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 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 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, 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 object at all.
Title | Speaker | |
---|---|---|
Sunday LectureSerial: SF-04083 Anti-war activities. Suzuki Roshi's response to Lew's question "What is war?" Wrinkles on goza mat. Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Peace, Samadhi, Manjushri, Oneness, Beginners, Samsara,... |
Mar 23 2003 Green Gulch |
|
Zendo Lecture Bodhidharma, Ego, Repentance, Zazen, Hate, Practice Period, Faith, Karma, Delusion,... |
Mar 11 2003 Tassajara |
|
December 9th, 2002, Serial No. 00978 Buddha Nature, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Ceremony, Zendo, Ordinary Mind, Bell, Emptiness,... |
Dec 09 2002 City Center |
|
Not Always So Class Buddha Nature, Emptiness, Bodhidharma, Zazen, Suzuki Roshi, Describe, realization,... |
Nov 18 2002 Tassajara |
|
November 6th, 2002, Serial No. 01064 Obstacles, Four Noble Truths, Tassajara, Suzuki Roshi, Big Mind, Teacher-and-Student... |
Nov 06 2002 City Center |
|
The Process of Peace Peace, Freedom, Attachment, Five Ranks, Zazen, Delusion, Offering, Zendo, Karma,... |
Oct 26 2002 City Center |
|
2002.10.19-serial.00059 Suzuki Roshi, Buddha Nature, Zazen, Manjushri, Practice Period, Buddha Ancestors,... |
Oct 19 2002 City Center |
|
Posture Posture, Instruction, Branching Streams, Zendo, Zazen, soto, Birth-and-Death, Suzuki... |
Sep 14 2002 Unknown |
|
August 10th, 2002, Serial No. 04012 Instruction, Buddha Nature, Separation, Oneness, Nirvana Sutra, realization, Birth-... |
Aug 10 2002 City Center |
|
VasubandhuSerial: SF-04013 Summer intensive Demons, Hindrances, Delusion, Anger, Letting Go, Zazen, Doubt, Separation, Happiness... |
Aug 01 2002 City Center |
|
VasubandhuSerial: SF-04018 Summer intensive Delusion, Letting Go, Emptiness, Zazen, Separation, New Year, Karma, Discrimination,... |
Jul 22 2002 City Center |
|
January 26th, 2002, Serial No. 04072 Heart Sutra, Posture, Avalokiteshvara, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, training, Dragons,... |
Jan 26 2002 City Center |
|
January 19th, 2002, Serial No. 01112 Bodhisattva Vow, Vows, Emptiness, Cultivation, Nirvana, Heart Sutra, Zazen, Freedom,... |
Jan 19 2002 City Center |
|
December 8th, 2001, Serial No. 03938 Ego, Hindrances, Don't Know Mind, Daily Life, Zazen, Vows, Doubt, Emptiness,... |
Dec 08 2001 City Center |
|
Wednesday Lecture Concentration, Suzuki Roshi, Subject-and-Object, Mindfulness, Describe, Zendo,... |
May 23 2001 Green Gulch |
|
Sunday Lecture Ceremony, Freedom, Intimacy, Impermanence, Mill Valley, Separation, Instruction,... |
May 06 2001 Green Gulch |
|
Wednesday Lecture Practice Period, Instruction, Suzuki Roshi, realization, Buddha Ancestors, Delusion,... |
Feb 28 2001 Green Gulch |
|
Sunday Lecture Posture, Balance, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Intuition, Gratitude, Instruction, Lay, Karma... |
Dec 17 2000 Green Gulch |
|
Sunday Lecture Ceremony, Attachment, Dragons, Commitment, Letting Go, Zazen, Big Mind, Greed, Suzuki... |
Nov 26 2000 Green Gulch |
|
Tenzo Kyokun Class Emptiness, Dragons, Intimacy, Dharma Transmission, Zazen, Hindrances, Impermanence,... |
Nov 21 2000 Green Gulch |
|
Sunday Lecture Gratitude, Balance, Zazen, Cultivation, zen meditation, Priest, Conversation,... |
Nov 12 2000 Green Gulch |