Shikantaza Talks

Shikantaza (只管打坐) is Dogen's Japanese translation of the Chinese phrase zhǐguǎn dǎzuò (只管打坐 / 祇管打坐), "focus on meditative practice alone", although many modern Western practitioners have interpreted this very differently. The phrase was used by Dogen's teacher Rujing, a monk of the Caodong school of Chan Buddhism, to refer to the meditation-practice called "silent illumination" (Chinese: 默照禅), or "serene reflection", taught by the Caodong master Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091–1157). In Japan, it is associated with the Zen Soto school, Dogen's offshoot of Caodong. Some practitioners teach that shikantaza means that one should not focus attention on a specific object (such as the breath), instead "just sitting" in a state of conscious awareness; however, the 13th-century origin of the expression indicates a general emphasis on meditation in any form as sufficient for spiritual enlightenment. The original teaching was meant to criticize the complicated ceremony, abstruse study, endless tracing of spiritual lineage, and other aspects of Buddhism that even by the 12th century had been identified as excessive.

From shikantaza on Wikipedia

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Title Speaker

The Four Establishments Of Mindfulness

Mindfulness, Shikantaza, Consciousness, Concentration, Mahayana
Jun 18 2021

Fukanzazengi, Part 2

Dragons, Non-thinking, Rinzai, Soto Zen, Shikantaza
May 15 2021

ZenTalk

Priest, Anger, Karma, Shikantaza, Delusion
Mar 06 2021

Zazen and the Seven Factors of Enlightenment

Serial: BZ-02227

Beneficial Attachment, One-Day Sitting

Passive and Active Zazen

 

Shikantaza, Posture, Breath, Zazen, Monkey Mind, Concentration, Big Mind, Mindfulness...
Jan 21 2012
Berkeley Zen Center

Jhanas and Shikantaza Arhats

Serial: BZ-02189

Shuso ceremony, Sesshin Day 5

Intuition, Shikantaza, Consciousness, Intuition, Karma, Repentance, Birth-and-Death,...
Jun 19 2011
Berkeley Zen Center

Shikantaza - Basic Zen Practice

Serial: BZ-02017

Saturday Lecture

Shikantaza, Continuous Practice, Pure Existence, Composure, Teacher-and-Student,...
Feb 28 2009
Berkeley Zen Center

Zazen, Sanshimopo, and Doshin: Foundations of Practice

Serial: BZ-01112

Shikantaza, Guidance, and Way-Seeking Mind, Saturday Lecture

Shikantaza, Zazen, Way-Seeking Mind, Ego, Continuous Practice, Teacher-and-Student,...
Feb 02 2008
Berkeley Zen Center

True Humility and Buddha's Practice

Serial: BZ-01101

Bare Attention and Not Anticipating, Rohatsu Day 3

Practice, Shikantaza, Humility, Buddha Mind, Hindrances, Don't Know Mind, Anger...
Dec 04 2007
Berkeley Zen Center

Shikantaza: Calm Mind

Serial: BZ-00570

Sesshin Day 1

Shikantaza, Birth-and-Death, Posture, Silent Illumination, Bowing, Big Mind, Buddha...
Feb 20 2005
Tassajara Zen Mountain Center

Shikantaza Practice (from "Not Always So")

Serial: BZ-01275B

Exhaling, Letting Go, Impermanence, One-Day Sitting

Shikantaza, Impermanence, Big Mind, Birth-and-Death, Daily Life, Continuous Practice...
Jul 11 2004
Berkeley Zen Center

Suzuki-rôshi 100th Birth Memorial

Serial: BZ-01265

Gutei's One Finger, Monkey Mind, Saturday Lecture

Suzuki Roshi, Monkey Mind, Shikantaza, Monkey Mind, Gaining Mind, Obstacles, Practice...
May 29 2004
Berkeley Zen Center

Shikantaza: "To Forget The Self"

Serial: BZ-00190A

Saturday Lecture

Shikantaza, Birth-and-Death, Continuous Practice, Soto Zen, Offering, Renunciation,...
Jan 16 1999
Berkeley Zen Center

Shikantaza

Serial: BZ-00357B

One-Day Sitting

Shikantaza, Posture, Beginners, Bowing, resistance, Concentration, Pure Existence,...
Feb 16 1997
Berkeley Zen Center

Zazen and Shikantaza

Serial: BZ-00415B

Saturday Lecture

Zazen, Shikantaza, zen meditation, Instruction, Posture, Concentration, Building,...
Jun 15 1985
Berkeley Zen Center

Shikantaza, Kensho, Jijuyu Samadhi

Serial: BZ-00432A

Saturday Lecture

Shikantaza, Kensho, Jijuyu Zanmai, Dharma Transmission, Building, Daily Life,...
Mar 10 1984
Berkeley Zen Center