Zen Meditation Retreat
Sesshin Talks
A sesshin (接心, or also 摂心/攝心 literally "touching the heart-mind") is a period of intensive meditation (zazen) in a Zen monastery.
While the daily routine in the monastery requires the monks to meditate several hours a day, during a sesshin they devote themselves almost exclusively to zazen practice. The numerous 30- to 50-minute-long meditation periods are interleaved with short rest breaks, meals, and sometimes short periods of work (Japanese: 作務 samu) all performed with the same mindfulness; nightly sleep is kept to a minimum, at six hours or fewer. During the sesshin period, the meditation practice is occasionally interrupted by the master giving public talks (teisho) and individual direction in private meetings (which may be called dokusan, daisan, or sanzen) with a Zen Master.
In modern Buddhist practice in Japan and the West, sesshins are often attended by lay students and are typically one, three, five, or seven days in length. Seven-day sesshins are held several times a year at many Zen centers, especially in commemoration of the Buddha's awakening to full enlightenment (anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi). At this Rohatsu sesshin, practitioners seek to relax and quiet the mind to the point of cessation of mental chatter and emotional impulse, samadhi, kensho, or satori.
Title | Speaker | |
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Everything Itself Is BuddhaSerial: SF-05140A SR20 - Reel #5 Suzuki track 1 - Roshi's lecture sesshin #7 12/6/67 Afternoon - copied (This audio is only the first part of the talk) Sesshin, Buddha Nature, Buddha Nature, Observe, Hate, Faith |
Dec 06 1967 B Tassajara |
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Good and Bad FeelingSerial: SF-05141-A Tuesday, December 5, 1967 Sesshin, Attachment, Discrimination, Separation, Liberation, Freedom, Doubt, Faith... |
Dec 05 1967 A Tassajara |
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Nature of Our PracticeSerial: SF-05141-B Tuesday, December 5, 1967, Lecture B Sesshin, Dogen, Fukanzazengi, Dragons, Daily Life, Observe, Freedom, training,... |
Dec 05 1967 B Tassajara |
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OLD - The More... We Study Our Way, The More Difficult It Is To Explain ItSerial: 67-12-04 Evening Sesshin Lecture, Lecture B Sesshin, reality, Observe, Faith, Ceremony, lecture |
Dec 04 1967 B Tassajara |
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The More We Study Our Way, The More Difficult It Is To Explain ItSerial: SF-05142 SR018 - Track 1 - Roshi's Lecture sesshin #4 12/4/67 Evening - copied Sesshin, Dogen, Observe, Ceremony |
Dec 04 1967 Evening Tassajara |
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Think the UnthinkableSerial: SF-05137B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #20, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk comes from the middle of the second sesshin at Tassajara, in December... Sesshin, Fukanzazengi, Buddha Mind, training, Sanctuary, Beginners, Echo, Duality,... |
Dec 04 1967 Afternoon Tassajara |
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Inner Power of PracticeSerial: SF-05137A SR017 - Track 1 - slow - Roshi Lecture - 12/2/67 - afternoon - copied Sesshin, Blue Cliff Record, Concentration, Precepts, Monastic Practice, New Year,... |
Dec 02 1967 Tassajara |
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Putting Power In Your HaraSerial: SF-05133-A Afternoon Sesshin Lecture Sesshin, Dogen, Fukanzazengi, Buddha Mind, Big Mind, Separation, New Year,... |
Dec 01 1967 A Tassajara |
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True PracticeSerial: SF-05133-B Evening Sesshin Lecture Sesshin, Zuigan, Fox, Gratitude, Fox, Buddha Nature, Addiction, Discrimination,... |
Dec 01 1967 B Tassajara |
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OLD - Genjo Koan No. 4Serial: SR-00195 Thursday, August 24, 1967 Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Faith, Nirvana, Lay, Emptiness, Suffering, Pain, Death... |
Aug 24 1967 A Tassajara |
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OLD - Reflections on the Prajna Paramita SutraSerial: 67-08-24C Thursday, August 24, 1967 Tassajara Introduction and end note from the Wind Bell During the seven day sesshin that ended Tassajara's first two month... Sesshin, |
Aug 24 1967 C Tassajara |
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Shosan CeremonyAugust Sesshin, 1967 [Opening sentences of Introduction missed.] Sesshin, Shosan, |
Aug 24 1967 B Tassajara |
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Genjo Koan no 4Serial: SF-05136 Track 1 17/8 - Suzuki lectures - beginning missed, one or two sentences; beginning: This is the last lecture of sesshin. We have talked of emptiness and form, but have not... Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Time, Faith, Emptiness, Continuous, Dragons |
Aug 24 1967 A Tassajara |
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Reflections on the Prajna Paramita SutraSerial: SF-05135A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #19, by Shundo David Haye ===== This is the talk that was chosen by the... Sesshin, Sengai, Time, Emptiness, Ego, Continuous, Evil, Nirvana, Concentration,... |
