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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 meisō (瞑想); 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 sānmèi 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), or engaging in 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 intentional focus on any specific object at all.

From zazen on Wikipedia

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Title	Speaker	Date
Zazen Sits Zazen for the Welfare of the World Nyokai Kristin Diggs talks about zazen as a practice of realizing the non-separation of body and mind, and about the dynamic relationship that is the body-mind. Zazen, Suzuki Roshi, Posture	Nyokai Kristin Diggs	Jun 14 2026 Green Gulch Farm
Body, Breath and Hara Anshi Zachary Smith examines the "doing nothing” of zazen, and how much it actually does. Zazen, Posture, Suzuki Roshi	Anshi Zachary Smith	Jun 10 2026 City Center
Embracing Pure Presence Zazen, Practice Period	Nyokai Kristin Diggs	May 23 2026 City Center
Presence in Every Moment Suzuki Roshi, Soto Zen, Zazen	Tenmyo Dojima	May 20 2026 City Center
Patience: The Buddhist Practice of Showing Up for the World Sozan Michael McCord explores how waiting is not necessarily patience. And it is not a passive default. In this talk, the subject of patience is explored as one of the Buddhist "paramitas... Zazen	Sozan Michael McCord	Jan 07 2026 City Center
Harmony in Darkness: Mindful Balance Serial: SF-12376 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2025-10-29 Sangha, Zazen	Ryushin Paul Haller	Oct 29 2025 City Center
Embodying The Awe: Way Seeking Mind Talk Serial: SF-12377 Koji Vanessa Able shares her story of Way Seeking Mind: the lifelong search for ways to express vast religious feeling, from early childhood and through the emotional and... Poetry, Emptiness, Zazen	Koji Vanessa Able	Oct 08 2025 City Center
A New Here: How Practice Opens Different Worlds Serial: SF-12394 Tatsudo Nicole Baden explores how Zen practice literally shifts the architecture of our experience — from a narrow, biographical “here” into a living,... Zazen, Sangha	Tatsudo Nicole Baden	Oct 05 2025 Green Gulch Farm
Zen Presence Amidst Life's Chaos Serial: SF-12385 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2025-10-04 Virya, Shingi, Zazen	Ryushin Paul Haller	Oct 04 2025 City Center
Practice Period Orientation Practice Period, Zazen	Various	Oct 01 2025 City Center
A Request for Jukai Serial: SF-12434 Chikudo Catherine Spaeth teaches that zazen shows us what to care for, and leads the way in our request to study the precepts with a teacher. In this caring we become a good... Precepts, Zazen, Gratitude	Chikudo Catherine Spaeth	Sep 27 2025 City Center
Zazen: Outer and Inner Sitting Serial: SF-12412 09/06/2025, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center. Shosan Victoria Austin points out that most of us are trying to find stability in less-than-perfect places... Zazen, Posture, Forgiveness	Shosan Victoria Austin	Sep 06 2025 City Center
Zazen: Outer and Inner Sitting Serial: SF-12466 09/06/2025, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center. Shosan Victoria Austin points out that most of us are trying to find stability in less-than-perfect places... Zazen, Posture, Forgiveness	Shosan Victoria Austin	Sep 06 2025 City Center
Zazen: Outer and Inner Sitting Serial: SF-12382 09/06/2025, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center. Shosan Victoria Austin points out that most of us are trying to find stability in less-than-perfect places... Zazen	Shosan Victoria Austin	Sep 06 2025 City Center
Study the Self Serial: SF-12413 08/06/2025, Kristin Diggs, dharma talk at City Center. Nyokai Kristin Diggs talks about the centrality of self-study in the context of Soto Zen, the interdependent nature... Zazen, Big Mind, Buddha Nature	Nyokai Kristin Diggs	Aug 30 2025 City Center
Bearing Witness to the Tension in Our Life Serial: SF-12482 08/23/2025, Myles Cowherd, dharma talk at City Center. Myles Cowherd explores the transformative power of sincerity and acceptance as a counterpoint to a life of... Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Practice Period	Myles Cowherd	Aug 23 2025 City Center
