Zen Meditation Retreat
Sesshin Talks
A sesshin (接心, or also 摂心/攝心 literally "touching the heart-mind") is a period of intensive meditation (zazen) in a Zen monastery.
While the daily routine in the monastery requires the monks to meditate several hours a day, during a sesshin they devote themselves almost exclusively to zazen practice. The numerous 30- to 50-minute-long meditation periods are interleaved with short rest breaks, meals, and sometimes short periods of work (Japanese: 作務 samu) all performed with the same mindfulness; nightly sleep is kept to a minimum, at six hours or fewer. During the sesshin period, the meditation practice is occasionally interrupted by the master giving public talks (teisho) and individual direction in private meetings (which may be called dokusan, daisan, or sanzen) with a Zen Master.
In modern Buddhist practice in Japan and the West, sesshins are often attended by lay students and are typically one, three, five, or seven days in length. Seven-day sesshins are held several times a year at many Zen centers, especially in commemoration of the Buddha's awakening to full enlightenment (anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi). At this Rohatsu sesshin, practitioners seek to relax and quiet the mind to the point of cessation of mental chatter and emotional impulse, samadhi, kensho, or satori.
Title | Speaker | |
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Religious Problems Concerning Such As Psychology Or LSDSerial: SF-05112A Tape 1 Summer sesshin 1965, Monday 1st day of sesshin (?) July 26th 1965 Tape 1 Side 1: 1pm lecture Sesshin, Dogen, Time, Continuous, Precepts, Peace, Beginners, Balance, confusion,... |
Jul 26 1965 1:00pm Sokoji |
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Why We Should Practice ZazenSerial: SF-05112B Tape 1 Summer sesshin 1965, Monday 1st day of sesshin (?) July 26th 1965; Side 2: 6:15pm lecture - transcribed August 1965 Sesshin, Shobogenzo, New Year, Silence, confusion, Anger, Religion, Faith |
Jul 26 1965 6:15pm Sokoji |
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Forgotten the Value of ReligionSerial: SF-05101A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #5, by Shundo David Haye ===== The oldest recordings of Suzuki Roshi made at Sokoji, the home of the San Francisco Zen Center at the... Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Inmost Nature, Religion, Don't Know Mind, Buddha... |
Jul 27 1965 1:00pm Sokoji |
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In Our Way of Zen, We Emphasize the Way-Seeking MindSerial: SF-05101B Tape 2 Summer Sesshin 1965 Tuesday July 27 - transcribed August 1965 Tape 2 Side 2 Tuesday July 27 6pm lecture Reverend Suzuki [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were... Sesshin, Bodhisattva, Way-Seeking Mind, Observe, Interview, training, Faith |
Jul 27 1965 6:00pm Sokoji |
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QuestionsSerial: SF-05126E Tape 3 Summer Sesshin July 1965 - Wednesday July 28 1965 Tape 3 side 2 Wed July 28th 6pm lecture - transcribed; copied June 30 1973; SR001 Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Four Noble Truths, Emotions, Faith, Passions, Delusion... |
Jul 28 1965 D Sokoji |
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Pure RulesSerial: SF-05126A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #6, by Shundo David Haye ===== The value of these sets of recordings during sesshins in the summer of 1965 at Sokoji is that not... Sesshin, Instruction, Emptiness, Interview, Religion, Faith |
Jul 28 1965 9:00am Sokoji |
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OLD - About RulesSerial: SF-05126B Tape 3 Summer Sesshin July 1965 - Wednesday July 28 1965 Tape 3 Side 1, copied June 30 1973; SR001 Sesshin, Instruction, Passions |
Jul 28 1965 Sokoji |
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Lunch InstructionSerial: SF-05126C ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #7, by Shundo David Haye ===== This is a second short instruction from the same day of sesshin as the Pure Rules talk (https://... Sesshin, Oryoki, Instruction, |
Jul 28 1965 12:00 Sokoji |
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If You Understand Bodhisattva Mind In A Dualistic WaySerial: SF-05126D Tape 3 Summer Sesshin July 1965 - Wednesday July 28 1965 Tape 3 Side 1: Wednesday 1pm lecture - transcribed; copied June 30 1973; SR001 Sesshin, Shobogenzo, Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, confusion |
Jul 28 1965 C Sokoji |
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The Purpose of Practice is to Have a Direct Experience of BuddhaSerial: SF-05103B Tape 4 Summer Sesshin 1965: Thursday July 29 9am lecture - transcribed Sesshin, Buddha Nature, Evil, Precepts, Ego, Instruction |
Jul 29 1965 A Sokoji |
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Some More QuestionsSerial: SF-05104A Tape 5 Summer sesshin 1965 Thursday July 29th Side 1 - 6pm lecture; Continues on Side 2 [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were transcribed verbatim - WKR] Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Precepts, Emotions, Buddha Nature, Passions, training,... |
Jul 29 1965 C Sokoji |
