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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, Meditation, Practice, Zazen
Sep 04 2023
Hybrid

Core Soto Zen

Serial: TL-00807

ADZG Monday Night,
Dharma Talk

Dogen, Bendowa, Zazen, Buddha, Practice, Zazen
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, Practice, Japan, Buddha
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

Wisdom in Practice Through Zazen

Serial: RB-03085

Online-Talks_Paramitas

Wisdom, Practice, Zazen
Jul 24 2022
Johanneshof

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

Mysteries of Living Buddha Presence

Serial: RB-03727

Dharma_Now_3

Buddha, Time, Zazen
Nov 08 2020
Crestone

Stillness as Transformative Simplification

Serial: RB-03734

Dharma_Now_3

Posture, Zazen, Suffering
Oct 18 2020
Crestone

Mindfulness Beyond Self Agency

Serial: RB-03731

Dharma_Now_3

Posture, Practice, Zazen
Sep 27 2020
Crestone

Embodied Zen: Beyond the Self

Serial: RB-04176

Dharma_Now_2

Posture, Practice, Zazen
Sep 27 2020
Johanneshof

Embodying Zen: Beyond the Mind

Serial: RB-03068

Zen-Riffs

Zendo, Zazen, Practice
Sep 02 2020
Johanneshof

Breathing Deep: Cultivating the Absorbent Mind

Serial: RB-03065

Zen-Riffs

Breath, Zazen, Consciousness
Aug 20 2020
Johanneshof

Zen Presence in a Digital World

Serial: RB-03951

Dharma_Now_2

Practice, Time, Zazen
Aug 09 2020
Johanneshof

Gateway to Deeper Zen Practice

Serial: RB-03955

Dharma_Now_2

Consciousness, Practice, Zazen
Jul 26 2020
Johanneshof

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

Zen in a Connected World

Serial: RB-02031

Sesshin

Practice, Breath, Zazen
Nov 2018
Johanneshof

Experiential Truth in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-02229

Practice-Period_Talks

Time, Zazen, Suzuki Roshi
Sep 2018
Johanneshof

Embodying Aliveness Through Zen Practice

Serial: RB-02887

Seminar_Koan

Posture, Time, Zazen
Aug 2018
Johanneshof

Embodied Zen: Koans and Metaphors

Serial: RB-02806

Seminar

Koan, Posture, Zazen
May 2018
Rastenberg

Zen Intervals: Gender and Inclusivity

Serial: RB-02804

Seminar

Practice, Time, Zazen
May 2018
Rastenberg

Embracing Stillness Through Zazen

Serial: RB-03937

Seminar_Koan

Posture, Zazen, Koan
Feb 07 2018
Johanneshof

Embodying Teachings Through Zen Practice

Serial: RB-02944

Sesshin

Practice, Samadhi, Zazen
Feb 2018
Johanneshof

Diving Deep into Zazen Practice

Serial: RB-02941

Sesshin

Posture, Zazen, Time
Feb 2018
Johanneshof

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

Embodied Zen: Breathing into Transformation

Serial: RB-03917

Sesshin

Practice, Zazen, Buddhism
Oct 2017
Johanneshof

Zen Unplugged: Body Minds Stillness

Serial: RB-03918

Sesshin

Stillness, Zazen, Culture
Oct 2017
Johanneshof

Embodied Stillness: The Art of Zazen

Serial: RB-02162

Seminar_Practice_of_Body-Mind

Zazen, Breath, Posture
Aug 2017
Johanneshof

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

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