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Koan Talks

A kōan ( KOH-a(h)n; Japanese: 公案; Chinese: 公案; pinyin: gōng'àn [kʊ́ŋ ân]; Korean: 화두; Vietnamese: công án) is a story, dialogue, question, or statement from Chinese Chan Buddhist lore, supplemented with commentaries, that is used in Chan, Zen, Seon and Thiền Buddhist practice in different ways. The main goal of kōan practice in Zen is to achieve kenshō (Chinese: jianxing 見性), to see or observe one's buddha-nature.

Extended study of kōan literature as well as meditation (zazen) on a kōan is a major feature of modern Rinzai Zen. They are also studied in the Sōtō school of Zen to a lesser extent. In Chinese Chan and Korean Seon Buddhism, meditating on a huatou, a key phrase of a kōan, is also a major Zen meditation method.

From koan on Wikipedia

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Title	Speaker	Date
How Can We Not Pick and Choose? Serial: SF-12374 Sokaku Kathie Fischer examines the Xin Xin Ming (Faith in Mind, or Trusting the Mind), a text by the third Chinese Chan (Zen) ancestor, Jianzhi Sengcan. Ordinary Mind, Koan, Zhaozhou	Sokaku Kathie Fischer	Sep 14 2025 Green Gulch Farm
Everyday Enlightenment Through Dogen Serial: SF-12398 Talk by Shinshu Roberts at City Center on 2025-09-13 Dogen, Koan, Delusion	Shinshu Roberts	Sep 13 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
What Do You Call the World? Serial: SF-08078 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	Tenzen David Zimmerman	May 10 2025 City Center
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
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
Practicing With The Mirror Of Zazen Inryu Ponce-Barger invokes stories about the beloved Zen poet Ryokan, and discusses other koans and commentaries. Zazen, Koan, Suzuki Roshi	Inryu Ponce Barger	Jul 12 2024 Tassajara
Which is the True Qian? Serial: SF-08380 06/23/2024, Kokyo Henkel, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Case 35 in the Gateless Barrier koan collection tells the story of Qian's spirit being divided between following her... Koan	Kokyo Henkel	Jun 23 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Embracing Unity in Present Moments Serial: SF-08399 Talk by Sonja Gardenswartz at Green Gulch Farm on 2024-05-26 Koan	Sonja Gardenswartz	May 26 2024 Green Gulch Farm
Embrace Repetition, Discover Presence Serial: SF-09527 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Zen Mind Beginners Mind Gui Spina on 2024-05-12 Koan	Fu Schroeder	May 12 2024
Mindfulness in the Mundane Everyday Serial: SF-09728 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-05-12 Koan	Fu Schroeder	May 12 2024
Duality in Zen: Sun and Moon Serial: SF-08632 Talk by Gendo Lucy Xiao at City Center on 2024-03-20 Koan, Blue Cliff Record, Buddha Nature	Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道	Mar 20 2024 City Center
Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha Serial: SF-08364 03/20/2024, Gendo Lucy Xiao, dharma talk at City Center. In this talk, given at Beginner's Mind Temple, Gendo Lucy Xiao explores case number 3 from the koan collection "... Koan, Blue Cliff Record	Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道	Mar 20 2024 City Center
Koans: Unlocking Zen's Mysteries Serial: SF-09541 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Koan Study Gui Spina on 2024-02-11 Koan	Fu Schroeder	Feb 11 2024
Koans: Pathways to Non-Dual Wisdom Serial: SF-09737 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-02-11 Koan	Fu Schroeder	Feb 11 2024
Embodied Zen: Living Koans Serial: SF-09490 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Koan Study Gui Spina on 2024-01-28 Koan	Fu Schroeder	Jan 28 2024