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QuestionsSerial: SF-05103C Tape 4 Summer Sesshin 1965: Thursday July 29 1pm lecture - transcribed Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Buddha Nature, Priest, Faith, Demons, Religion... |
Jul 29 1965 B Sokoji |
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Don't Be Bothered By Your Mind / Science of Philosophy is Like a DissectionSerial: SF-05104C Tape 5 Summer sesshin 1965 Thursday July 29th Side 2: 5:45 meditation, 9:00 AM lecture [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were transcribed verbatim - WKR] Sesshin, Peace, Buddha Nature, Current Events, Bodhidharma, Passions, Instruction,... |
Jul 30 1965 A-B Sokoji |
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Do You Have Some Questions?Serial: SF-05107A Tape 7 Summer 1965 Sesshin: Side 1 Friday evening lecture (transcribed) [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were transcribed verbatim - WKR] Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Transmission, training, Emotions, Buddha Nature,... |
Jul 30 1965 D Sokoji |
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If You Have A QuestionSerial: SF-05105B Tape 6 Friday July 30 Side 1: 1pm lecture (continued on side 2) - transcribed Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Buddha Nature, Religion, Peace, Obstacles, confusion,... |
Jul 30 1965 C Sokoji |
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I Have Nothing In My MindSerial: SF-05125-B One-Day Sesshin Lecture: 5 PM Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Baso, Big Mind, Faith, Fox, Duality, Hate |
Aug 28 1965 B Sokoji |
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Confucius Said the Most Visible is Something InvisibleSerial: SF-05125-A SR 002 Tape 1 copy Sesshin 1pm lecture Sesshin, Faith, Interview, Observe, confusion, Hate, Peace |
Aug 28 1965 A Sokoji |
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You Have Made Great ProgressSerial: 65-11-00-B One-Day Evening Sesshin Lecture Sesshin, |
Nov 13 1965 B Sokoji |
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Buddhism Has Many Annual Layers Like A Big TreeSerial: SF-05124-B One-Day Sesshin Evening Lecture Sesshin, Precepts, Precepts, Triple Treasure, Observe, Doubt, Composure, Priest,... |
Dec 11 1965 B Sokoji |
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Most Of You Are BeginnersSerial: SF-05124-D One-Day Sesshin Afternoon Lecture Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Precepts, Precepts, Observe, Beginners, Enemies,... |
Dec 11 1965 A Sokoji |
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Chanting ServiceSesshin, Chanting, |
Dec 11 1965 Sokoji |
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Shushōgi, Sections 11–17Serial: SF-05113-A January Sesshin Lecture: Lecture A ,1 PM Sesshin, Precepts, Shushogi, Precepts, Subject-and-Object, Observe, Happiness, Priest... |
Jan 21 1966 A Sokoji |
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Where There is Some Limitation, There is UniversalitySerial: SF-05114B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #9, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk is found on the same reel as the one previously discussed (https://suzukiroshi.engagewisdom.... Sesshin, Dogen, Buddha Nature, Faith, Evil, confusion, Freedom, Doubt |
Feb 18 1966 Sokoji |
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Tokusan and The Old LadySerial: SF-05114-C ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #10, by Shundo David Haye ===== This is another track from the same problematic reel as the previous two talks in this series.... Sesshin, Diamond Sutra, Balance, training, Religion |
Feb 19 1966 1:00pm Sokoji |
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To Study The SelfSesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Bell, training, Faith |
Feb 19 1966 pm Sokoji |
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Shushōgi, Section 1Serial: SF-05095-B Sesshin Lecture: SHUSHOGI, Section 1 Tape operator's comments and bells at beginning of tape, left... Sesshin, Dogen, Shushogi, Attachment, Balance, Describe |
Mar 13 1966 B Sokoji |
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Genjō Kōan, 1–3Serial: SF-05095-C Sesshin Lecture: Genjo-Koan, Paragraphs 1–3 Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Duality, Faith, Buddha Nature, Attachment, Discrimination... |
Mar 13 1966 A Sokoji |
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Liberty and RestrictionSerial: SF-05116-A March sesshin, only 1pm lecture. Evening lecture goofed up during recording. Saturday, March 26, 1966 Sesshin, Balance, Freedom, Doubt, Faith, Ceremony |
Mar 26 1966 BN Sokoji |
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Real Calmness Is In A Noisy PlaceSerial: SF-05116-B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #12, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk is another example of a track that was somehow overlooked for many years, while... Sesshin, Shobogenzo, Beginner’s Mind, Beginners, Ego, Silence, Hate, Doubt |
Mar 26 1966 Sokoji |
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Sesshin Lecture: Genjo-Koan, Paragraphs 1–2Serial: SF-05096-B May Sesshin (25 26 added later) 1 or 6pm lecture plus lecture the following morning. Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Precepts, Mahayana, Freedom, Observe, Balance, Attachment... |
