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Zazen Talks

Zazen is a meditative discipline that is typically the primary practice of the Zen Buddhist tradition.

The generalized Japanese term for meditation is 瞑想 (meisō); however, zazen has been used informally to include all forms of seated Buddhist meditation. The term zuòchán can be found in early Chinese Buddhist sources, such as the Dhyāna sutras. For example, the famous translator Kumārajīva (344–413) translated a work termed Zuòchán sān mēi jīng (A Manual on the Samādhi of Sitting Meditation) and the Chinese Tiantai master Zhiyi (538–597 CE) wrote some very influential works on sitting meditation.

The meaning and method of zazen varies from school to school, but in general it is a quiet type of Buddhist meditation done in a sitting posture like the lotus position. The practice can be done with various methods, such as following the breath (anapanasati), mentally repeating a phrase (which could be a koan, a mantra, a huatou or nianfo) and a kind of open monitoring in which one is aware of whatever comes to our attention (sometimes called shikantaza or silent illumination). Repeating a huatou, a short meditation phrase, is a common method in Chinese Chan and Korean Seon. Meanwhile, nianfo, the practice of silently reciting the Buddha Amitabha's name, is common in the traditions influenced by Pure Land practice, and was also taught by Chan masters like Zongmi.

In the Japanese Buddhist Rinzai school, zazen is usually combined with the study of koans. The Japanese Sōtō school makes less or no use of koans, preferring an approach known as shikantaza where the mind has no object at all.

From zazen on Wikipedia

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Title Speaker

Continued Exploration of the Bodhisattva's Samadhi

A talk given to the No Abode Community on September 9th, 2023. Begins with a brief overview of Books One and Two.  In Book Three, 

Samantabhadra, Samadhi, Avatamsaka Sutra, Flower Adornment Sutra, Zazen, Priest, Evil...
Sep 09 2023
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Objectless Meditation and Serene Illumination

Serial: TL-00809

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Dogen, Zazen, Samadhi, Silence, Subject-and-Object
Sep 04 2023
Hybrid

Core Soto Zen

Serial: TL-00807

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Dogen, Bendowa, Zazen, Samadhi, Repentance, American
Aug 14 2023
Hybrid

Entering the Samadhi of Buddha’s Radiance

A talk by Tenshin Roshi for a gathering of the No Abode community

Flower Adornment Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra, Katagiri Roshi, Suzuki Roshi, Tassajara Zen Mountain...
Aug 12 2023
No Abode Hermitage

Hiroshima Day and Dogen’s Repentance Practice

Serial: TL-00806

ADZG Sunday Morning,
Dharma Talk

War, Zazen, Eihei Koso Hotsuganmon, Repentance, Lay Ordination
Aug 06 2023
Hybrid

Zen Meditation on Our Original Nature, Class 8

In this series of gatherings we will explore and perhaps realize our original nature, and how to apply such a discovery to all of our daily activities. 

#YRB-2023-Spring1, Original Nature, Sangha, Zazen, Gratitude, Darkness and Light...
May 09 2023
8 of 8
The Yoga Room

Zen Meditation on Our Original Nature, Class 1

In this series of gatherings we will explore and perhaps realize our original nature, and how to apply such a discovery to all of our daily activities. 

#YRB-2023-Spring1, Original Nature, Emotions, War, Precious Mirror, Zazen,...
Mar 21 2023
1 of 8
The Yoga Room

Unspoken Bonds of Zen Practice

Buddha, Zazen, Precepts
Jan 19 2023

Zen Compassion: Uniting All Beings

Buddha Mind, Zazen, Intimacy
Nov 12 2022

Unified Compassion Through Zazen Practice

Zazen, Delusion, Posture
Oct 17 2022

Zazen: The Heart of Enlightenment

Zazen, Karmic Consciousness, Karma
Jan 2022

Protecting and Liberating All Beings

A residential weekend retreat at Mount Madonna.

#MtMadonna-2021-Fall, Compassion, Intimacy, Observe, Zazen, Bodhidharma, American...
Nov 19 2021
Mount Madonna Center

May 5th, 2021, Serial No. 04560

Zazen, Buddha, Practice
May 05 2021

February 6th, 2020, Serial No. 04511

Zazen, Delusion, Mindfulness
Feb 06 2020

February 5th, 2020, Serial No. 04510

Delusion, Zazen, Samadhi
Feb 05 2020

January 2020 talk, Serial No. 04500

Discrimination, Zazen, Addiction
Jan 2020

January 2020 talk, Serial No. 04505

Delusion, Zazen, Admonitions
Jan 2020

Stories of Enlightenment

In our class this fall we will contemplate and converse about several stories of Zen practice and enlightenment. Our contemplation and conversations will naturally bring up questions and concerns...

