You are currently logged-out. You can log-in or create an account to save favorites and more. more info
Koan Talks
A kōan ( KOH-a(h)n; Japanese: 公案; Chinese: 公案; pinyin: gōng'àn [kʊ́ŋ ân]; Korean: 화두; Vietnamese: công án) is a story, dialogue, question, or statement from Chinese Chan Buddhist lore, supplemented with commentaries, that is used in Chan, Zen, Seon and Thiền Buddhist practice in different ways. The main goal of kōan practice in Zen is to achieve kenshō (Chinese: jianxing 見性), to see or observe one's buddha-nature.
Extended study of kōan literature as well as meditation (zazen) on a kōan is a major feature of modern Rinzai Zen. They are also studied in the Sōtō school of Zen to a lesser extent. In Chinese Chan and Korean Seon Buddhism, meditating on a huatou, a key phrase of a kōan, is also a major Zen meditation method.
| Title | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
Koans: Path to Transcendent UnderstandingSerial: SF-12308 Talk by Fu Schroeder at City Center on 2019-08-03 Koan, Buddha Nature, Enlightenment |
Aug 03 2019 City Center |
|
On Genjo KoanSerial: SF-10804 05/08/2019, Korin Charlie Pokorny, dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan, Delusion |
May 08 2019 Tassajara |
|
Zhaozhou Teaching the AssemblySerial: SF-10757 04/13/2019, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at City Center. Koan |
Apr 13 2019 City Center |
|
Liu TiemoSerial: SF-10842 03/29/2019, Kathie Fischer, dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan |
Mar 29 2019 Tassajara |
|
Entangled Paths of Zen WisdomSerial: SF-12338 Talk by Kathie Fischer Liu Tiemo at Tassajara on 2019-03-29 Koan, Katagiri Roshi, Buddha Ancestors |
Mar 29 2019 Tassajara |
|
Not Abiding In ClaritySerial: SF-10725 03/27/2019, Kathie Fischer, dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan |
Mar 27 2019 Tassajara |
|
Waking Up To The Present MomentSerial: SF-10789 03/24/2019, Rinso Ed Sattizahn dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Koan |
Mar 24 2019 Green Gulch Farm |
|
Sesshin Day 2 talkSerial: SF-10762 02/11/2019, Kathie Fischer, dharma talk at Tassajara. Platform Sutra, Koan |
Feb 11 2019 Tassajara |
|
Boundless Zen: Life as PracticeSerial: SF-12232 Talk by Ed Satazhan at City Center on 2018-12-07 Shuso, Koan, Ceremony |
Dec 07 2018 City Center |
|
Zen Whispers: Beyond Words and SilenceSerial: SF-12245 Talk by Ed Satazhan at City Center on 2018-12-04 Suzuki Roshi, Koan, Jewel Mirror Samadhi |
Dec 04 2018 City Center |
|
Forgetting Self, Discovering RealitySerial: SF-12363 Talk by Ed Satahzhan at City Center on 2018-12-03 Study, Zazen, Koan |
Dec 03 2018 City Center |
|
The Koan of Every MomentSerial: SF-11607 12/02/2018, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at City Center. Koan, Dogen |
Dec 02 2018 City Center |
|
Everyday Enlightenment through Dogen's InsightSerial: SF-12168 Talk by Ed Satazhan at City Center on 2018-12-02 Koan, Dogen, Suzuki Roshi |
Dec 02 2018 City Center |
|
How To Untangle The TangleSerial: SF-11509 11/17/2018, Pamela Weiss dharma talk at City Center. Koan, Dogen |
Nov 17 2018 City Center |
|
All Are Blessed - Are They One Or Are They Two?Serial: SF-11493 11/04/2018, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Koan |
Nov 04 2018 Green Gulch Farm |
|
El Camino Tassajara (Kanzeon Llega en Puro Spanglish)Serial: SF-11611 11/1/2018, Zenshin Greg Fain dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan |
Nov 01 2018 Tassajara |
|
Dogen and the Genjo KoanSerial: SF-11492 9/8/2018, Rinso Ed Sattizahn dharma talk at City Center. Koan, Dogen |
Sep 08 2018 City Center |
|
Breaking Silence: Women in ZenSerial: SF-12259 Talk by Inzan Monica Rose at Tassajara on 2018-08-17 Interview, Koan |
Aug 17 2018 Tassajara |
|
Becoming BuddhaSerial: SF-11497 3/3/2018, Ryushin Paul Haller dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan, Zazen |
Mar 03 2018 Tassajara |
|
Dogen's Cypress TreeSerial: SF-10483 8/12/2017, Shohaku Okumura dharma talk at City Center. Koan, Bodhidharma |
Aug 12 2017 City Center |
|
Nothing but Tasting TeaSerial: SF-10450 6/17/2017, Ryushin Paul Haller dharma talk at City Center. Koan, Zazen |
Jun 17 2017 City Center |
|
Sesshin Day 3: Expressing Ourselves in Speech, Action and SilenceSerial: SF-10398 6/10/2017, Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts dharma talk at City Center. Koan |