Opening Possibilities: Koans and Zen Practice Serial: SF-09774 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-01-28 Koan	Fu Schroeder	Jan 28 2024
Illuminating Zen: Dual Truths Awakened Serial: SF-09518 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Koun Ejo Gui Spina on 2024-01-21 Dogen, Koan	Fu Schroeder	Jan 21 2024
Zen Threads: Weaving Teacher and Disciple Serial: SF-09543 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Koun Ejo Gui Spina on 2024-01-21 Dogen, Koan	Fu Schroeder	Jan 21 2024
Interconnected Zen: Exploring Beyond Dogen Serial: SF-09510 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha Sessions Uji Gui Spina on 2024-01-07 Dogen, Koan	Fu Schroeder	Jan 07 2024
Interconnected Zen: Avatamsaka to Dogen Serial: SF-09735 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2024-01-07 Dogen, Koan	Fu Schroeder	Jan 07 2024
Embodied Zen: Living Dogen's Teachings Serial: SF-08743 Talk by Paul Haller at City Center on 2023-10-25 Study, Koan	Ryushin Paul Haller	Oct 25 2023 City Center
Embracing Enlightenment Through Bowing Serial: SF-08711 Talk by Eijun Linda Cutts at Green Gulch Farm on 2023-06-05 Bowing, Koan	Eijun Linda Cutts	Jun 05 2023 Green Gulch Farm
Embodied Enlightenment Through Dogen's Lens Serial: SF-09789 Talk by Fu Schroder Sangha on 2023-06-04 Koan, Dogen	Fu Schroeder	Jun 04 2023
Embodying Zen: Practice as Realization Serial: SF-09755 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha on 2023-05-29 Suzuki Roshi, Koan	Fu Schroeder	May 29 2023
Trustful Presence in Zen Practice Serial: SF-08849 Talk by Ryushin Paul Haller at City Center on 2023-02-22 Consciousness, Koan	Ryushin Paul Haller	Feb 22 2023 City Center
Hsueh Feng’s What Is It Serial: SF-08539 02/19/2023, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Dogen Zenji said, “Breathing in or breathing out, after all, what is it?” No one can tell what it is.... Koan	Rinso Ed Sattizahn	Feb 19 2023 Green Gulch Farm
Awakening Beyond Dreams Through Zazen Serial: SF-07836 Talk by Rinso Ed Sattizahn at City Center on 2022-12-09 Nansen, Koan	Rinso Ed Sattizahn	Dec 09 2022 City Center
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
Zhaozhou and the Dog, Part 2 Serial: SF-07876 11/16/2022, Furyu Schroeder, dharma talk at Tassajara. Does a dog have Buddha nature? November sesshin series at the Tassajara fall practice period. Koan, Buddha Nature	Fu Schroeder	Nov 16 2022 Tassajara
Zhaozhou and the Dog, Part 1 Serial: SF-07907 11/15/2022, Furyu Schroeder, dharma talk at Tassajara. Does a dog have Buddha nature? November sesshin series at the Tassajara fall practice period. Koan	Fu Schroeder	Nov 15 2022 Tassajara
Trying on Koans Serial: SF-07824 11/02/2022, Eli Brown-Stevenson, dharma talk at City Center. The practice of trying on koans. Koan, Suzuki Roshi	So-on Eli Brown-Stevenson	Nov 02 2022 City Center
What is your original face? Serial: SF-08042 10/15/2022, Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道, dharma talk at City Center. What is your original face? -- Exploring case 23 of Wumenguan (The Gateless Barrier) Koan	Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道	Oct 15 2022 City Center
Gutei’s One-Finger Zen Serial: SF-07790 10/08/2022, Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. Abbot David unpacks Case 19 of the Blue Cliff Record, including the circumstances leading up to Gutei's... Blue Cliff Record, Koan	Tenzen David Zimmerman	Oct 08 2022 City Center
