, Peace, Cultivation, Silence...	Yvonne Rand	Apr 19 2008 Berkeley Zen Center
Blue Cliff Record Case #55: Dao Wu’s Condolence Call; the Great Matter, a Natural Koan Serial: BZ-01115 Sesshin day 2 Birth-and-Death, Blue Cliff Record, Buddha Mind, Impermanence, Funeral, Gratitude,...	Hozan Alan Senauke	Feb 17 2008 Berkeley Zen Center
3 Topics: Takuhatsu, Identity Action, Ryokan Plays with Children Serial: BZ-01110 Part 1 of 2 teaching retreat Separation, Soto Zen, American, Gratitude, Mahayana, Transmission, Discrimination,...	Shohaku Okumura	Jan 26 2008 1 Berkeley Zen Center
The Story of Sejiki, Awakening and Nourishing All Beings: Honor Spirits and Beings Who Have Left This World Serial: BZ-01004 Saturday Lecture Offering, Soto Zen, American, Mahayana, Vow	Hozan Alan Senauke	Oct 20 2007 Berkeley Zen Center
Blue Cliff Record: Case #61 Serial: BZ-01002 Raising a Particle of Dust, Saturday Lecture Sangha, Community, BCR-61, Dragons, Soto Zen, Teacher-and-Student, Silence, Lineage,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Oct 06 2007 Berkeley Zen Center
Balancing the Spiritual and Material Wheels: Serial: BZ-01001 The Protests in Burma, Saturday Lecture Balance, Politics, Burma, War, American, Soto Zen, Fundraising, Lay, Chanting,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Sep 29 2007 Berkeley Zen Center
Zen Meditation as Bodhisattva Vow During this course, we will study the bodhisattva vow, to see how the compassionate intentions of enlightening beings generate, work, and play with the mind of enlightenment to promote peace and... Balance, Karmic Consequences, Confession-and-Repentance, Soto Zen, Lotus Sutra,...	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Aug 21 2007 The Yoga Room
Zen Meditation as Bodhisattva Vow During this course, we will study the bodhisattva vow, to see how the compassionate intentions of enlightening beings generate, work, and play with the mind of enlightenment to promote peace and... Obstacles, Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Confession-and-Repentance, Faith, Passions, Nirvana...	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Aug 07 2007 The Yoga Room
Zen Meditation as Bodhisattva Vow During this course, we will study the bodhisattva vow, to see how the compassionate intentions of enlightening beings generate, work, and play with the mind of enlightenment to promote peace and... Discrimination, Giving-and-Taking, Soto Zen, Samadhi, Non-discrimination, Desire,...	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jul 31 2007 The Yoga Room
Only a Buddha and a Buddha The Lotus Sutra says that the desire to help beings open to Buddha's wisdom is the condition for Buddha's appearing in this world. Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Desire, Religion	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jul 28 2007 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage
July 28th, 2007, Serial No. 03446 Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Happiness	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jul 28 2007
Introduction to Zen Serial: BZ-01276 Saturday Lecture Monastic Practice, Practice Period, Nirvana, Lay Practice, Soto Zen, Buddha Nature,...	Daigaku Rumme	Jul 17 2007 Berkeley Zen Center
Reading from “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind”: Control Serial: BZ-00984 Saturday Lecture Composure, Concentration, Buddha Nature, Right Effort, Impermanence, Mundane Life,...	Hozan Alan Senauke	Jul 07 2007 Berkeley Zen Center
Check The Messenger Within Serial: SF-00994 Strategies, gaining ideas; "paying it forward"; close investigation of the self; Orpheus and Eurydice; Rilke; hidden anger - staying with the emotion Dongshan, Sesshin, Suzuki Roshi, Monkey Mind, Vow, Buddha Nature, Emotions, Manjushri...	Myogen Steve Stücky	Apr 05 2007 Green Gulch Farm
Letter and Spirit of Rules and Regulation Serial: BZ-01427 Dogen's Eihei Shingi, Saturday Lecture Brahmaviharas, Equanimity, Passions, Hate, Religion, Buddha Nature, Ego, Big Mind,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Mar 24 2007 Berkeley Zen Center
Dogen's Acupuncture Point of Zazen: Beating the cart or beating the horse Serial: BZ-01423 Saturday Lecture Zazenshin, Dogen, Lineage, Separation, Dharma Transmission, Dogen, Transmission,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Mar 03 2007 Berkeley Zen Center
Practice in the New Year: This is It! Serial: BZ-01411 Saturday Lecture Practice, New Year, confusion, Birth-and-Death, Instruction, Ordinary Mind, Hate,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Jan 13 2007 Berkeley Zen Center
Commmentary on "Respect for Things" (from Not Always So) Serial: BZ-01408B Faith is Synonymous for Enlightenment, Saturday Lecture Faith, Enlightenment, Big Mind, Culture, Bodhisattva Way, Building, Soto Zen, Bowing...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Dec 09 2006 Berkeley Zen Center
