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Soto Zen Talks

Sōtō Zen or the Sōtō school (曹洞宗, Sōtō-shū) is the largest of the three traditional sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism (the others being Rinzai and Ōbaku). It is the Japanese line of the Chinese Caodong school, which was founded during the Tang dynasty by Dongshan Liangjie. It emphasizes Shikantaza, meditation with no objects, anchors, or content. The meditator strives to be aware of the stream of thoughts, allowing them to arise and pass away without interference.

The Japanese brand of the sect was imported in the 13th century by Dōgen Zenji, who studied Caodong Buddhism (Chinese: 曹洞宗; pinyin: Cáodòng Zōng) abroad in China. Dōgen is remembered today as the ancestor of Sōtō Zen in Japan along with Keizan Jōkin.

With about 14,000 temples, Sōtō is one of the largest Japanese Buddhist organizations. Sōtō Zen is now also popular in the West, and in 1996 priests of the Sōtō Zen tradition formed the Soto Zen Buddhist Association based in North America.

From Sōtō on Wikipedia

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Title	Speaker	Date
Presence in Every Moment Suzuki Roshi, Soto Zen, Zazen	Tenmyo Dojima	May 20 2026 City Center
Darlene Cohen's Practice of Vow During a study week devoted to her teachings, Ryotan Cynthia Kear shares her memories of her teacher, Darlene Cohen. Suzuki Roshi, Suffering, Soto Zen	Ryotan Cynthia Kear	May 07 2025 Tassajara
Stewardship in the Boundless Present Serial: SF-08278 09/25/2024, Hondo Dave Rutschman, dharma talk at City Center. This dharma talk was given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by Hondo Dave Rutschman. One of the most important... Soto Zen	Hondo Dave Rutschman	Sep 25 2024 City Center
Stewarding the Timeless Zen Now Serial: SF-08602 Talk by Hondo Dave Rutschman at City Center on 2024-09-25 Soto Zen	Hondo Dave Rutschman	Sep 25 2024 City Center
Zen Roots: Practice Anywhere, Anytime Dogen, Soto Zen	Tenzen David Zimmerman	2024
Being Time Serial: SF-08767 05/28/2023, Thiemo Blank, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Exploring our habitual concepts of time in relation to science and Dogen's fascicle "Time being." Dogen, Soto Zen	Thiemo Blank	May 28 2023 Green Gulch Farm
Zhaozhou and the Dog, Part 4 Serial: SF-07918 11/18/2022, Furyu Schroeder, dharma talk at Tassajara. Does a dog have Buddha nature? November sesshin series at the Tassajara fall practice period. Soto Zen, Koan	Fu Schroeder	Nov 18 2022 Tassajara
Zen Harmony: Tradition Meets Diversity Serial: SF-07981 Talk by Rev Gyokei Yokoyama at City Center on 2022-05-07 Soto Zen	Rev Gyokei Yokoyama	May 07 2022 City Center
Embracing Suchness Through Mindful Presence Serial: SF-12193 Talk by Greg Fain The Taproot Of Soto Zen Suchness Is Groovy at Tassajara on 2021-07-07 Jewel Mirror Samadhi, Soto Zen, Dogen	Zenshin Greg Fain	Jul 07 2021 Tassajara
Unity Through Zen's Poetic Flow Serial: SF-09732 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha at Green Gulch Farm on 2021-05-16 Suzuki Roshi, Soto Zen	Fu Schroeder	May 16 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Joyful Steps on the Zen Path Serial: SF-12153 Talk by Greg Fain Joy Your Flotation Is Groovy at Tassajara on 2019-11-21 Practice Period, Jewel Mirror Samadhi, Soto Zen	Zenshin Greg Fain	Nov 21 2019 Tassajara
