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

Protecting and Liberating All Beings

A residential weekend retreat at Mount Madonna.

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

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

Since You Cannot Waste Time, Don’t

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

The Pivotal Business of Buddha’s House

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

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

A Buddha’s Practice is Done Together with Each Person

Cultivation, Karmic Consciousness, Karmic Consciousness, Family Practice, Lotus Sutra...
Nov 22 2014
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Zen Meditation as the Bodhisattva Precepts

Compassion, Wisdom, Precepts, Precepts, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Bodhisattva Precepts,...
Oct 11 2014
PM
No Abode Hermitage

Zazen Instruction

Serial: BZ-02338

Rohatsu

Zazen, Posture, Pure Existence, Discrimination, Five Ranks, Religion, Emotions,...
Dec 02 2013
Berkeley Zen Center

The Work of Going Beyond Buddha

Realization in the body
Going Beyond Buddha
Sept 2013 PM No Abode

Observe, Koan, Mill Valley, Zazen, Describe
Sep 21 2013
Afternoon
No Abode Hermitage

Sitting in the Big, Invisible World

Zazen, Priest, Suzuki Roshi, Continuous, Posture
Jun 22 2013
Morning
No Abode Hermitage

Zazen

Serial: BZ-02313

Review of Zazen, Sesshin

Effort, Zazen, Sesshin, Nirvana, Mindfulness, Practice Period, resistance, Mahayana,...
Jun 19 2013
Berkeley Zen Center

Six Qualities from the Abhidhamma

Serial: BZ-02289

Tranquility, Agility, Pliancy, Workableness, Proficiency, Saturday Lecture

No-Self, Abhidharma, Zazen, Daily Life, Composure, Nirvana, Hindrances, Attachment,...
Feb 02 2013
Berkeley Zen Center

2012.07.30-serial.00140

Subject-and-Object, training, Dharma Transmission, Birth-and-Death, Oneness,...
Jul 30 2012

Family Practice

Serial: BZ-02245

Saturday Lecture

Zazen, Family Practice, Practice Period, Intuition, Observe, Bell, Tassajara,...
Jun 16 2012
Berkeley Zen Center

Zazen and the Seven Factors of Enlightenment

Serial: BZ-02227

Beneficial Attachment, One-Day Sitting

Passive and Active Zazen

 

Shikantaza, Posture, Breath, Zazen, Monkey Mind, Concentration, Big Mind, Mindfulness...
Jan 21 2012
Berkeley Zen Center

Conscious and Unconscious Obstructions of the Buddha Way 

Karmic Consciousness, Faith, Intuition, Obstacles, Zazen
Apr 16 2011
Morning
No Abode Hermitage

Commentary on True Concentration

Serial: BZ-02148

Not Always So, Rohatsu Day 6

Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Mudra, Posture, Concentration, Four Noble Truths, Posture,...
Dec 10 2010
Berkeley Zen Center

On the Eve of Going for Refuge in the Triple Treasure 

Confession and Repentance, Precepts, Zazen, Commitment, Nirvana
Apr 17 2010
Morning
No Abode Hermitage

Training for the Selfless Heart 

zen meditation, Suzuki Roshi, Conversation, Fox, Zazen
Mar 18 2010
The Yoga Room

We Always Practice Under Restriction

Serial: BZ-02072

Ability and Disability, Rohatsu Day 5

Zazen, confusion, Observe, Funeral, Posture, Instruction, Karma, Forgiveness,...
Dec 10 2009
Berkeley Zen Center

On Enlightenment and Delusion 

Bowing, Zazen, Gratitude, American, Buddha Nature
Dec 02 2009
The Yoga Room

Hokyo Zammai III

Serial: BZ-02056

100 Circles, Sesshin Day 2

Issan, Zazen, Jewel Mirror Samadhi, Five Ranks, Continuous, Discrimination, Daily...
Sep 07 2009
Part 1 of
Berkeley Zen Center

