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

On Nanzenshi, Nanshin-Ken

Serial: SF-01129

Tape 1 copy 2 - duplicate

Priest, Zendo, Study Period, Describe, Silence, Zazen, Peace, Funeral, soto, Chanting...
Feb 22 1966
Kyoto

OLD - In the Prajnaparamita Sutra

Heart Sutra, Emptiness, Wisdom, Perfect Wisdom, Beginners, Politics, Balance,...
Jan 21 1966
BN

Calmness

Serial: SF-05123A

===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #3, by Shundo David Haye =====

In this talk, which became the Calmness chapter of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (p121), Suzuki Roshi...

Dogen, Zazen, Composure
Aug 26 1965
Los Altos

YYYY.01.29-serial.00016

Gratitude, causation, Dependent Origination, Oneness, Culture, Zazen, Breath, Enemies...
[field_wisdom_date]

On Japanese Zen, Christians and Zen, Various Roshis

Serial: SF-01126

Tape 6 copy 2 - duplicate

Religion, Priest, New Year, Lay, Mahayana, Dana, Zendo, Zazen, training, Rinzai...
[field_wisdom_date]
Kyoto

OLD - Become More Honest and Direct

Serial: SF-05766

SR-68-00-00-B (complete) - duplicate

Posture, Observe, Evil, Instruction, Zazen
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown

Buddhism at Millennium's Edge - Seminar 2

Serial: SF-03145

Copyright 1998 by Peter Matthiessen - Unedited Preview Cassette - duplicate

Interview, Suzuki Roshi, Describe, Heart Sutra, Hate, Bell, Zazen, Emptiness, Enemies...
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown

Buddhism at Millennium's Edge - Buddhism and the Western Poetic Imagination

Serial: SF-01844

Commercially Produced cassette: Conference Recording Service 1308 Gilman St, Berkeley, CA 94706 - duplicate

Silence, Conversation, Faith, Darkness and Light, Enemies, Freedom, Letting Go, Lay,...
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown

Way-Seeking Mind Talks

Serial: SF-03089C

Student talks, should not be published

Practice Period, Priest, Monastic Practice, Bodhisattva Vow, Conversation, Vows,...
[field_wisdom_date]
Tassajara

Unknown Date, Serial 01076

Serial: SF-01076

(no date) 1991?

zen meditation, Zazen, Subject-and-Object, Suzuki Roshi, Concentration, Letting Go,...
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown

Unknown Date, Serial 01005

Serial: SF-01005B

#clarify-speaker

zen meditation, Echo, Concentration, Zazen, Oneness, Happiness, Anger, Emotions...
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown

Out of the Trap summary

Serial: SF-03031A

#10

Religion, Ego, Enemies, Passions, Balance, Evil, Describe, Zazen
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown

Unknown Date, Serial 00211, Side A

Serial: NC-00211A

Archival Photo

Zazen, zen, japanese, Oneness
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 00211, Side B

Serial: NC-00211B

Archival Photo

Zazen, japanese, zen, Japan
[field_wisdom_date]

Moving Forward in the Spiritual Life

Serial: NC-00256

Archival Photo,

"It This All There is? Spirituality for the Long Haul", "Moving Forward in the Spiritual Life"

OSB Cam, OSB Cam Oblate, Interview, Monastic Practice, Zazen, Don't Know Mind,...
[field_wisdom_date]
1 of 5
New Camaldoli Hermitage

Unknown Date, Serial 00210

Serial: NC-00210

Archival Photo

japanese, zen, Japan, Zazen, Discrimination
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown year, July 1st, Serial 00528

Serial: BZ-00528

A short talk on Zazen, followed by many questions and answers: Dealing with sleepiness, a crying child, a restless mind, pain in the legs, etc. "For a Zen student, everybody...

Zazen, Thich Nhat Hanh, Posture, Daily Life, Discrimination, Peace, Dogen, Building,...
Jul 01

Unknown year,September talk, Serial 01771

Practice Period, Peace, Tassajara, Instruction, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Politics,...
Sep 11
Unknown

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