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Soto Zen Talks
Sōtō Zen or the Sōtō school (曹洞宗, Sōtō-shū) is the largest of the three traditional sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism (the others being Rinzai and Ōbaku). It is the Japanese line of the Chinese Caodong school, which was founded during the Tang dynasty by Dongshan Liangjie. It emphasizes Shikantaza, meditation with no objects, anchors, or content. The meditator strives to be aware of the stream of thoughts, allowing them to arise and pass away without interference.
The Japanese brand of the sect was imported in the 13th century by Dōgen Zenji, who studied Caodong Buddhism (Chinese: 曹洞宗; pinyin: Cáodòng Zōng) abroad in China. Dōgen is remembered today as the ancestor of Sōtō Zen in Japan along with Keizan Jōkin.
With about 14,000 temples, Sōtō is one of the largest Japanese Buddhist organizations. Sōtō Zen is now also popular in the West, and in 1996 priests of the Sōtō Zen tradition formed the Soto Zen Buddhist Association based in North America.
Showing 280 talks
| Title | Speaker | |
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Wood and Lineage Japan, Soto Zen, Karma |
Aug 22 2026 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Koan of Everyday Life (Class 4 of 4) Koan, Buddha Nature, Soto Zen |
May 28 2026 Class 4 of 4 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Awakening to Full Aliveness Eightfold Path, Suffering, Soto Zen |
Apr 04 2026 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Kogen Czarnik In This Body,In This Lifetime Japan, Soto Zen, Dharma Transmission |
Jun 21 2025 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Taking Refuge – Mutual Affinity with the Three Treasures Sangha, Suzuki Roshi, Soto Zen |
Feb 01 2025 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Free Fall into Buddha’s Hand Zazen, Buddha Nature, Soto Zen |
Sep 14 2024 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Our Evolving Relationship With Soto Zen Soto Zen, Suzuki Roshi, Ceremony |
Jun 03 2023 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Reflections on INEB in Korea War, Community, Soto Zen |
Nov 12 2022 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The 8-Fold Path in Sangha Sangha, Eightfold Path, Soto Zen |
Oct 09 2022 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Culture and Change Sangha, Soto Zen, Precepts |
Aug 20 2022 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Women Ancestors Class Blue Cliff Record, Gratitude, Soto Zen, Transmission |
Nov 30 2020 3 of 3 Zoom |
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Looking Back To Look ForwardSoto Zen, Blue Cliff Record, Dharma Transmission, Diversity, Emotions, Gratitude, New... |
Nov 14 2020 |
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Paramita of Concentration Book of Serenity, Concentration, Impermanence, Intimacy, Ordinary Mind, Silent... |
Oct 12 2019 |
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Aspects of Practice Class - Paramitas - Part 1 October 10th, 2019, Serial No. 02705 Buddha Nature, Intimacy, Mahayana, Precepts, Soto Zen, Vinaya |
Oct 10 2019 1 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Beloved Community (Study Sesshin AM)Serial: BZ-02697 Study Sesshin AM
Diversity, Non-violence, Priest, Repentance, Soto Zen, War |
Sep 07 2019 |
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Denko Roku 1: ShakyamuniSerial: BZ-02662 Study Sesshin Day 1
Buddha Nature, Chanting, Dogen, Liberation, Nirvana, Ordination, Soto Zen,... |
Feb 16 2019 |
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Buddha's EnlightmentSerial: BZ-02654 Rohatsu Day 7
Duality, Non-discrimination, Soto Zen, Composure, Intimacy, War |
Dec 08 2018 |
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Merit Gathas by Robert Aitken: The Dragon Who Never SleepsSerial: BZ-02651 Rohatsu Day 4
Bodhidharma, Buddha Mind, Priest, Priest-and-Lay, Soto Zen |
Dec 05 2018 |
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Tea Ladies and Their Mind-Refreshing TeachingSerial: BZ-02639 Sesshin Open Aspects of Practice
Duality, Ego, Heart Sutra, Practice Period, Precepts, Priest, Hui-neng, Soto Zen... |
Oct 06 2018 |
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Practices for PP Opening Sesshin Practice Period, Gaining Mind, Monastic Practice, Subject-and-Object, Continuous... |
Apr 28 2018 |
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Whole-Hearted Practice Buddha Mind, Dharma Transmission, Samadhi, Birth-and-Death, Rinzai, Soto Zen,... |
Mar 17 2018 |
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Buddha's Parinirvana (Nirvana Study Sesshin Day 1, Lecture 2)Serial: BZ-02597 Nirvana Study Sesshin Day 1 Lecture 2
Happiness, Composure, Nirvana, Monastic Practice, Samsara, Soto Zen, Bowing, Big Mind... |
Feb 17 2018 |
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Way-Seeking Mind Talk Death-and-Dying, Interview, Mahayana, Priest, Soto Zen |
