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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
Sitting Buddha, Polishing Buddha Serial: SF-07825 08/13/2022, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. Abbot David unpacks the Zen story "Nanyue Polishes a Tile", touching upon several of the koan's key... Zazen	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Aug 13 2022 City Center
Inmost Request: Embracing Transitional Zazen Serial: SF-07940 Talk by Kodo Conlin at City Center on 2022-07-13 Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Kodo Conlin	Jul 13 2022 City Center
Cultivating Awareness—Tending, Tension and Tenderness Serial: SF-08051 07/09/2022, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk at City Center. Zazen, Wisdom	Ryushin Paul Haller	Jul 09 2022 City Center
Remembering Green Gulch in the 1980's : does the past exist? Serial: SF-07996 05/22/2022, Zoketsu Norman Fischer, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. In this dharma talk, Senior Dharma Teacher Norman Fischer tells stories about his time living at... Zazen, Community	Zoketsu Norman Fischer	May 22 2022 Green Gulch Farm
Kindness and Care Serial: SF-07982 05/15/2022, Horin Nancy Petrin, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. A consideration of the importance of kindness, care and a tender heart in taking up our Bodhisattva Vows... Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Horin Nancy Petrin	May 15 2022 Green Gulch Farm
Suzuki Roshi on Precepts Serial: SF-07839 04/17/2022, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Suzuki Roshi had an unusual perspective on the practice of the Bodhisattva's ethical precepts. He... Precepts, Zazen	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Apr 17 2022 Green Gulch Farm
The Window And The Door Serial: SF-07988 02/24/2022, Zenshin Greg Fain, sesshin dharma talk at Tassajara. Zazen	Zenshin Greg Fain	Feb 24 2022 Tassajara
Everyone Is On The Same Path Serial: SF-07797 A core teaching of the Lotus Sutra that can powerfully meet us. 02/20/2022, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Lotus Sutra, Zazen	Eijun Linda Cutts	Feb 20 2022 Green Gulch Farm
Universal Enlightenment Beyond Attainment Serial: SF-07971 Talk by Eijun Linda Ruth Cutts at Green Gulch Farm on 2022-02-20 Lotus Sutra, Zazen	Eijun Linda Cutts	Feb 20 2022 Green Gulch Farm
It’s An Experiential Learning Serial: SF-07990 On the day of the one-day sitting, a talk on Refuge in the form of formal practice, zazen - stimulating what we already are. 02/19/2022, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk... Zazen, Big Mind	Ryushin Paul Haller	Feb 19 2022 City Center
The Karma That Becomes Dharma Serial: SF-07856 Everything that we do is karma but with foundations in our precepts our karma becomes Dharma. 11/27/2021, Jose Shinzan Palma, dharma talk at City Center. Karma, Zazen	Jose Shinzan Palma	Nov 27 2021 City Center
Zazen As The Practice of Absolute Reality Serial: SF-10998 Continuing the conversation on the harmony of absolute and relative truths, this talks suggests that we zazen is a good place to focus on the inconceivable reality, to discover... Zazen, Daily Life	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Oct 24 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Riding Waves of Zen Harmony Serial: SF-11065 Talk by Jiryu at Green Gulch Farm on 2021-10-24 Zazen, Daily Life	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Oct 24 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Zazen Serial: SF-11145 10/09/2021, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk at Tassajara. Zazen, Effort	Ryushin Paul Haller	Oct 09 2021 Tassajara
Karma and Zazen Serial: SF-11010 The study of karma, and the importance of practicing zazen and non-doing for the study of self/the study of karma. 10/02/2021, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City... Karma, Zazen	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Oct 02 2021 City Center
