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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
Embracing Simplicity in Zen Practice Serial: SF-09488 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Zen Mind Beginners Mind Gui Spina on 2024-07-21 Zazen	Fu Schroeder	Jul 21 2024
Ordinary Mind, Extraordinary Zen Serial: SF-09801 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-07-21 Zazen	Fu Schroeder	Jul 21 2024
Beyond Painted Rice Cakes Serial: SF-08637 Talk by Bussho Salon Week Dan Gudgel Tim Wicks Kim Hart at City Center on 2024-07-17 Dogen, Emptiness, Zazen	Doshin Dan Gudgel, Kim Kogen Daiho Hart, Gengyoko Tim Wicks	Jul 17 2024 City Center
Koan Study in the Rinzai and Soto Traditions Serial: SF-08285 07/13/2024, Kogen Jamie Howell, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given by Kogen Jamie Howell at one of Beginner’s Mind Temple’s pop-up events at Unity Church,... Koan, Jukai, Zazen	Kogen Jamie Howell	Jul 13 2024 City Center
Zen Devotion: Interconnectedness Through Rituals Serial: SF-08307 Talk by Andrea Thach at Tassajara on 2024-07-06 Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Ryushin Andrea Thach	Jul 06 2024 Tassajara
Embracing Impermanence Through Zazen Serial: SF-08658 Talk by Keido Keith Baker at City Center on 2024-06-12 Zazen	Keido Keith Baker	Jun 12 2024 City Center
Shikantaza Serial: SF-08277 06/09/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk, Jiryu reflects on the practice of shikantaza, just sitting, as a Way that is... Zazen	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Jun 09 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Shikantaza Serial: SF-08311 06/09/2024, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this talk, Jiryu reflects on the practice of shikantaza, just sitting, as a Way that is... Zazen	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Jun 09 2024 Green Gulch Farm
On Keizan and his ‘Notes on What to Be Aware of in Zazen’ Serial: SF-08454 06/01/2024, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple’s monthly one-day sitting, (this time held at Haight Street... Zazen, Dogen	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Jun 01 2024 City Center
Keizan's Path to Accessible Zen Serial: SF-08692 Talk by Tenzen David Zimmerman At Haight St Art Center Programs at City Center on 2024-06-01 Zazen, Dogen	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Jun 01 2024 City Center
Awakening Through Present-Moment Awareness Serial: SF-08284 Talk by Paul Haller at City Center on 2024-05-25 Practice Period, Zazen	Ryushin Paul Haller	May 25 2024 City Center
Embracing Practice: Growth Through Vulnerability Serial: SF-08678 Talk by Paul Haller at City Center on 2024-05-25 Zazen, Heart Sutra, Practice Period	Ryushin Paul Haller	May 25 2024 City Center
Awakening Through Sensory Awareness Serial: SF-08475 Talk by Paul Haller at City Center on 2024-05-25 Practice Period, Zazen	Ryushin Paul Haller	May 25 2024 City Center
Awakening Through Sensory Awareness Serial: SF-08666 Talk by Paul Haller at City Center on 2024-05-25 Practice Period, Zazen	Ryushin Paul Haller	May 25 2024 City Center
Practicing with Expectations Serial: SF-08368 05/08/2024, Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Eli Brown-Stevenson describes how to find practical... Gaining Mind, Zazen	So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson	May 08 2024 City Center
Zen Practice Beyond Expectations Serial: SF-08675 Talk by Eli Brown Stevenson at City Center on 2024-05-08 Gaining Mind, Zazen	So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson	May 08 2024 City Center
Doing the Work Serial: SF-08256 04/17/2024, Anshi Zachary Smith, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Anshi Zachary Smith digs into the well-known Case 17 of the... Zazen	Anshi Zachary Smith	Apr 17 2024 City Center