Meditating at Night Serial: SF-12421 08/20/2025, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center. Shosan Victoria Austin teaches that when we train our posture and breathing in a manner that helps us sit... Avatamsaka Sutra, Zazen	Shosan Victoria Austin	Aug 20 2025 City Center
Meditating at Night Serial: SF-12473 08/20/2025, Shosan Victoria Austin, dharma talk at City Center. Shosan Victoria Austin teaches that when we train our posture and breathing in a manner that helps us sit... Zazen, Avatamsaka Sutra	Shosan Victoria Austin	Aug 20 2025 City Center
Lucky to Be Alive Serial: SF-12404 08/17/2025, Doshin Dan Gudgel, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Doshin Dan Gudgel explores how feeling the preciousness of life can support deep practice, kindness and... Zazen	Doshin Dan Gudgel	Aug 17 2025 Green Gulch Farm
Sitting as Your True Self Serial: SF-12419 08/16/2025, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman unpacks what it might mean to become yourself through the simple but... Zazen, Tozan, Suzuki Roshi	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Aug 16 2025 City Center
Sitting as Your True Self Serial: SF-12471 08/16/2025, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman unpacks what it might mean to become yourself through the simple but... Zazen, Tozan, Suzuki Roshi	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Aug 16 2025 City Center
Sitting as Your True Self Serial: SF-12405 08/16/2025, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman unpacks what it might mean to become yourself through the simple but... Zazen	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Aug 16 2025 City Center
Gratitude and Grief Serial: SF-12414 07/27/2025, Zenshin Greg Fain, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Zenshin Greg Fain talks about gratitude and grief in the context of Thusness. Gratitude and grief can both... Jewel Mirror Samadhi, Koan, Zazen	Zenshin Greg Fain	Jul 27 2025 Green Gulch Farm
Introducing "Becoming Yourself" Serial: SF-12417 07/19/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at City Center. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler celebrates together with the sangha the launch of the first new book of Suzuki... Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Precepts	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Jul 19 2025 City Center
Introducing "Becoming Yourself" Serial: SF-12470 07/19/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at City Center. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler celebrates together with the sangha the launch of the first new book of Suzuki... Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Precepts	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Jul 19 2025 City Center
Introducing "Becoming Yourself" Serial: SF-12396 07/19/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at City Center. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler celebrates together with the sangha the launch of the first new book of Suzuki... Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Jul 19 2025 City Center
Cultivating Clarity Through Zen Practices Serial: SF-12438 Talk by Michael McCord at Tassajara on 2025-07-12 Zazen, Tassajara, Ceremony	Sozan Michael McCord	Jul 12 2025 Tassajara
Chanting the Name of Kanzeon Serial: SF-07285 07/06/2025, Zoketsu Norman Fischer, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Zoketsu Norman Fischer discusses a forthcoming book by the Japanese Zen Master Kosho Uchiyama about... Zazen	Zoketsu Norman Fischer	Jul 06 2025 Green Gulch Farm
How To Be Of Service: Breathe, Smile, Live Serial: SF-07293 07/05/2025, Mark Lesser, dharma talk at City Center. Marc Lesser discusses a teaching from Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh: Breathing, smiling and living are three... Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Marc Lesser	Jul 05 2025 City Center
June 8th, 2025, Serial No. 08183 Serial: SF-08183 Talk by Michael Gelfond at Green Gulch Farm on 2025-06-08 Emotions, Zazen	Michael Gelfond	Jun 08 2025 Green Gulch Farm
Being Completely Yourself Serial: SF-07266 06/01/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler takes up the theme of “Becoming Yourself,” the title of a new book of... Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Jun 01 2025 Green Gulch Farm