An Appropriate Response: Encountering the Blue Cliff Record Serial: SF-07869 10/05/2022, Rinso Ed Sattizahn and Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. In the first dharma talk of the Fall practice period, Abbots Ed and David provide an... Blue Cliff Record, Koan, Suzuki Roshi	Tenzen David Zimmerman, Rinso Ed Sattizahn	Oct 05 2022 City Center
An Appropriate Response: Encountering the Blue Cliff Record Serial: SF-08043 10/05/2022, Rinso Ed Sattizahn and Tenzen David Zimmerman, dharma talk at City Center. In the first dharma talk of the Fall practice period, Abbots Ed and David provide an... Blue Cliff Record, Koan, Suzuki Roshi		Oct 05 2022 City Center
What Is the Price of Rice? Confession and Repentance With Eyes Open. Serial: SF-07830 07/24/2022, Eijun Linda Cutts, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Senior Dharma Teacher Eijun Cutts takes up Case 5 of the Book of Serenity to uncover the call for... Koan, Repentance	Eijun Linda Cutts	Jul 24 2022 Green Gulch Farm
Yanguan’s “Rhinoceros Fan” Serial: SF-08022 06/11/2022, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at City Center. Things are broken, show me something that is not! Koan	Rinso Ed Sattizahn	Jun 11 2022 City Center
Beginner’s Mind/Ordinary Mind Serial: SF-07897 Abbot Ed Sattizahn uses Suzuki Roshi teachings to reflect on "to study the buddha way is to study the self." 03/13/2022, Rinso Ed Sattizahn, dharma talk at Green Gulch... Koan, Blue Cliff Record, Study	Rinso Ed Sattizahn	Mar 13 2022 Green Gulch Farm
Koans and Remedies: Zen's Healing Path Serial: SF-10899 Talk by Gendo Lucy Xiao at City Center on 2021-08-25 Blue Cliff Record, Koan	Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道	Aug 25 2021 City Center
Medicine and Disease Serial: SF-10895 Commentary on Case 87 from the Blue Cliff Record. Yunmen's Medicine and Disease. The whole earth is medicine. Which one's for you? 08/25/2021, Gendo Lucy Xiao, dharma... Blue Cliff Record, Koan, Manjushri	Gendo Lucy Xiao 玄道	Aug 25 2021 City Center
The Taproot of Soto Zen, Part 2: Like a Fool, Like an Idiot Serial: SF-10893 07/28/2021, Zenshin Greg Fain, dharma talk at Tassajara. Jewel Mirror Samadhi, Koan, Dogen	Zenshin Greg Fain	Jul 28 2021 Tassajara
The Suess of Zen Serial: SF-11277 An exploration of non-clinging with the Grinch reframed as a monk. 12/23/2020, Shoren Heather Iarruso, dharma talk at City Center. Buddha Nature, Koan	Shoren Heather Iarusso	Dec 23 2020 City Center
It Actually is You (video) Serial: SF-11299 09/02/2020, Anshi Zachary Smith, dharma talk at City Center. Gratitude, Heart Sutra, Koan	Anshi Zachary Smith	Sep 02 2020 City Center
Zen at Work: Joyful Mindfulness Serial: SF-12345 Talk by Ed Sattizahn at City Center on 2020-03-11 Koan, Dogen, Daily Life	Rinso Ed Sattizahn	Mar 11 2020 City Center
Under the Same Sky: Zen Harmony Serial: SF-12344 Talk by Linda Ruth Cutts at Green Gulch Farm on 2020-03-08 Koan, Japan	Eijun Linda Cutts	Mar 08 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Silent Rituals: Embodying Zen Enlightenment Serial: SF-09788 Talk by Fu Schroeder Sangha at Green Gulch Farm on 2020-03-07 Bodhidharma, Blue Cliff Record, Koan	Fu Schroeder	Mar 07 2020 Green Gulch Farm
Unveiling Buddha Nature: The Joshu Koan Serial: SF-11155 Talk by Heather Iarruso at City Center on 2020-MM-DD Buddha Nature, Koan	Shoren Heather Iarusso	2020 City Center
Zen and the Art of Ordinary Serial: SF-12311 Talk by Bryan Clark at City Center on 2019-12-28 Ordinary Mind, Koan, Delusion	Bryan Clark	Dec 28 2019 City Center
Love The Questions Themselves Serial: SF-10839 08/03/2019, Furyu Schroeder, dharma talk at City Center. Koan, Buddha Nature	Fu Schroeder	Aug 03 2019 City Center

Koan Talks

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