Zen Embrace: Practice Non-Preference Serial: SF-08562 Talk by Kokyo Henkel at Green Gulch Farm on 2024-03-10 Ordinary Mind, Bodhidharma, Zazen	Kokyo Henkel	Mar 10 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Trusting the Mind Beyond Walls Serial: SF-08572 Talk by Thiemo Blank at Green Gulch Farm on 2024-03-03 Zazen, Buddha Mind, Practice Period	Thiemo Blank	Mar 03 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Every Moment Is A Crossroads - How Will You Meet It? Serial: SF-08440 02/18/2024, Sonja Gardenswarz, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Zazen, a yogic practice, a word, an invitation, a posture, a pause in time, a space, a clearing between the... Zazen	Sonja Gardenswartz	Feb 18 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Right View and Not-Knowing Serial: SF-08245 In this talk, given during the second one-day sitting of the winter 2024 practice period, Abiding Abbot Dōshin Mako Voelkel discusses the power and peace of not-knowing. In the... Zazen, Suffering	Dōshin Mako Voelkel	Feb 17 2024 City Center
Ceasefire Serial: SF-08418 02/10/2024, Shogen Jody Greene, dharma talk at City Center. This talk was given at Beginner's Mind Temple by Shogen Jody Greene. While Dōgen Zenji once described '... Zazen, Suzuki Roshi	Shogen Jody Greene	Feb 10 2024 City Center
Zen in Transition: Embracing Change Serial: SF-08654 Talk by Eli Brown Stevenson at City Center on 2024-02-07 Zazen, Precepts, Suzuki Roshi	So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson	Feb 07 2024 City Center
Exploring Conditions and Consequences of Ethical Beliefs Serial: SF-08358 In this talk, given during the first one-day sitting of the winter 2024 practice period, Abiding Abbot Dōshin Mako Voelkel discusses the sources and outcomes of the many... Zazen, Practice Period	Dōshin Mako Voelkel	Jan 27 2024 City Center
Courageously Practicing the Teaching of Suchness in the Midst of Illness and Fear Serial: SF-08411 01/14/2024, Tenshin Reb Anderson, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This talk by Tenshin Reb Anderson considers how to apply the Teaching of Thusness to the significant... Zazen	Tenshin Reb Anderson	Jan 14 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Zen Moments: King's Path to Justice Serial: SF-08620 Talk by Sozan Michael M Ord at City Center on 2024-01-13 Zazen	Sozan Michael McCord	Jan 13 2024 City Center
Beginner's Mind in Every Moment Zazen	Anshi Zachary Smith	2024
Zen for All: Keizan's Inclusive Path Zazen	Tenzen David Zimmerman	2024
Beyond Dualities: Embracing Pure Presence Zazen, Buddha Nature	Tenzen David Zimmerman	2024
Taking Refuge In and Taking Refuge From Serial: SF-08897 10/07/2023, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk from Beginner's Mind Temple, Ryushin Paul Haller discusses how taking refuge from the... Zazen	Ryushin Paul Haller	Oct 07 2023 City Center
Living Zen: The Art of Awareness Serial: SF-08963 Talk by Paul Haller at City Center on 2023-10-07 Zazen	Ryushin Paul Haller	Oct 07 2023 City Center
Climate Repentance Serial: SF-08935 09/10/2023, Zoketsu Norman Fischer, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. This talk is about the uncertainty of the effects of climate change, and how the practice of zazen can help... Zazen	Zoketsu Norman Fischer	Sep 10 2023 Green Gulch Farm
Coming Home To Your True Self Serial: SF-08714 07/29/2023, Doshin Mako Voelkel, dharma talk at City Center. Abiding Abbot Doshin Mako Voelkel, in this talk from Beginner's Mind Temple, discusses everyday Zen practices... Zazen	Dōshin Mako Voelkel	Jul 29 2023 City Center
Transcending Mind: Zen's Collective Consciousness Serial: SF-08793 Talk by Chikudo Catherine Spaeth at City Center on 2023-07-26 Zazen, Bodhidharma	Chikudo Catherine Spaeth	Jul 26 2023 City Center
