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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 Caodong school, which was founded during the Tang dynasty by Dongshan Liangjie. 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 Caodong 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.
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Vigor During Sesshin: Soto and Rinzai Practice ComparedSerial: BZ-00007A Sesshin Day 3 Sesshin, Soto Zen, Rinzai, Practice, Time, Soto Zen |
May 21 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Soto and Rinzai Practice: KoansSerial: BZ-00014A Sesshin Day 2 Teacher-and-Student, Rinzai, Daily Life, Interview, Soto Zen, Concentration, Building... |
Feb 27 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Rinzai ZenSerial: BZ-00015 Sesshin day 1 Sixth Patriarch, Soto Zen, Lotus Sutra, Heart Sutra, Platform Sutra, Doubt, Buddha... |
Feb 26 1982 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Palateia: Personal Spiritual RevolutionSerial: NC-00691 Monastic Spirituality Set 4 of 12 Oneness, Letting Go, Enlightenment, Soto Zen, Don't Know Mind |
Jul 01 1981 |
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November 15, 1980, Serial No. 01061 Right Effort, Monastic Practice, Sixth Patriarch, Soto Zen, Daily Life, Hindrances,... |
Nov 15 1980 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Right Effort and Right ThoughtSerial: BZ-00026A Saturday Lecture Right Effort, Right Thought, Noble Eightfold Path, Study, Focus, Right Effort,... |
Nov 15 1980 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Dharma Transmission in Zen Evolution Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Buddha Nature, Realization, Rinzai, Soto Zen,... |
Aug 19 1977 |
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Ascending the Zen Pole of Effort Big Mind, Ego, Soto Zen, Building, Separation, Intention, Evil |
Sep 03 1976 |
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Reviving Zen: Manzan's Reforms Unveiled Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Ceremony, Addiction, Soto Zen, Lineage,... |
Sep 17 1975 |
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Zen Manuscripts: Evolutionary Pathways Soto Zen, Rinzai, Vow, Ceremony |
Sep 12 1975 |
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Keizan Zenji: Catalyst of Soto Zen Soto Zen, Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Realization, Lay, difficulty |
Sep 11 1975 |
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Zen Leadership: Tradition and Transformation Transmission, Building, Dharma Transmission, Soto Zen, Rinzai, Bell, Bodhidharma,... |
Sep 10 1975 |
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Zen Power Struggles at Ehe-ji Transmission, Bell, Building, Soto Zen, Rinzai, difficulty, Bodhidharma |
Sep 10 1975 |
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Silent Illumination and Zen's Path Transmission, Soto Zen, Discrimination, Buddha Nature, Realization, Separation,... |
Sep 08 1975 |
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Zen Lineage: From Bodhidharma to Dogen Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Bodhidharma, New Year, Ceremony, Soto Zen,... |
Sep 1975 |
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Zen Ranks Through Gassan's Lens Soto Zen, Rinzai, Transmission, Enemies, Greed, Vow |
Sep 1975 |
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Timeless Essence of Zen Practice Conversation, Soto Zen, Religion, Constancy, Building, Funeral, Fox, Chanting, Bell... |
Apr 1972 |
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Sitting Beyond Thought: Embodying Truth Emotions, Buddha Mind, Buddha Nature, Realization, Soto Zen, Mahayana, Chanting,... |
Feb 25 1972 |
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Funeral Service for Suzuki RoshiSerial: SR-00171 This is a full recording of Suzuki Roshi's funeral, held nine days after his death. Ceremony, Funeral, Suzuki Roshi, Soto Zen, Ceremony, Vow, Discrimination |
Dec 12 1971 City Center |
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Breaking the Chains of Illusion Four Noble Truths, Suffering, Soto Zen, Instruction, Nirvana, difficulty, Tassajara... |
Oct 02 1971 |
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Embracing Suffering Through Zen Awareness Suffering, Four Noble Truths, Soto Zen, Instruction, Posture, Nirvana, difficulty,... |
Oct 02 1971 |
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Embracing Flow: Zen's Middle Way Buddha Nature, Soto Zen, Diversity, Composure, Chanting, confusion, Ceremony,... |
Sep 28 1971 |