Zen Joy: Cultivating Community Connection Serial: SF-12293 Talk by Greg Fain at Tassajara on 2019-11-21 Practice Period, Jewel Mirror Samadhi, Soto Zen	Zenshin Greg Fain	Nov 21 2019 Tassajara
Perfect Just As you Are, And... Serial: SF-10730 08/31/2019, Korin Charlie Pokorny, dharma talk at City Center. Suzuki Roshi, Soto Zen	Korin Charlie Pokorny	Aug 31 2019 City Center
Reality In This Being Serial: SF-10830 04/26/2019, Leslie James, dharma talk at Tassajara. Soto Zen, Practice Period	Leslie James	Apr 26 2019 Tassajara
Embodied Zazen: Pathway to Liberation Serial: SF-10452 Talk by Leslie James at Tassajara on 2017-04-12 Soto Zen	Leslie James	Apr 12 2017 Tassajara
What works? Serial: SF-12077 5/21/2016, Daijaku Judith Kinst dharma talk at City Center. Soto Zen	Daijaku Kinst	May 21 2016 City Center
Embodiment of Zen: Living Liberation Serial: SF-12059 Talk by Tmzc Leslie James on 2016-04-29 Liberation, Soto Zen	Leslie James	Apr 29 2016
Earth Day Serial: SF-11939 4/23/2016, Shosan Victoria Austin dharma talk at City Center. Soto Zen	Shosan Victoria Austin	Apr 23 2016 City Center
Mindfulness or Menmitsu Serial: SF-11963 2/7/2016, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Soto Zen, Enlightenment	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Feb 07 2016 Green Gulch Farm
Were Studying the Self! Serial: SF-07649 7/30/2014, Leslie James dharma talk at Tassajara. Study, Soto Zen	Leslie James	Jul 30 2014 Tassajara
Transition Serial: SF-07665 2/16/2014, Ryushin Paul Haller dharma talk at Tassajara. Practice Period, Soto Zen	Ryushin Paul Haller	Feb 16 2014 Tassajara
Center of the Living Koan Serial: SF-07394 Talk by Leslie James at Tassajara on 2013-08-21 Soto Zen	Leslie James	Aug 21 2013 Tassajara
What Does It Mean to Be an American Soto Zen Priest and Why the Heck Would Anyone Want to Do That? Serial: SF-07338 07/24/2013, Zenshin Greg Fain, dharma talk at Tassajara. Priest, Soto Zen, Suzuki Roshi	Zenshin Greg Fain	Jul 24 2013 Tassajara
Like Deer Grazing on a Hillside Serial: SF-09348 6/20/2012, Leslie James dharma talk at Tassajara. Suffering, Soto Zen	Leslie James	Jun 20 2012 Tassajara
Boundless Self: Liberation Through Zen Serial: SF-11821 Talk by Steve Stucky at City Center on 2011-09-03 Soto Zen, Karma	Myogen Steve Stücky	Sep 03 2011 City Center
Effortless Kindness in Meditation Serial: SF-10276 Talk by Ajahn Amaro Nibbana at Tassajara on 2009-08-26 Effort, Soto Zen	Ajahn Amaro	Aug 26 2009 Tassajara
Check The Messenger Within Serial: SF-00994 Strategies, gaining ideas; "paying it forward"; close investigation of the self; Orpheus and Eurydice; Rilke; hidden anger - staying with the emotion Dongshan, Sesshin, Suzuki Roshi, Buddha Nature, Transmission, Manjushri, Soto Zen,...	Myogen Steve Stücky	Apr 05 2007 Green Gulch Farm
The Gift of Nothing Serial: SF-00929 Sunday Lecture Children's Lecture: one who is not busy, one reality; the gift of nothing; sesshin, from Suzuki Roshi; our mind is the same as Buddha's; all things are... Buddha's Enlightenment, Sesshin, Koan, Daowu, Keizan, Suzuki Roshi, Nirvana...	Fu Schroeder	Dec 03 2006 Green Gulch Farm
Breathing In, Breathing Out Serial: SF-01146 Sunday Lecture: simplicity; story of Prajnatara in Malawi; the sun comes up, the sun goes down; connections; the four foundations of mindfulness; Navajo rain dance Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Book of Serenity, Four Noble Truths, Nirvana, Buddha...	Fu Schroeder	Oct 08 2006 Green Gulch Farm