Feb 11 2018 |
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Paramitas: DanaDana Paramita, Branching Streams, Right Speech, Precepts, Conversation, Sangha, Soto... |
Nov 18 2017 |
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Not Always So Composure, Dragons, Gratitude, Liberation, Posture, Soto Zen |
Oct 21 2017 |
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Jewel Mirror Samadhi Part 1Serial: BZ-02569 Part 1 of 2 Transmission, Duality, Soto Zen, Five Ranks, Dharma Transmission, Teacher-and-Student... |
Sep 02 2017 1 |
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The Shuso Question: Full Spontaneous Encounter Conversation, Gratitude, Hindrances, Patience, Posture, Practice Period, Soto Zen,... |
Jul 01 2017 |
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Practice and Ritual: Just Enough Chanting, Heart Sutra, Monastic Practice, Precepts, Priest, Soto Zen |
Jun 24 2017 |
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Gathas and PreceptsSerial: BZ-02556 Sesshin Day 5
Precepts, Soto Zen, Practice Period, Heart Sutra, Birth-and-Death, Daily Life... |
Jun 11 2017 |
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Heart SutraSerial: BZ-02555 Sesshin Day 4
Four Noble Truths, Buddha Nature, Teacher-and-Student, Heart Sutra, Birth-and-Death,... |
Jun 10 2017 |
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Ordination and Taking the Precepts Precepts, Birth-and-Death, Bodhisattva Way, Priest-and-Lay, Bodhisattva Precepts,... |
Jun 03 2017 |
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Grandmotherly Mind Big Mind, Practice Period, Dharma Position, Precepts, Right Speech, Soto Zen, Teacher... |
Mar 25 2017 |
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Zen Training Absolute-and-Relative, Buddha Nature, Ego, Soto Zen |
Feb 25 2017 |
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Practice in Community Dharma Position, Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Bodhisattva Ceremony, Lay Practice,... |
Feb 18 2017 |
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Training in IntuitationSerial: BZ-02518 Rohatsu Day 5
Don't Know Mind, Priest, Soto Zen |
Dec 08 2016 |
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Original Buddhism and Beyond Consciousness Ego, Karma, Posture, Soto Zen, Subject-and-Object |
Nov 19 2016 Berkeley Zen Center |
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What is Bowing Bowing, Demons, Diversity, Duality, Gratitude, Monastic Practice, Patience, Soto Zen... |
Oct 01 2016 |
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Harmonious Life Straight from the Horses Mouth Continuous Practice, Conversation, Emotions, Intimacy, Practice Period, Soto Zen... |
Sep 10 2016 |
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Practice is the Details of My Life Buddha Nature, Dharma Transmission, Gratitude, Samadhi, Soto Zen, Transmission... |
Aug 13 2016 |
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Universal Spiritual Friendship and Practice of Bravery Buddha Nature, Diversity, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Non-violence, Right Effort, Soto... |
Jul 02 2016 |
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Continuous PracticeSerial: BZ-02482 Sesshin Day 1
Continuous Practice, Family Practice, Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Lay Practice,... |
Jun 08 2016 |
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White Bird in SnowSerial: BZ-02481 Jukai
Precepts, Lay Ordination, Ordination, Bodhisattva Way, Lay Practice, Transmission,... |
Jun 04 2016 |
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Yunmen's JewelSerial: BZ-02463 Koan Class Blue Cliff Record Case 62 class 1 of 4
BCR-62, Book of Serenity, Buddha Mind, Duality, Subject-and-Object, Soto Zen, Blue... |
Mar 07 2016 1 |
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Turning the Light Inward Concentration, Conversation, Soto Zen |
Mar 05 2016 |
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Hui Neng and the Poetry ContestSerial: BZ-02440 Aspects of Practice
Bodhidharma, Doubt, Heart Sutra, Platform Sutra, Politics, Practice Period, Soto Zen... |
Oct 17 2015 |
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A Big Headache Interview, Practice Period, Soto Zen |
Jun 20 2015 |
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Everything Changes Composure, Nirvana, Practice Period, Soto Zen, Precepts, Buddha Nature, Emotions,... |
May 23 2015 |
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Suffering is Not Enough Soto Zen, Impermanence, Global Warming, Book of Serenity, Fundraising, Emotions,... |
Sep 27 2014 |
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Zen Bodies, Zen Mirrors Lotus Sutra, Jewel Mirror Samadhi, Chanting, Soto Zen |
Sep 14 2014 |
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Teaching for the Tenzo Big Mind, Ego, Interview, Monastic Practice, Priest, Soto Zen |
Jun 18 2014 1 |