Aug 24 1967 Tassajara |
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OLD - Genjo Koan No. 4Serial: SR-00195A Thursday, August 24, 1967 Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Breath, Emptiness, Hate, Forms, Building |
Aug 24 1967 A Tassajara |
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OLD - Buddhism Is Not a Special Teaching; Enlightenment Is Not a Particular StageSerial: 67-08-23 Wednesday, August 23, 1967 Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, |
Aug 23 1967 Tassajara |
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Buddhism Is Not a Special Teaching; Enlightenment Is Not a Particular StageSerial: SF-05134D ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #17, by Shundo David Haye ===== About half way through this sesshin talk, you can start to hear crickets in the background, getting... Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Enemies, Continuous, Doubt, Religion, Peace |
Aug 23 1967 Tassajara |
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To Polish A Tile Is Our Practice ActuallySerial: SF-05135B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #18, by Shundo David Haye ===== Further to the date confusion and missing talks discussed last time, it seems that even Suzuki Roshi... Sesshin, Prajna Paramita, Shobogenzo, Discrimination, Silence |
Aug 23 1967 Tassajara |
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Genjo Koan no 2Serial: SF-05134C ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #16, by Shundo David Haye ===== This third talk from the historic inaugural sesshin at Tassajara in 1967, given the day after the... Sesshin, Dogen, Priest, Emptiness, Dragons, Describe, confusion, Hate |
Aug 21 1967 Tassajara |
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OLD - Genjō KōanSerial: 67-08-20 Sunday, August 20, 1967 (Note from Brian Fikes: The first portion of this lecture... Genjokoan, Dogen, Sesshin, |
Aug 20 1967 Tassajara |
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Genjo KoanSerial: SF-05134A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #14, by Shundo David Haye ===== The acquisition of Tassajara in 1967 was a huge leap for Zen Center. Suzuki Roshi had long been... Genjokoan, Dogen, Sesshin, Emptiness, New Year, Interview, Freedom |
Aug 20 1967 Morning Tassajara |
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When You Have A New ExperienceSerial: SF-05134B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #15, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk was given later on the same day of the first Tassajara sesshin as the last one discussed (... Sesshin, Faith, Doubt |
Aug 20 1967 Evening Tassajara |
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OLD - When You Have A New ExperienceSerial: 67-08-02 August 20, 1967 (evening) [misdate?] [The first part of this lecture was not recorded. Roshi was talking about the... Sesshin, |
Aug 02 1967 Tassajara |
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Sesshin Lecture: Three TreasuresSerial: 67-06-11 Sunday, June 11, 1967 [Suzuki seems to be commenting on Shi Sho Ku* (?) of Dogen. When this is evident, Dogen's words are in quotation marks.] *SHUSHOGI [jrb... Sesshin, Shushogi, Precepts, |
Jun 11 1967 |
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This Sesshin Was Wonderfully DoneSerial: SF-05100-C Saturday, April 22, 1967 Sesshin, Priest, Evil, Doubt, training |
Apr 22 1967 B Sokoji |
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You Must Give Up Worldly DesiresSerial: SF-05100-B Saturday, April 22, 1967 Sesshin, Family Practice, Doubt, Dragons, resistance, Priest, Hate, Freedom |
Apr 22 1967 A Sokoji |
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OLD - In the first instruction of ten instructions in Gakudō-yōjin-shūSerial: SR-00089 Reel was wrongly dated - transcript matches 66-12-17-A Discussion of fascicle Shobogeno Gakudo Yojinshu. Way-seeking mind and responding to encountering the... Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Sixth Patriarch, training, Birth-and-Death, Instruction,... |
Dec 17 1966 A Sokoji |
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OLD - The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking MindSerial: SF-05838 This had been labeled as A - transript matches B. temporary audio from this date hidden - SDH Saturday, December 17, 1966 DECEMBER ONE-DAY SESSHIN LECTURE:... Sesshin, Dogen, training, New Year, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Nature, Practice... |
Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji |
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OLD - The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking MindSerial: 66-12-17-B Hidden as we had a reel that corresponded to this transcript - SDH Saturday, December 17, 1966 DECEMBER ONE-DAY SESSHIN LECTURE: Saturday Evening Sesshin, Dogen, training, Compassion, zen, Patience, Zazen, Instruction, Building,... |
Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji |
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In the first instruction of ten instructions in Gakudō-yōjin-shūSesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Sixth Patriarch, Platform Sutra, training, Instruction,... |
