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.
Title | Speaker | |
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Zazen TipsSerial: BZ-01330 Dealing with Pain and Sitting in a Chair, Sesshin Day 2 Zazen, Pain, Posture, Discrimination, resistance, Don't Know Mind, Judgement,... |
Jun 23 2005 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sesshin: Tips on Serving, Eating, Kinhin, ZazenSerial: BZ-01329 Sesshin Day 1 Sesshin, Oryoki, Kinhin, Zazen, Instruction, Bell, Posture, Passions, Concentration,... |
Jun 22 2005 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sitting ZazenSerial: BZ-00596 Sesshin Day 1 Zazen, Posture, Concentration, resistance, Building, Patience, Instruction |
Mar 23 2005 |
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2005.03.13-serial.00177 Heart Sutra, lecture, Describe, Impermanence, Politics, Funeral, Zazen, Samadhi, Vows... |
Mar 13 2005 |
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Dogen - Being Familiar With The Entire BodySerial: SF-00039 Sunday talk. realization, Buddha Ancestors, Delusion, Precepts, true dharma, Lotus Sutra, Oneness... |
May 18 2003 |
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Practice Walking Like an Elephant or a CowSerial: BZ-00174B Suzuki-rôshi Lecture, Rohatsu Day 4 Bodhidharma, Eka, Buddha Nature, Zazen, Buddha Nature, Bodhidharma, Dharma... |
Dec 05 2002 Berkeley Zen Center |
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2002.10.19-serial.00059 Suzuki Roshi, Buddha Nature, Zazen, Manjushri, Practice Period, Buddha Ancestors,... |
Oct 19 2002 City Center |
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Zazen as Middle WaySerial: BZ-00150B Sesshin Day 2 Zazen, Mahayana, Birth-and-Death, Emotions, Intuition, Lotus Sutra, Religion, Don... |
Jun 20 2002 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sounding Mokugyo BellSerial: BZ-00144A Bring Out the Voice of the Bell, One-Day Sitting Bell, Chanting, Zazen, Bell, Culture, Heart Sutra, Chanting, Tassajara, Mindfulness... |
Apr 07 2002 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Harmonizing Breath, Body, Mind and FeelingSerial: BZ-00142A Sesshin Day 3 Posture, Zazen, Ordinary Mind, Composure, Harmonizing, Attachment, Soto Zen, Nirvana... |
Mar 17 2002 Berkeley Zen Center |
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2002.03.12-serial.00077 Teacher-and-Student, Buddha Ancestors, Meditation, Oneness, Fasting, Echo, Duality,... |
Mar 12 2002 |
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2002.03.10-serial.00080 Ego, Zazen, Attachment, difficulty, Precepts, Passions |
Mar 10 2002 |