Stillness in Midst of Imagination Serial: SF-11028 By practicing zazen again and again we create space to receive stillness right in the midst of our many stories and imaginations about the world, and in this way begin to see a... Zazen	Sonja Gardenswartz	Jul 18 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Awareness, Assumptions, and Actions Serial: SF-11078 In this dharma talk Sonja Gardenswartz poses the turning question, are we willing to step into curiosity, into "I don't know," and consider what is the appropriate response?... Zazen	Sonja Gardenswartz	Jul 01 2021 City Center
Mindful Responses, Zen Connections Serial: SF-10903 In this dharma talk Sonja Gardenswartz poses the turning question, are we willing to step into curiosity, into I don't know," and consider what is the appropriate response?... Zazen	Sonja Gardenswartz	Jun 30 2021 City Center
Non-Harming Serial: SF-11139 A talk on the practice of non-harming as foundational to a spiritual life and our relationships with others. 06/02/2021, Shinchi Linda Galijan, dharma talk at City Center... Zazen	Shinchi Linda Galijan	Jun 02 2021 City Center
Embracing Suffering Through Zen Presence Serial: SF-12313 Talk by Leslie James Being There For Our Feelings at Tassajara on 2021-05-17 Emptiness, Tassajara, Zazen	Leslie James	May 17 2021 Tassajara
Zazen's Generosity: Unity in Practice Serial: SF-12155 Talk by Tenshin Reb Anderson at Green Gulch Farm on 2021-05-05 Generosity, Zazen	Tenshin Reb Anderson	May 05 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Endless Bottomless You Serial: SF-11035 This is the last talk in a 3-week series of the Zuimonki. Zoketsu Norman Fischer brings alive the teachings of the last book of the Zuimonki and explores the teachings of... Zazen, Dogen	Zoketsu Norman Fischer	Mar 20 2021 City Center
From the Inside Out Serial: SF-10909 In this sesshin talk by Sokaku Kathie Fischer, she continues a three-week exploration of Dogen's Shobogenzo Ziomonki highlighting the themes of practicing in Sangha and... Zazen, Dogen	Sokaku Kathie Fischer	Mar 19 2021 City Center
From The Inside Out Serial: SF-11125 In this sesshin talk by Sokaku Kathie Fischer, she continues a three-week exploration of Dogen's Shobogenzo Ziomonki highlighting the themes of practicing in Sangha and... Zazen, Dogen	Sokaku Kathie Fischer	Mar 19 2021 Green Gulch Farm
Mis en Place Serial: SF-11031 An encouragement to support ourselves through tumultuous times. 01/13/2021, Sozan Michael Mccord, dharma talk at City Center. Monkey Mind, Zazen	Sozan Michael McCord	Jan 13 2021 City Center
Wearing the Robe Serial: SF-11047 How do we enfold ourselves in the teaching? An exploration of the robe chant, how we can imagine wearing the robe-- and how the robe is considered by Dogen and the Lotus Sutra... Suzuki Roshi, Lotus Sutra, Zazen	Marcia Lieberman	Jan 06 2021 City Center
Devotional Zazen (video) Serial: SF-11231 An exploration of Liberation and Devotion in Zen. 12/16/2020, Anshi Zachary Smith, dharma talk at City Center. Zazen	Anshi Zachary Smith	Dec 16 2020 City Center
The Dance of Doing and Being Serial: SF-11221 Sandokai and an exploration of "the nourishing factors of our interbeing." 12/12/2020, Ryushin Paul Haller, dharma talk at City Center. Zazen, Wisdom	Ryushin Paul Haller	Dec 12 2020 City Center
Just Sit. Just Breathe. Just Wait. Serial: SF-11257 The third lecture of the 2020 Rohatsu sesshin for Green Gulch residents, co-led by Eijun and Fu - 12/02/2020. Zazen	Fu Schroeder	Dec 02 2020 Green Gulch Farm
GGF Rohatsu Sesshin - Day 3 - Just Sit. Just Breathe. Just Wait. Serial: SF-11343 12/02/2020, the third lecture of the 2020 Rohatsu sesshin for Green Gulch residents, co-led by Eijun Linda Cutts and Fu Schroeder. Zazen, Samadhi	Fu Schroeder	Dec 02 2020 Green Gulch Farm
GGF Rohatsu Sesshin - Day 1 - Practice for Settling the Whole Body (video) Serial: SF-11166 The first lecture of the 2020 Rohatsu sesshin for Green Gulch residents, co-led by Eijun and Fu - 11/30/2020. Zazen	Eijun Linda Cutts	Nov 30 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Unity in Stillness and Breath Serial: SF-11167 Talk by Abbot Ed Sattizhan Day Rohatsu Sesshihn on 2020-11-29 Suzuki Roshi, Zazen	Rinso Ed Sattizahn	Nov 29 2020