Way Seeking Mind Serial: SF-00044 The route to becoming a zen monk; growing up Jewish and hanging out with the beats; meeting Suzuki Roshi. Monastic Practice, Japan, Way-Seeking Mind, Suzuki Roshi, Monastic Practice, Priest,...	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Mar 13 2005 2 Tassajara
Two Paths to the Dharma Practice Period, Liberation, Study Period, Mahayana, Bodhidharma, Soto Zen, Four...	Ryushin Paul Haller, Acharya Gaylon Ferguson	Mar 04 2005
Buddhism, Christianity, War and Peace Serial: SF-00939 Sunday Lecture: Two types of training: compassion and wisdom (wisdom: the entire universe is the true human body); US history; Christianity (is evil 'outside' or not); Mara... First Principle, Hate, Soto Zen, Heart Sutra, Bodhidharma, Separation	Fu Schroeder	May 16 2004 Green Gulch Farm
Zen Cooking: Creativity Meets Responsibility Intimacy, Tenzo, Soto Zen, Priest	Edward Espe Brown	May 03 2004
Cooking Zen: Embrace Reality Authentically Buddha Mind, Practice Period, Soto Zen	Edward Espe Brown	Nov 16 2003
Being Life: Beyond Success and Duality Suzuki Roshi, Soto Zen	Teah Strozer	Aug 18 2001 City Center
Solitude and Fulfillment in Zen Insight Soto Zen, Five Ranks, Emptiness, Nirvana, Renunciation, Suzuki Roshi, Samsara...	Zoketsu Norman Fischer	Jan 03 2001
Tenzo Kyokun Class Practice Period, Suzuki Roshi, Don't Know Mind, Realization, Mill Valley,...	Eijun Linda Cutts	Nov 07 2000 Green Gulch Farm
Genjo Koan Serial: SF-00117 Workshop Nirvana, Transmission, Karma, Soto Zen, Dharma Transmission, Five Ranks, Politics...	Shohaku Okumura	Nov 04 2000 1 of 4 City Center
Sunday Lecture Realization, Practice Period, Buddha Ancestors, Suzuki Roshi, Ceremony, Big Mind,...	Eijun Linda Cutts	Oct 29 2000 Green Gulch Farm
Tenzo Kyokun Class Conversation, Practice Period, Suzuki Roshi, Monastic Practice, Big Mind, Soto Zen...	Eijun Linda Cutts	Oct 24 2000 Green Gulch Farm
Sunday Lecture Causation, Karma, Nirvana, Soto Zen, Funeral, Heart Sutra, Emptiness, Ceremony...	Zoketsu Norman Fischer	Sep 10 2000 Green Gulch Farm
Sunday Lecture Monastic Practice, Zazen, Big Mind, Buddha Ancestors, Soto Zen, Concentration...	Zoketsu Norman Fischer	Aug 20 2000 Green Gulch Farm
Women Ancestors Transmission, Soto Zen, Realization, Priest-and-Lay, Emptiness, Ceremony, Demons,...	Various	May 13 2000 1
Women Ancestors Gratitude, Posture, Ordination, Funeral, Obstacles, Soto Zen	Various	May 13 2000 2
Women Ancestors Conversation, Gratitude, Ego, Monastic Practice, Chanting, Ceremony, Soto Zen...	Various	May 13 2000 3
Fukanzazengi Class Serial: SF-03654 Monday Class Zazen, Soto Zen, Posture, Realization, Dragons, Suzuki Roshi	Eijun Linda Cutts	Mar 27 2000 Green Gulch Farm
Works of Dogen Class Serial: SF-03196 Tuesday Class Birth-and-Death, Realization, Suzuki Roshi, Bowing, Soto Zen, Priest, Dharma...	Zoketsu Norman Fischer	Feb 29 2000 Green Gulch Farm
Fukanzazengi Class Serial: SF-03517 Monday Class Buddha Nature, Realization, Suzuki Roshi, Platform Sutra, Zazen, Bodhidharma, Soto...	Eijun Linda Cutts	Feb 28 2000 Green Gulch Farm
One-day Sitting Lecture Realization, Buddha Ancestors, Demons, Practice Period, Heart Sutra, Suzuki Roshi,...	Eijun Linda Cutts	Feb 26 2000 Green Gulch Farm
Fukanzazengi Class Serial: SF-03661 Monday Class Realization, Practice Period, Posture, Chanting, Ceremony, Priest, Soto Zen	Eijun Linda Cutts	Feb 21 2000 Green Gulch Farm

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