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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.
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Continued Exploration of the Bodhisattva's SamadhiA 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 |
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Objectless Meditation and Serene IlluminationSerial: TL-00809 ADZG Monday Night, Dogen, Zazen, Samadhi, Silence, Subject-and-Object |
Sep 04 2023 Hybrid |
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Core Soto ZenSerial: TL-00807 ADZG Monday Night, Dogen, Bendowa, Zazen, Samadhi, Repentance, American |
Aug 14 2023 Hybrid |
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Entering the Samadhi of Buddha’s RadianceA 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 |
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Hiroshima Day and Dogen’s Repentance PracticeSerial: TL-00806 ADZG Sunday Morning, War, Zazen, Eihei Koso Hotsuganmon, Repentance, Lay Ordination |
Aug 06 2023 Hybrid |
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Zen Meditation on Our Original Nature, Class 8In 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 |
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Zen Meditation on Our Original Nature, Class 1In 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 |
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Unspoken Bonds of Zen Practice Buddha, Zazen, Precepts |
Jan 19 2023 |
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Zen Compassion: Uniting All Beings Buddha Mind, Zazen, Intimacy |
Nov 12 2022 |
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Unified Compassion Through Zazen Practice Zazen, Delusion, Posture |
Oct 17 2022 |
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Zazen: The Heart of Enlightenment Zazen, Karmic Consciousness, Karma |
Jan 2022 |
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Protecting and Liberating All BeingsA residential weekend retreat at Mount Madonna. #MtMadonna-2021-Fall, Compassion, Intimacy, Observe, Zazen, Bodhidharma, American... |
Nov 19 2021 Mount Madonna Center |
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May 5th, 2021, Serial No. 04560 Zazen, Buddha, Practice |
May 05 2021 |
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February 6th, 2020, Serial No. 04511 Zazen, Delusion, Mindfulness |
Feb 06 2020 |
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February 5th, 2020, Serial No. 04510 Delusion, Zazen, Samadhi |
Feb 05 2020 |
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January 2020 talk, Serial No. 04500 Discrimination, Zazen, Addiction |
Jan 2020 |
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January 2020 talk, Serial No. 04505 Delusion, Zazen, Admonitions |
Jan 2020 |
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Stories of EnlightenmentIn 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 |
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Teachings for the Welfare of the WorldIn 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 |
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March 25th, 2019, Serial No. 04477 Zazen, Buddha Mind, Bodhidharma |
Mar 25 2019 |
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March 18th, 2019, Serial No. 04475 Zazen, Liberation, Zendo |
Mar 18 2019 |
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March 7th, 2019, Serial No. 04471 Zazen, Buddha, Concentration |
Mar 07 2019 |
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March 4th, 2019, Serial No. 04470 Buddha, Suffering, Zazen |
Mar 04 2019 |
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February 28th, 2019, Serial No. 04469 Zazen, Posture, Patience |
Feb 28 2019 |
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February 23rd, 2019, Serial No. 04467 Zazen, Letting Go, Concentration |
Feb 23 2019 |
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January 8th, 2018, Serial No. 04402 Zazen, true dharma, Buddha Mind |
Jan 08 2018 |
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2018, Serial No. 04454 Hongzhi, Bodhidharma, Zazen |
2018 |
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Buddha’s Zazen is Face-to-Face TransmissionThe 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 |
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November 11th, 2017, Serial No. 04396 Zazen, Sangha, Posture |
Nov 11 2017 |
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Awakening Lives In Silence And StillnessIn 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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December 5th, 2016, Serial No. 04343 Zazen, Stillness, Transmission |
Dec 05 2016 |
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November 3rd, 2016, Serial No. 04326 Zazen, Mindfulness, Practice |
Nov 03 2016 |
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October 27th, 2016, Serial No. 04322 Stillness, Complete Perfect Enlightenment, Zazen |
Oct 27 2016 |
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October 24th, 2016, Serial No. 04320 Samsara, resistance, Zazen |
Oct 24 2016 |
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Since You Cannot Waste Time, Don’tWisdom, Karmic Consequences, Consciousness, Rumi, Karmic Consequences, cognitive... |
Oct 08 2016 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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August 27th, 2016, Serial No. 04305 Karmic Consciousness, Chanting, Zazen |
Aug 27 2016 |
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Zazen: Subtle Knots of Knowing Consciousness, Zazen, Book of Serenity |
Aug 26 2016 |
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August 25th, 2016, Serial No. 04303 Zazen, true dharma, Suffering |
Aug 25 2016 |
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August 24th, 2016, Serial No. 04302 Stillness, Zazen, Consciousness |
Aug 24 2016 |
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The Unceasing Effort to Free All BeingsCompassion, Separation, Zazen, Nirvana |
Aug 06 2016 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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August 6th, 2016, Serial No. 04300 Consciousness, Separation, Zazen |
Aug 06 2016 |
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The Pivotal Business of Buddha’s HouseLotus Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Faith, Zazen, Perfect Wisdom, Bell, Samadhi |
Jun 11 2016 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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June 11th, 2016, Serial No. 04293 Lotus Sutra, Zazen, Faith |
Jun 11 2016 |
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A Lotus Sutra Narrative of the Bodhisattva PathLotus Sutra, Vow, Gaining Mind, Faith, Dharma Transmission, Zazen, causation,... |
May 07 2016 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Following through with the Dung ShovelingCompassion, Zazen, Priest, Faith, Bodhisattva Vow, Suzuki Roshi, japanese, Intimacy... |
May 07 2016 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Embracing Suchness in Zen Practice Samadhi, Zazen, Letting Go |
Jan 21 2016 |
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January 13th, 2016, Serial No. 04264 Samadhi, Zazen, Consciousness |
Jan 13 2016 |
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October 18th, 2015, Serial No. 04229 Stillness, Zazen, Precious Mirror |
Oct 18 2015 |
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October 10th, 2015, Serial No. 04226 Stillness, Transmission, Zazen |
Oct 10 2015 |
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January 26th, 2015, Serial No. 04206 true dharma, Zazen, Renunciation |
Jan 26 2015 |