Everything Is Unbound Serial: SF-08789 07/01/2023, Shundo David Haye, dharma talk at City Center. Shundo David Haye, in this dharma talk from Beginner’s Mind Temple, discusses a story between the Third and... Zazen	Shundo David Haye	Jul 01 2023 City Center
Being in the Moment is the Basis Serial: SF-08716 06/28/2023, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk at City Center. Senior Dharma Teacher Ryushin Paul Haller, in this dharma talk from Beginner’s Mind Temple, discusses... Zazen	Ryushin Paul Haller	Jun 28 2023 City Center
Embracing Nothing: Zen's Self Liberation Serial: SF-08830 Talk by Doshin Mako Voelkel Sesshin Day at City Center on 2023-06-02 Zazen, Practice Period	Dōshin Mako Voelkel	Jun 02 2023 City Center
Metamorphosis: Zen as Thoroughgoing Transformation Serial: SF-08738 04/19/2023, Kodo Conlin, dharma talk at City Center. Kodo Conlin, in this dharma talk from Beginner's Mind Temple, explores images, tales, and inspiration to celebrate... Zazen	Kodo Conlin	Apr 19 2023 City Center
Beyond Identity: Zen's Liberating Path Serial: SF-08829 Talk by Sesshin Day Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2023-04-01 Zazen, Practice Period	Ryushin Paul Haller	Apr 01 2023 City Center
Transcending Limitations Through Zen Practice Serial: SF-08787 Talk by Sesshin Day Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2023-03-31 Zazen, Effort	Ryushin Paul Haller	Mar 31 2023 City Center
Harmonizing with the Stream Serial: SF-08806 Talk by Sesshin Day Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2023-03-30 Zazen	Ryushin Paul Haller	Mar 30 2023 City Center
Not Possessive Of Anything Serial: SF-08891 03/19/2023, Fu Schroeder, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Dogen Zenji’s great awakening took place on hearing his teacher Rujing scold a student for sleeping during... Dogen, Zazen	Fu Schroeder	Mar 19 2023 Green Gulch Farm
Embracing Life Through Death Awareness Serial: SF-07975 Talk by Kodo Conlin at City Center on 2022-12-14 Zazen	Kodo Conlin	Dec 14 2022 City Center
A Lentil a Lentil a Stone: An Ode to Zazen Serial: SF-08031 12/11/2022, Sonja Gardenswartz, dharma talk at City Center. Our zazen sitting builds a foundation upon which we make contact with what is important to us, you become the... Zazen	Sonja Gardenswartz	Dec 11 2022 Green Gulch Farm
Mind-Body Unity in Zen Practice Serial: SF-07948 Talk by Tenzen David Zimmerman at City Center on 2022-12-08 Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Dec 08 2022 City Center
Zazen: Embodying Unity and Awareness Serial: SF-07868 Talk by Jisan Anna Thorn at City Center on 2022-12-03 Samadhi, Zazen	Jisan Anna Thorn	Dec 03 2022 City Center
All Experience Is Perceived By Mind Serial: SF-07941 09/18/2022, Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Zazen can be a portal to opening the mind that perceives all things, even the trouble we are... Zazen, Liberation	Zenju Earthlyn Manuel Osho	Sep 18 2022 Green Gulch Farm
All Experience Is Perceived By Mind Serial: SF-07951 09/18/2022, Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Zazen can be a portal to opening the mind that perceives all things, even the trouble we are... Zazen	Zenju Earthlyn Manuel Osho	Sep 18 2022 Green Gulch Farm
About Time Serial: SF-07777 08/31/2022, Kogen Kim Hart, dharma talk at City Center. Kim present a lively discourse on the nature of time and what has been revealed to her on the subject over her 30 years... Zazen	Kim Kogen Daiho Hart	Aug 31 2022 City Center
About Time Serial: SF-07851 08/31/2022, Kogen Kim Hart, dharma talk at City Center. Kim presents a lively discourse on the nature of time and what has been revealed to her on the subject over her 30... Zazen	Kim Kogen Daiho Hart	Aug 31 2022 City Center

Zazen Talks

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