Jun 10 2017 City Center |
|
Silent Expressions of Noble TruthSerial: SF-12244 Talk by Linda Cutts at City Center on 2017-06-10 Koan, Practice Period |
Jun 10 2017 City Center |
|
Leaves of SpeechSerial: SF-10357 5/27/2017, Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts dharma talk at City Center. Suffering, Koan |
May 27 2017 City Center |
|
Words Beyond Words: Zen SimplicitySerial: SF-12236 Talk by Linda Cutts at City Center on 2017-05-27 Koan, Blue Cliff Record, Zazen |
May 27 2017 City Center |
|
Words as Presence in Zen PracticeSerial: SF-12186 Talk by Kansan David Zimmerman at City Center on 2017-05-24 Right Speech, Koan |
May 24 2017 City Center |
|
Clearly Observe!Serial: SF-12110 12/11/2016, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan |
Dec 11 2016 Tassajara |
|
There It IsSerial: SF-11941 8/13/2016, Anshi Zachary Smith, dharma talk at City Center. Study, Koan |
Aug 13 2016 City Center |
|
What is Happening Will Become ObviousSerial: SF-11978 8/3/2016, Onryu Mary Stares dharma talk at City Center. Koan |
Aug 03 2016 City Center |
|
Embracing Stillness: Zen's Silent SymphonySerial: SF-12129 Talk by Tmzc Greg Fain on 2016-07-16 Practice Period, Koan |
Jul 16 2016 |
|
Practicing with ViewsSerial: SF-12117 5/22/2016, Sara Tashker dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Suzuki Roshi, Dogen, Koan |
May 22 2016 Green Gulch Farm |
|
Wisdom in Embracing Not KnowingSerial: SF-12314 Talk by Strozer Source at City Center on 2016-04-06 Emptiness, Suzuki Roshi, Koan |
Apr 06 2016 City Center |
|
Winter 2016 Sesshin Talks - Day 4Serial: SF-11927 3/23/2016, Ryushin Paul Haller dharma talk at City Center. Koan, Emotions |
Mar 23 2016 City Center |
|
2015 Rohatsu day 2 talkSerial: SF-09178 12/01/2015, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at City Center. Koan |
Dec 01 2015 City Center |
|
Myriad Things Come Forth and Experience ThemselvesSerial: SF-09030 11/7/2015, Rinso Ed Sattizahn dharma talk at City Center. Koan, Buddha Nature |
Nov 07 2015 City Center |
|
To Study The Buddha Way is to Study The SelfSerial: SF-09132 9/30/2015, Rinso Ed Sattizahn dharma talk at City Center. Study, Koan |
Sep 30 2015 City Center |
|
Dizang's "Most Intimate"Serial: SF-09148 08/16/2015, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Suzuki Roshi, Koan |
Aug 16 2015 Green Gulch Farm |
|
DoubtSerial: SF-09189 6/3/2015, Charlie Pokorny dharma talk at Tassajara. Doubt, Koan |
Jun 03 2015 Tassajara |
|
What Do You Call the World?Serial: SF-09068 5/15/2015, Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan, Healing |
May 15 2015 Tassajara |
|
The World in a Grain of RiceSerial: SF-09231 4/15/2015, Anshi Zachary Smith dharma talk at City Center. Study, Koan |
Apr 15 2015 City Center |
|
Who Is That Other?Serial: SF-07643 8/9/2014, Zenshin Greg Fain dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan |
Aug 09 2014 Tassajara |
|
KoanSerial: SF-07529 7/1/2014, Charlie Pokorny dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan, Doubt |
Jul 01 2014 Tassajara |
|
Bring Me the Rhino!Serial: SF-07601 6/11/2014, Furyu Schroeder dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan |
Jun 11 2014 Tassajara |
|
What Does It Mean to Be Truly Alive?Serial: SF-07761 5/10/2014, Judith Randall, dharma talk at Tassajara. Koan, Tassajara |
May 10 2014 Tassajara |
|
Looking Into Causes and ConditionsSerial: SF-07723 4/27/2014, Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Koan, Suzuki Roshi |
Apr 27 2014 Green Gulch Farm |
|
Not Knowing Is Most IntimateSerial: SF-07569 3/22/2014, Rinso Ed Sattizahn dharma talk at City Center. Koan, Enlightenment |
Mar 22 2014 City Center |
|
Emptiness and the Diamond SutraSerial: SF-07342 10/26/2013, Kyoshin Wendy Lewis dharma talk at City Center. Koan |
Oct 26 2013 City Center |
|
Practicing with Koans (class)Serial: SF-07516 9/1/2013, Daitetsu Hull, dining room class at Tassajara. Koan, Rinzai |
Sep 01 2013 Tassajara |
|
Flapping Mind, Still MindSerial: SF-07471 5/1/2013, Tenzen David Zimmerman dharma talk at City Center. Suffering, Koan, Zazen |
May 01 2013 City Center |
|
Preliminary PracticesSerial: SF-07427 4/17/2013, Jamie Howell dharma talk at City Center. Koan |
Apr 17 2013 City Center |