Being Completely Yourself Serial: SF-08170 06/01/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler takes up the theme of “Becoming Yourself,” the title of a new book of... Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Jun 01 2025 Green Gulch Farm
Innate Love, Innate Wonder Serial: SF-08173 05/11/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, drawing on Suzuki Roshi’s teachings, points to Zen practice as... Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	May 11 2025 Green Gulch Farm
What Do You Call the World? Serial: SF-08228 05/10/2025, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. Central Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman takes up Case 12 from the Book of Serenity, titled ‘Dizang Planting... Koan, Zazen	Tenzen David Zimmerman	May 10 2025 City Center
Understanding and Appreciation Peter van der Sterre reflects on his years of practice at Zen Center, the people who particularly inspired him, and the value of sitting in community. Zazen, Study, Community	Peter Van Der Sterre	May 03 2025 Tassajara
The Art of Just This Serial: SF-08227 04/02/2025, So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center. So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson examines the rich intersection between Zen practice and artistic expression—... Tenzo, Zazen, Ceremony	So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson	Apr 02 2025 City Center
Reflections of the True Self Serial: SF-08172 Talk by Kokyo Henkel at Green Gulch Farm on 2025-03-16 Zazen	Kokyo Henkel	Mar 16 2025 Green Gulch Farm
The Present Peak of Enlightenment Serial: SF-08091 Talk by Jiryu Rutschman Byler at Green Gulch Farm on 2025-03-09 Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Mar 09 2025 Green Gulch Farm
Mastering Mindfulness in Daily Life Serial: SF-08189 Talk by Epp Monday Class Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2025-01-27 Zazen	EPP	Jan 27 2025 City Center
Embodied Mindfulness for Everyday Living Serial: SF-08201 Talk by Epp Opening With Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2025-01-25 Zazen	EPP	Jan 25 2025 City Center
Silent Wisdom: Zen's Transformative Journey Zazen	Gengyoko Tim Wicks	Dec 06 2024 City Center
Embracing Change Through Zen Practice Serial: SF-08387 Talk by Jisan Tova Green at City Center on 2024-12-04 Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Jisan Tova Green	Dec 04 2024 City Center
Welcoming Awareness in Zen Practice Serial: SF-08653 Talk by Eli Brown Stevenson at City Center on 2024-10-23 Practice Period, Zazen	So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson	Oct 23 2024 City Center
Practicing with a Broken Heart Serial: SF-08458 09/14/2024, Gengyoko Tim Wicks, dharma talk at City Center. In this dharma talk, given at Beginner’s Mind Temple by tanto (head of practice) Gengyoko Tim Wicks, Tim... Zazen, Wisdom	Gengyoko Tim Wicks	Sep 14 2024 City Center
Unity Through Zen Chanting Experience Serial: SF-08608 Talk by Gengyoko Tim Wicks Chanting Experience at City Center on 2024-09-11 Chanting, Zazen	Gengyoko Tim Wicks	Sep 11 2024 City Center
Embracing Stillness, Releasing Self Serial: SF-08487 Talk by Gengyoko Tim Wicks Zazen Experience at City Center on 2024-09-04 Zazen	Gengyoko Tim Wicks	Sep 04 2024 City Center
Zazen's Path to Enlightenment Serial: SF-08681 Talk by Gengyoko Tim Wicks Zazen Experience at City Center on 2024-09-04 Zazen	Gengyoko Tim Wicks	Sep 04 2024 City Center
The Zen of Participation Serial: SF-08365 09/01/2024, Gil Fronsdal, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This extemporaneous talk was given at Green Gulch Farm by Gil Fronsdal. In the talk, Gil brings forward the... Zazen	Gil Fronsdal	Sep 01 2024 Green Gulch Farm
The Sixth Ancestor of Zen on the Practice of Zazen Serial: SF-08308 08/18/2024, Kokyo Henkel, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. The Sixth Chinese Zen Ancestor, defining "zazen" (sitting meditation), said " 'za' (sitting) means not to be... Original Nature, Zazen	Kokyo Henkel	Aug 18 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Simply Sitting Serial: SF-08425 This talk was given at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Zenshinji) by Shindo Gita Gayatri. Shindo discusses the unique quality of zazen, and references Dogen's Fukanzazengi,... Zazen, Dogen	Shindo Gita Gayatri	Aug 16 2024 Tassajara

Zazen Talks

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