YRB-2019-Fall, confusion, Book of Serenity, Discrimination, Zazen, resistance...
Oct 03 2019
1/7
The Yoga Room

Teachings for the Welfare of the World

In this summer series, teachings will be offered for those who aspire to embrace and sustain the great earth and all living beings in order to realize peace and freedom in our troubled world.
...

YRB-2019-Summer, Silence, Transmission, true dharma, Religion, Passions, Suzuki Roshi...
Jul 02 2019
2/7
The Yoga Room

March 25th, 2019, Serial No. 04477

Zazen, Buddha Mind, Bodhidharma
Mar 25 2019

March 18th, 2019, Serial No. 04475

Zazen, Liberation, Zendo
Mar 18 2019

March 7th, 2019, Serial No. 04471

Zazen, Buddha, Concentration
Mar 07 2019

March 4th, 2019, Serial No. 04470

Buddha, Suffering, Zazen
Mar 04 2019

February 28th, 2019, Serial No. 04469

Zazen, Posture, Patience
Feb 28 2019

February 23rd, 2019, Serial No. 04467

Zazen, Letting Go, Concentration
Feb 23 2019

January 8th, 2018, Serial No. 04402

Zazen, true dharma, Buddha Mind
Jan 08 2018

2018, Serial No. 04454

Hongzhi, Bodhidharma, Zazen
2018

Buddha’s Zazen is Face-to-Face Transmission

The personal practice of paying attention to the posture of samadhi; mindfulness of breathing; remembering stillness as transmitted by the ancestors;

Transmission, Zazen, Sangha, Posture
Nov 11 2017
AM
No Abode Hermitage

November 11th, 2017, Serial No. 04396

Zazen, Sangha, Posture
Nov 11 2017

Awakening Lives In Silence And Stillness

In the midst of stillness there is the awakened activity of liberating beings; lovingkindness and politics; becoming Buddha by realizing causation; not being possessive of anything, even the dharma,...

Lovingkindness, Zazen, Cause-and-Effect, Liberation, causation, Lovingkindness, zen...
Jan 02 2017
AM
No Abode Hermitage

December 5th, 2016, Serial No. 04343

Zazen, Stillness, Transmission
Dec 05 2016

November 3rd, 2016, Serial No. 04326

Zazen, Mindfulness, Practice
Nov 03 2016

October 27th, 2016, Serial No. 04322

Stillness, Complete Perfect Enlightenment, Zazen
Oct 27 2016

October 24th, 2016, Serial No. 04320

Samsara, resistance, Zazen
Oct 24 2016

Since You Cannot Waste Time, Don’t

Wisdom, Karmic Consequences, Consciousness, Rumi, Karmic Consequences, cognitive...
Oct 08 2016
AM
No Abode Hermitage

August 27th, 2016, Serial No. 04305

Karmic Consciousness, Chanting, Zazen
Aug 27 2016

Zazen: Subtle Knots of Knowing

Consciousness, Zazen, Book of Serenity
Aug 26 2016

August 25th, 2016, Serial No. 04303

Zazen, true dharma, Suffering
Aug 25 2016

August 24th, 2016, Serial No. 04302

Stillness, Zazen, Consciousness
Aug 24 2016

The Unceasing Effort to Free All Beings

Compassion, Separation, Zazen, Nirvana
Aug 06 2016
AM
No Abode Hermitage

August 6th, 2016, Serial No. 04300

Consciousness, Separation, Zazen
Aug 06 2016

The Pivotal Business of Buddha’s House

Lotus Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Faith, Zazen, Perfect Wisdom, Bell, Samadhi
Jun 11 2016
AM
No Abode Hermitage

June 11th, 2016, Serial No. 04293

Lotus Sutra, Zazen, Faith
Jun 11 2016

A Lotus Sutra Narrative of the Bodhisattva Path

Lotus Sutra, Vow, Gaining Mind, Faith, Dharma Transmission, Zazen, causation,...
May 07 2016
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Following through with the Dung Shoveling

Compassion, Zazen, Priest, Faith, Bodhisattva Vow, Suzuki Roshi, japanese, Intimacy...
May 07 2016
PM
No Abode Hermitage

Embracing Suchness in Zen Practice

Samadhi, Zazen, Letting Go
Jan 21 2016

January 13th, 2016, Serial No. 04264

Samadhi, Zazen, Consciousness
Jan 13 2016

October 18th, 2015, Serial No. 04229

Stillness, Zazen, Precious Mirror
Oct 18 2015

October 10th, 2015, Serial No. 04226

Stillness, Transmission, Zazen
Oct 10 2015

January 26th, 2015, Serial No. 04206

true dharma, Zazen, Renunciation
Jan 26 2015

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