May 26 1966 Sokoji |
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We Are Not PerfectSerial: SF-05080-A Sesshin talk. At the beginning, Suzuki Roshi is drawing from Dogen's "Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance." The methods are also in Shushogi. Sesshin, Paramitas, Bodhisattva, Shushogi, Happiness, Enemies |
Jul 23 1966 Sokoji |
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The first day of the sesshin is almost finishedSerial: SF-05093-K Monday, August 15, 1966 Sesshin, Freedom, causation, Composure, Posture |
Aug 15 1966 D Sokoji |
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You Cannot Appreciate Our Teaching In Its True SenseSerial: SF-05093-B Monday, August 15, 1966 Sesshin, Oryoki, Instruction, |
Aug 15 1966 B Sokoji |
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Think Everything OutSerial: SF-05093-C Monday, August 15, 1966, Lecture C Sesshin, causation, Attachment, Hate, Intuition, Concentration, Evil, Instruction,... |
Aug 15 1966 C Sokoji |
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Talk on ShobogenzoSerial: SF-05111B Other Japanese lecture [case replaced 12/95. Case notes transcribed verbatim] Sesshin, Happiness |
Aug 15 1966 B Sokoji |
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Genjo KoanSerial: SF-05111C This is the bulk of the talk attributed to this date. It sounds distinct from the earlier fragment, and the date may not be accurate, though the subject is appropriate for the... Sesshin, Attachment, Instruction, Freedom, Doubt |
Aug 15 1966 C Sokoji |
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Our Mind Should Be CalmSerial: SF-05093-L Tuesday, August 16, 1966 Sesshin, Instruction, |
Aug 16 1966 Sokoji |
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CausalitySerial: SF-05093-J Suzuki lecture 6pm Weds Track 2, continued on Track 3 Sesshin, Time, Freedom, Happiness, Fox, Oneness, Enemies, Offering, Evil, Lay... |
Aug 17 1966 6:00pm Sokoji |
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ShōbōgenzōSerial: SF-05093-F Thursday, August 18, 1966 Sesshin, Buddha Mind, Birth-and-Death, Dana, Fasting, Interdependence |
Aug 18 1966 B Sokoji |
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This is the Fourth Day of our SesshinSerial: SF-05097-C Reconstruction of Lecture from Second Zazen Period (Before Morning Service) [This tape... Sesshin, Suzuki Roshi |
Aug 18 1966 A Sokoji |
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OLD - This is the Fourth Day of our SesshinSerial: SF-05097C Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 ; Track 1 My reconstruction from memory and notes of Suzuki Roshi's beautiful lecture Thursday morning during 2nd period of zazen before morning... Sesshin, Suzuki Roshi |
Aug 18 1966 A Sokoji |
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ShobogenzoSerial: SF-05097-D Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Subject-and-Object, Attachment, Buddha Nature,... |
Aug 18 1966 C Sokoji |
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Blue Cliff Records Case 45Serial: SF-05097-E Friday, August 19, 1966 Blue Cliff Record, Sesshin, Joshu, Eiheiji, Observe, Diversity, Duality |
Aug 19 1966 D Sokoji |
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OLD - Blue Cliff Records Case 45Serial: SF-05097E Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 3 Suzuki 7:30pm lecture Friday night ending sesshin Sesshin, Blue Cliff Record, Eiheiji, Joshu, Duality, Observe, Describe |
Aug 19 1966 D Sokoji |
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This Fascicle of ShobogenzoSerial: SF-05097-F Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 2: Suzuki 1pm lecture Friday Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Blue Cliff Record, Attachment, Instruction, Freedom,... |
Aug 19 1966 C Sokoji |
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Don't Be Attached To Your AttainmentSerial: SF-05097-H Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 4 Friday lecture by Suzuki during morning zazen Friday Sesshin, Instruction, Attachment |
Aug 19 1966 B Sokoji |
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In the first instruction of ten instructions in Gakudō-yōjin-shūSesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Sixth Patriarch, Platform Sutra, training, Instruction,... |
Dec 17 1966 A Sokoji |
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The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking MindSerial: SF-05121B Original recording Sesshin, Dogen, training, Buddha Nature, Hate, Observe, Instruction, Doubt |
Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji |
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This Sesshin Was Wonderfully DoneSerial: SF-05100-C Saturday, April 22, 1967 Sesshin, Priest, Evil, Doubt, training |
Apr 22 1967 B Sokoji |
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Genjo KoanSerial: SF-05134A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #14, by Shundo David Haye ===== The acquisition of Tassajara in 1967 was a huge leap for Zen Center. Suzuki Roshi had long been... Genjokoan, Dogen, Sesshin, Emptiness, New Year, Interview, Freedom |
Aug 20 1967 Morning Tassajara |