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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

Silent Illumination and Zen's Path

Buddha Nature, Realization, Separation, Soto Zen, Teacher-and-Student, Transmission...
Sep 08 1975

Zen Lineage: From Bodhidharma to Dogen

Bodhidharma, Ceremony, Dharma Transmission, New Year, Rinzai, Soto Zen, Transmission...
Sep 1975

Zen Ranks Through Gassan's Lens

Rinzai, Soto Zen, Transmission
Sep 1975

Timeless Essence of Zen Practice

Conversation, Soto Zen, Funeral, Chanting
Apr 1972

Sitting Beyond Thought: Embodying Truth

Buddha Mind, Buddha Nature, Chanting, Emotions, Mahayana, Realization, Soto Zen,...
Feb 25 1972

Funeral Service for Suzuki Roshi

Serial: SR-00171

This is a full recording of Suzuki Roshi's funeral, held nine days after his death.

Ceremony, Funeral, Ceremony, Soto Zen, Suzuki Roshi
Dec 12 1971
City Center

Breaking the Chains of Illusion

Four Noble Truths, Nirvana, Soto Zen, Suffering, Tassajara
Oct 02 1971

Embracing Suffering Through Zen Awareness

Delusion, Four Noble Truths, Nirvana, Posture, Soto Zen, Suffering
Oct 02 1971

Embracing Flow: Zen's Middle Way

Buddha Nature, Ceremony, Chanting, Composure, Delusion, Diversity, Soto Zen
Sep 28 1971

Virtue of Mountain and River

Dogen, Shobogenzo, First Principle, Soto Zen, Rinzai, Dragons, Hate, War
Jul 24 1971
Tassajara

Unwavering Practice: Path to Awakening

Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature, Ceremony, Continuous Practice, Hate, Soto Zen...
Nov 20 1970

How should we establish our system of practice in San Francisco

Serial: SR-00019

Tuesday Evening, June 17, 1969
San Francisco

Just sit, and follow the teacher's instruction. Story of four kinds of horse. Humans go to the moon, but don't...

Rinzai, Soto Zen, Dogen, Zazen, Big Mind, Concentration, Ego, Lay Practice, New Year...
Jun 17 1969
Sokoji

Reviving Dogen's Dharma Transmission

Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Realization, Ceremony, Mandala, Soto Zen
Jun 10 1969

The True Dragon

Dogen, Baso, Dragons, Soto Zen, Emptiness, Bodhidharma, Zazen
Oct 12 1968
B
Sokoji

The Ten Powers Of A Bodhisattva

Serial: SF-05106

Sunday Morning, August 25, 1968
[This date is probably incorrect. Earlier (July 21, 1968), Suzuki mentioned that he had already explained the ten powers of a bodhisattva....

Bodhisattva, Dogen, Rinzai, Soto Zen, Concentration, Emptiness, Realization, Posture...
Aug 25 1968
Sokoji

What is Soto and what is Rinzai?

Serial: SF-05144A

SR024 Tass July 26/68 Roshi Sectarianism copied; July 21 Chino Sensei; July 24 Chino Sensei - also many handwritten notes on the content
NB: the date for the SR talk in...

Soto Zen, Rinzai, Buddha Nature, Bodhidharma, Bowing, Mahayana, Gratitude, Ego...
Jul 26 1968
Tassajara

Esalen Institute: First of two lectures

Serial: SF-05870

This is the first of two talks given at Esalen.

Dogen, Four Noble Truths, Lotus Sutra, New Year, Continuous Practice, Emptiness, Soto...
Jun 28 1968
Esalen

On Nanzenshi, Nanshin-Ken

Serial: SF-01129

Tape 1 copy 2 - duplicate

Study Period, Chanting, Priest, Zazen, Funeral, Soto Zen
Feb 22 1966
Kyoto

The Path of Priest Ordination

Serial: SF-08132

02/16/2025, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm.
Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman explores the nature of the commitment that a priest makes, shares his own...

Priest, Ceremony, Soto Zen
Green Gulch Farm

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