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Virtue of Mountain and RiverDogen, Shobogenzo, First Principle, Soto Zen, Rinzai, Faith, Breath, Pain, Bell,... |
Jul 24 1971 Tassajara |
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Sewing and Wearing the Buddhist Robes and How It Relates to Our PracticeSerial: 71-06-19 Saturday, June 19, 1971 San Francisco Zendo Dogen, Soto Zen, |
Jun 19 1971 City Center |
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Unwavering Practice: Path to Awakening Soto Zen, Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature, Building, Continuous Practice, Ceremony,... |
Nov 20 1970 |
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How should we establish our system of practice in San FranciscoSerial: SR-00019 Tuesday Evening, June 17, 1969 Just sit, and follow the teacher's instruction. Story of four kinds of horse. Humans go to the moon, but don't... Rinzai, Soto Zen, Dogen, Zazen, New Year, Concentration, Big Mind, Priest, Pain,... |
Jun 17 1969 Sokoji |
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Reviving Dogen's Dharma Transmission Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Realization, Ceremony, difficulty, Mandala, Soto... |
Jun 10 1969 |
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The True DragonDogen, Baso, Dragons, Freedom, Soto Zen, Emptiness, Bodhidharma, Instruction, Zazen... |
Oct 12 1968 B Sokoji |
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The Ten Powers Of A BodhisattvaSerial: SF-05106 Sunday Morning, August 25, 1968 Bodhisattva, Dogen, Rinzai, Soto Zen, Emptiness, Five Ranks, Attachment, Posture,... |
Aug 25 1968 Sokoji |
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What is Soto and what is Rinzai?Serial: SF-05144A SR024 Tass July 26/68 Roshi Sectarianism copied; July 21 Chino Sensei; July 24 Chino Sensei - also many handwritten notes on the content Soto Zen, Rinzai, Buddha Nature, Bodhidharma, Evil, Bowing, Mahayana, Gratitude, Ego... |
Jul 26 1968 Tassajara |
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Esalen Institute: First of two lecturesSerial: SF-05870 This is the first of two talks given at Esalen. Dogen, Time, Four Noble Truths, Lotus Sutra, New Year, Continuous Practice, Emptiness... |
Jun 28 1968 Esalen |
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On Nanzenshi, Nanshin-KenSerial: SF-01129 Tape 1 copy 2 - duplicate Priest, Study Period, Silence, Zazen, Peace, Funeral, Soto Zen, Chanting |
Feb 22 1966 Kyoto |
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Unknown Title, Serial 00421, Side B Buddha Nature, Platform Sutra, Lineage, Anger, Soto Zen, Buddha Mind, Rinzai,... |
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Taxi Priest, Politics, Dragons, Interview, Soto Zen, Instruction, Religion, Doubt,... |
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Transmitting the LightSerial: BZ-00778 Class Monastic Practice, Transmission, Teacher-and-Student, Continuous Practice, Buddha... |
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Zen Fools and Pure HeartsSerial: NC-00215 Archival Photo Dogen, Platform Sutra, Sutra, Soto Zen |
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Zen's Path to the Pure HeartSerial: NC-00218 Archival Photo Dogen, Soto Zen, Buddha, Lotus Sutra |
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Cultivating Innocence in Zen PracticeSerial: NC-00219 Archival Photo Dogen, Soto Zen, Buddha, Lotus Sutra |
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Zen's Journey: Work as Practice Okesa, Soto Zen, Ordination, Tenzo |
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YYYY.02.02-serial.00011 Religion, Emotions, Passions, Culture, Buddha Nature, Soto Zen, confusion, Vow... |
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Women AncestorsSerial: BZ-01287 Saturday Lecture Dana Paramita, Soto Zen, Practice Period, Lay, Forgiveness, Rinzai, Enemies, Lineage... |
Oct 30 2004 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Paths to Wholeness and HealingSerial: YR-00337 Recovery as Spiritual Path Recovery, Addiction, Precepts, Big Mind, Vow, Lineage, Sangha, Four Noble Truths,... |
Jul 12 1992 Green Gulch Farm |
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Cultivating Intimacy Through Zen Practice Intimacy, Daily Life, Bell, Soto Zen, Attachment, Zoom, Bowing, Chanting |
2002 |
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Cultivating Compassion Through Loving-Kindness Soto Zen, Peace, Interview, Daily Life, Avalokitesvara, Fox, Hindrances, Priest,... |
Nov 22 1993 Insight Meditation Center Redwood City |