Rohatsu Sesshin - Day 1 - Three Aspects of Zazen Posture: Body, Breath, Mind Serial: SF-11289 11/29/2020, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at City Center. Zazen	Rinso Ed Sattizahn	Nov 29 2020 City Center
Zen Harmony in Diversity Serial: SF-11232 Talk by Hoitsu Suzuki at City Center on 2020-11-10 Zazen, Suzuki Roshi, Big Mind	Hoitsu Suzuki Roshi	Nov 10 2020 City Center
Warm Heart Zazen (video) Serial: SF-11237 Suzuki Roshi’s teaching on warm-hearted zazen practice is the coming together of wisdom and compassion, and can be illuminated by Dr. King’s teaching on the three kinds of love... Zazen, Compassion	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Nov 01 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Warm Heart Zazen Serial: SF-11269 Suzuki Roshi’s teaching on warm-hearted zazen practice is the coming together of wisdom and compassion, and can be illuminated by Dr. King’s teaching on the three kinds of love... Zazen, Compassion	Jiryu Rutschman-Byler	Nov 01 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Harmony in Light and Shadow Serial: SF-11344 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2020-10-12 Zazen	Ryushin Paul Haller	Oct 12 2020 City Center
Zen Freedom Through Impossible Sits Serial: SF-11357 Talk by Zzi Anshi Zach Smith on 2020-10-12 Posture, Zazen	Anshi Zachary Smith	Oct 12 2020
The Six Qualitative Factors Serial: SF-11242 A teaching about zazen practice, drawing on Guishan's water buffalo and the Six Qualitative Factors of tranquility, agility, pliancy, workableness, proficiency, and uprightness... Zazen	Sojun Mel Weitsman	Sep 20 2020 Green Gulch Farm
When Karma becomes Vow (video) Serial: SF-11266 Zazen and the interruption of the single-mindedness to keep our lives moving. 09/05/2020, Horin Nancy Petrin, dharma talk at City Center. Zazen	Horin Nancy Petrin	Sep 05 2020 City Center
Embracing Non-Duality Through Zen Serial: SF-12319 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller Non Dual Approach To Practicing With The Paramitas at Tassajara on 2020-08-04 Zazen, Buddha Nature, Global Warming	Ryushin Paul Haller	Aug 04 2020 Tassajara
Posture of Presence in Zazen Serial: SF-11219 Talk by Zazen Instruction Anshi Zachary Smith at City Center on 2020-07-25 Posture, Zazen	Anshi Zachary Smith	Jul 25 2020 City Center
Joy, honoring John Lewis (video) Serial: SF-11160 The dharma teaching of joy inspired by the life of John Lewis. 07/22/2020, Sozan Michael McCord, dharma talk at City Center. Zazen	Sozan Michael McCord	Jul 22 2020 City Center
Cultivating Joy Through Resilience Serial: SF-11256 Talk by Sozan Michael M Ord on 2020-07-22 Zazen	Sozan Michael McCord	Jul 22 2020
Zazen: Ancient Practice, Modern Peace Serial: SF-11273 Talk by Zazen Instruction Anshi Zachary Smith at City Center on 2020-07-18 Posture, Zazen	Anshi Zachary Smith	Jul 18 2020 City Center
Posture Pathways to Inner Peace Serial: SF-11191 Talk by Zazen Instruction Shosan Victoria Austin at City Center on 2020-06-06 Zazen, Posture	Shosan Victoria Austin	Jun 06 2020 City Center
Two Types of Bodhicitta (video) Serial: SF-11211 A description of Relative and Absolute Bodhichitta 05/30/2020 Korin Charlie Pokorny, Dharma Talk at City Center. Zazen	Korin Charlie Pokorny	May 30 2020 City Center
Just Sitting: The Art of Zazen Serial: SF-11264 Talk by Zazen Instruction Anshi Zachary Smith at City Center on 2020-05-23 Posture, Zazen	Anshi Zachary Smith	May 23 2020 City Center
Understanding Life Through Zazen Practice Serial: SF-11323 Talk by Zazen Instruction Anshi Zachary Smith at City Center on 2020-05-16 Posture, Zazen	Anshi Zachary Smith	May 16 2020 City Center
Slogan #2 (video) Serial: SF-11365 5/6/2020, Onryu Mary Stares, dharma talk at City Center. Zazen	Onryu Mary Stares	May 06 2020 City Center

Zazen Talks

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