Zazen Talks

Zazen (literally "seated meditation"; Japanese: 座禅; simplified Chinese: 坐禅; traditional Chinese: 坐禪; pinyin: zuò chán; Wade–Giles: tso4-ch'an2, pronounced [tswô ʈʂʰǎn]) is a meditative discipline that is typically the primary practice of the Zen Buddhist tradition.
The generalized Japanese term for meditation is 瞑想 (meisō); 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 sān mēi 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 earliest manual on sitting meditation from an author of the Zen tradition is the Zuòchán Yí which dates to the Northern Song dynasty (CE 960 - 1126).
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) and 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, 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 object at all.
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2012.07.30-serial.00140 Subject-and-Object, training, Dharma Transmission, Birth-and-Death, Oneness,... |
Jul 30 2012 |
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2008.01.23-serial.00113A Four Noble Truths, Don't Know Mind, Samsara, Buddha Ancestors, difficulty, Fox,... |
Jan 23 2008 |
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2008.01.20-serial.00112C Dependent Origination, Zendo, Teacher-and-Student, Ego, Happiness, Demons, Observe,... |
Jan 20 2008 |
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2008.01.19-serial.00112B Buddha Nature, Heart Sutra, Vows, true dharma, Daily Life, Culture, Subject-and-... |
Jan 19 2008 |
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Intensive Lecture Big Mind, Four Noble Truths, realization, Suzuki Roshi, Transmission, Zazen,... |
Jul 10 2007 City Center |
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Sesshin as a Koan for the BodySerial: SF-00990 Sesshin Lecture: Easter/Buddha's Birthday; enlightenment experiences; dharmakaya; not doing anything; nirmanakaya; this is your life Buddha's Birthday, Birth-and-Death, Suzuki Roshi, Conversation, Mill Valley,... |
Apr 08 2007 Green Gulch |
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Being UncomfortableSerial: SF-01092 Sunday Lecture: What do we do when we become uncomfortable?; comfort - in body, mind, relationships - are focus of our consumerism; suffering = constant need to be fed;... Tassajara, Practice Period, Silence, Zendo, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Religion, Humility,... |
Mar 25 2007 Green Gulch |
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Alignment With The Great WaySerial: SF-00944 Sunday Lecture - Children's Lecture: waging peace; taking up a practice Buddha Mind, Peace, Ordinary Mind, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Lineage, Posture, Delusion,... |
Mar 04 2007 Green Gulch |
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Right SpeechSerial: SF-00037 The eight-fold path and its relationship to the precepts. Right Speech, Suzuki Roshi, Conversation, Heart Sutra, Zazen, Buddha Nature, Precepts... |
Sep 16 2006 |
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Yes!Serial: SF-01100 Sesshin Lecture: just sitting with no technique or theme; monk: what about when not carrying anything? Zhaozhou: put it down; Shakyamuni holding up the flower; zazen in... uchiyama, Zazen, Freedom, Duality, Impermanence, Practice Period, Tassajara, Delusion... |
Apr 02 2006 Green Gulch |