The Gift of Nothing Serial: SF-00929 Sunday Lecture Children's Lecture: one who is not busy, one reality; the gift of nothing; sesshin, from Suzuki Roshi; our mind is the same as Buddha's; all things are... Buddha's Enlightenment, Sesshin, Koan, Daowu, Keizan, Suzuki Roshi, Nirvana...	Fu Schroeder	Dec 03 2006 Green Gulch Farm
Mindful Living Through Zen Cooking Mill Valley, Soto Zen, Money, Instruction	Edward Brown	Oct 22 2006
Breathing In, Breathing Out Serial: SF-01146 Sunday Lecture: simplicity; story of Prajnatara in Malawi; the sun comes up, the sun goes down; connections; the four foundations of mindfulness; Navajo rain dance Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Simplicity, Mindfulness, Book of Serenity, Four...	Fu Schroeder	Oct 08 2006 Green Gulch Farm
Presence as the Ultimate Koan Koan, Soto Zen, Rinzai	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Aug 20 2006
Heart Sutra: Dealing with a Problematic Public Library Patron Serial: BZ-01236D Saturday Lecture Heart Sutra, Practice Period, Anger, Practice Position, Interview, Lay Practice, Soto...	Karen Sundheim	May 20 2006 Berkeley Zen Center
History of Berkeley Zen Center Pt. II Serial: BZ-01222B Kid Zendo: Figures on the Altar, Saturday Lecture Teacher-and-Student, Dharma Transmission, Priest, Transmission, Daily Life, Practice...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Mar 18 2006 Berkeley Zen Center
Fukanzazengi Part II Serial: BZ-01218 Zazen Anecdotes, Sesshin Day 3 Fukanzazengi, Sojun Mel Weitsman, Meditation, Posture, Don't Know Mind,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Feb 20 2006 Berkeley Zen Center
Fukanzazengi Serial: BZ-01217 Part I, Sesshin Day 2 Fukanzazengi, Silent Illumination, Lineage, Discrimination, Daily Life, Sanctuary,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Feb 19 2006 Berkeley Zen Center
Encouragement for Upcoming Sesshin Serial: BZ-01215 Thoughts on his early days, Saturday Lecture Sesshin, Sojun Mel Weitsman, Pure Existence, Karma, Monastic Practice, Soto Zen,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Feb 11 2006 Berkeley Zen Center
“Poems are not Poems”: The Poetry of Ryokan Serial: BZ-01213 Teaching Retreat, part 1 of 2 Priest, Silence, Discrimination, Practice Period, Beginners, Rinzai, Soto Zen,...	Shohaku Okumura	Feb 04 2006 1 Berkeley Zen Center
Faith and Doubt Types Serial: BZ-01203B Rohatsu Day 3 Faith, Doubt, Doubt, Soto Zen, Rinzai, Karma, Sixth Patriarch, Platform Sutra,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Nov 30 2005 Berkeley Zen Center
From "Not Always So": Wherever You Are, Enlightenment is There Serial: BZ-01201B "Enlightenment Is Right Where You Are", Rohatsu Day 1 Practice, Enlightenment, Faith, Buddha Nature, Composure, Non-duality, Suzuki Roshi, Paramitas,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Nov 28 2005 Berkeley Zen Center
Trip to Japan: Jizos for Peace Serial: BZ-01343 Saturday Lecture Peace, War, Vow, Six Realms, Avalokiteshvara, Bell, Soto Zen, Chanting, Conversation...	Jisan Tova Green	Aug 27 2005 Berkeley Zen Center
July 23rd, 2005, Serial No. 01338 Continuous Practice, Intuition, Big Mind, Heart Sutra, Bodhisattva Way, Soto Zen,...		Jul 23 2005
Stand Up from the Ground Serial: BZ-01567 Saturday Lecture Form-and-Emptiness, Continuous Practice, Intuition, Big Mind, Bodhisattva Way, Soto...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Jul 23 2005 Berkeley Zen Center
Fall to the Ground, Get Up By the Ground Serial: BZ-00577 Lecture Continuous Practice, Discrimination, Big Mind, Birth-and-Death, Four Noble Truths,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Jul 18 2005 Tassajara
Find Out for Yourself Serial: BZ-00576 Lecture Precepts, Duality, Instruction, Subject-and-Object, Discrimination, Oneness,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Jul 17 2005 Tassajara
Genjokoan Serial: BZ-01035A Class 5 of 5 Daily Life, Offering, Monastic Practice, Soto Zen, Birth-and-Death, Tassajara Zen...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Jun 16 2005 5 Berkeley Zen Center
Perceptions of Understanding: The Five Skandas Silence, Bodhidharma, Lay, Practice Period, Bowing, Oneness, Priest, Lay Practice,...	Ross Blum	Apr 23 2005 Berkeley Zen Center
On Race Serial: BZ-00601 Sesshin Day 7 Diversity, Culture, Lay, Discrimination, Hate, Soto Zen, Silence, confusion, Bell,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Mar 29 2005 Tassajara
Dongshan Serial: BZ-00593 Sesshin Day 3 Three Treasures, Four Noble Truths, Practice Period, Buddha Mind, Soto Zen, Lotus...	Greg Fain	Mar 25 2005 Tassajara
Fukanzazengi: A Positive Mental Attitude Serial: BZ-01314B Saturday Lecture Soto Zen, Nirvana Sutra, Buddha Nature, Concentration, Lay, Attachment, Hindrances...	Ron Nestor	Mar 19 2005 Berkeley Zen Center
March 14th, 2005, Serial No. 01570 Monastic Practice, Priest, Building, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Soto Zen,...		Mar 14 2005

Soto Zen Talks

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