Dec 17 1966 A Sokoji |
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The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking MindSerial: SF-05121B Original recording Sesshin, Dogen, training, Buddha Nature, Hate, Observe, Instruction, Doubt |
Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji |
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Blue Cliff Records Case 45Serial: SF-05097-E Friday, August 19, 1966 Blue Cliff Record, Sesshin, Joshu, Eiheiji, Observe, Diversity, Duality |
Aug 19 1966 D Sokoji |
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OLD - Mind Itself Is BuddhaSerial: SR-00087 Friday, August 19, 1966 --------------------------- Explanation of fascicle Shobogenzo Sokushin Ze... Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Blue Cliff Record, Silence, Instruction, Anger,... |
Aug 19 1966 C Sokoji |
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OLD - ShōbōgenzōSerial: SR-00092 Friday, August 19, 1966 Translation and discussion of fascicle Shobogenzo Sokushin Ze Butsu... Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Subject-and-Object, War, Faith, Lay,... |
Aug 19 1966 A Sokoji |
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OLD - Don't Be Attached To Your AttainmentSerial: 66-08-19-B Sesshin Lecture: Friday Morning during Zazen, Lecture B Sesshin, Zazen, Attachment, lecture |
Aug 19 1966 B Sokoji |
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OLD - Blue Cliff Records Case 45Serial: SF-05097E Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 3 Suzuki 7:30pm lecture Friday night ending sesshin Sesshin, Blue Cliff Record, Eiheiji, Joshu, Duality, Observe, Describe |
Aug 19 1966 D Sokoji |
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This Fascicle of ShobogenzoSerial: SF-05097-F Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 2: Suzuki 1pm lecture Friday Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Blue Cliff Record, Attachment, Instruction, Freedom,... |
Aug 19 1966 C Sokoji |
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Don't Be Attached To Your AttainmentSerial: SF-05097-H Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 4 Friday lecture by Suzuki during morning zazen Friday Sesshin, Instruction, Attachment |
Aug 19 1966 B Sokoji |
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ShōbōgenzōSerial: SF-05093-F Thursday, August 18, 1966 Sesshin, Buddha Mind, Birth-and-Death, Dana, Fasting, Interdependence |
Aug 18 1966 B Sokoji |
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This is the Fourth Day of our SesshinSerial: SF-05097-C Reconstruction of Lecture from Second Zazen Period (Before Morning Service) [This tape... Sesshin, Suzuki Roshi |
Aug 18 1966 A Sokoji |
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ShobogenzoSerial: SF-05097-D Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Subject-and-Object, Attachment, Buddha Nature,... |
Aug 18 1966 C Sokoji |
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CausalitySerial: SF-05093-J Suzuki lecture 6pm Weds Track 2, continued on Track 3 Sesshin, Time, Freedom, Happiness, Fox, Oneness, Enemies, Offering, Evil, Lay... |
Aug 17 1966 6:00pm Sokoji |
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Our Mind Should Be CalmSerial: SF-05093-L Tuesday, August 16, 1966 Sesshin, Instruction, |
Aug 16 1966 Sokoji |
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The first day of the sesshin is almost finishedSerial: SF-05093-K Monday, August 15, 1966 Sesshin, Freedom, causation, Composure, Posture |
Aug 15 1966 D Sokoji |
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You Cannot Appreciate Our Teaching In Its True SenseSerial: SF-05093-B Monday, August 15, 1966 Sesshin, Oryoki, Instruction, |
Aug 15 1966 B Sokoji |
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OLD - The Second Paragraph of the Genjo KoanSerial: SR-00196 Monday, August 15, 1966 Sesshin, Genjokoan, Dogen, Consciousness, Attachment, Instruction, Doubt, reality,... |
Aug 15 1966 A Sokoji |
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Think Everything OutSerial: SF-05093-C Monday, August 15, 1966, Lecture C Sesshin, causation, Attachment, Hate, Intuition, Concentration, Evil, Instruction,... |
Aug 15 1966 C Sokoji |
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Talk on ShobogenzoSerial: SF-05111B Other Japanese lecture [case replaced 12/95. Case notes transcribed verbatim] Sesshin, Happiness |
Aug 15 1966 B Sokoji |
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Genjo KoanSerial: SF-05111C This is the bulk of the talk attributed to this date. It sounds distinct from the earlier fragment, and the date may not be accurate, though the subject is appropriate for the... Sesshin, Attachment, Instruction, Freedom, Doubt |
Aug 15 1966 C Sokoji |
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We Are Not PerfectSerial: SF-05080-A Sesshin talk. At the beginning, Suzuki Roshi is drawing from Dogen's "Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance." The methods are also in Shushogi. Sesshin, Paramitas, Bodhisattva, Shushogi, Happiness, Enemies |
Jul 23 1966 Sokoji |