Joshu's 'Wash your Bowl'

Serial: BZ-02049

Open, unassuming mind, One-Day Sitting,

standing up from zazen

Zazen, Don't Know Mind, Renunciation, Don't Know Mind, Religion, Greed,...
Jul 18 2009
Berkeley Zen Center

Zazen is the true reference point

Serial: BZ-02047

Put your behind on the cushion, Saturday Lecture

Drama of life, Thoughts = dream world

 

Zazen, Ordinary Mind, Instruction, resistance, Precepts, Interview, confusion,...
Jun 27 2009
Berkeley Zen Center

Zazen Instruction

Serial: BZ-02031

Bansan

BCR-, Zazen, Posture, Building, Emotions, Beginners, resistance, Religion
May 15 2009
Berkeley Zen Center

Revealing the Intention of the Buddha

Samdhinirmochana Mahayana Sutra Chapter 1

resistance, Zazen, Community, Mahayana
Mar 21 2009
Morning
No Abode Hermitage

Beginner's Sitting; Serial No. 01163

Serial: BZ-01163

Beginners' Sesshin

Zazen, Monastic Practice, Soto Zen, Religion, Don't Know Mind, Priest, soto,...
Oct 05 2008
Berkeley Zen Center

Precepts and Zazen

Serial: BZ-01158

Harmonizing Buddha Nature, Instincts, and Desires, Saturday Lecture

Precepts, Zazen, Desires, Buddha Nature, Precepts, Concentration, Buddha Nature,...
Sep 13 2008
Berkeley Zen Center

Zazen Instruction

Serial: BZ-01134

Bansan

Zazen, Instruction, Posture, Aspects of Practice, Instruction, Ego
May 23 2008
Berkeley Zen Center

Zazen, Sanshimopo, and Doshin: Foundations of Practice

Serial: BZ-01112

Shikantaza, Guidance, and Way-Seeking Mind, Saturday Lecture

Shikantaza, Zazen, Way-Seeking Mind, Ego, Continuous, Teacher-and-Student, Gaining...
Feb 02 2008
Berkeley Zen Center

2008.01.23-serial.00113A

Four Noble Truths, Don't Know Mind, Samsara, Buddha Ancestors, difficulty, Fox,...
Jan 23 2008

2008.01.20-serial.00112C

Dependent Origination, Zendo, Teacher-and-Student, Ego, Happiness, Demons, Observe,...
Jan 20 2008

2008.01.19-serial.00112B

Buddha Nature, Heart Sutra, Vows, true dharma, Daily Life, Culture, Subject-and-...
Jan 19 2008

Our Sphere of Practice

Serial: BZ-01103

Nonseparation of Zazen and Worldly Activity, Rohatsu Day 5

Practice, Politics, Zazen, War, SER-12, War, Diversity, Evil, Religion, Building,...
Dec 06 2007
Berkeley Zen Center

Illumination of Zazen

Serial: BZ-01099

Absorption in the Treasury of Light, Rohatsu Day 1

Zazen, BCR-, Silent Illumination, Light-and-Darkness, Samadhi, Manjushri, Intuition,...
Dec 02 2007
Berkeley Zen Center

Six Factors of Zazen

Serial: BZ-01431

One-Day Sitting

Zazen, Concentration, Birth-and-Death, Daily Life, Emotions, Samadhi, Posture,...
Apr 15 2007
Berkeley Zen Center

Right Speech

Serial: SF-00037

The eight-fold path and its relationship to the precepts.

Right Speech, Suzuki Roshi, Conversation, Heart Sutra, Zazen, Buddha Nature, Precepts...
Sep 16 2006

Practice Period

Serial: SF-00034

Origins of PP, meaning of 'ango'; Dogen's essay; resistance; hermit Jim; Rumi poems.

Practice Period, Buddha Ancestors, Zazen, Tassajara, resistance, Bell, Duality,...
Feb 19 2006

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