Practice Period Talks

An ango (安居), or kessei (結制), is a Japanese term for a three-month period of intense training for students of Zen Buddhism, lasting anywhere from 90 to 100 days. The practice during ango consists of meditation (zazen), study, and work (samu (作務)).

Ango is typically held twice a year, the first period from spring to summer and the second period from fall to winter. The word ango literally translates as "dwelling in peace"; the summer ango is referred to as ge-ango and the winter period is u-ango. Additionally, some monasteries and Zen centers hold just one ango per year.

Concerning Zen practice in the United States, author Ellen Birx writes,

Many centers now allow members to attend retreats on a part-time basis. Many have ango, a three-month-long period of intensified practice, that members can participate in while continuing to go off to work during the day." Taigen Dan Leighton writes a more traditional definition, "These are ninety-day training periods of concentrated practice without leaving the monastic enclosure (except for monks going out for necessary temple business). They date back to the summer rainy season retreats of Shakyamuni's time. In Japan, they have been held twice a year, summer and winter."

From Ango on Wikipedia

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Title Speaker

Ten Vows, Ten Practices, and Ten Cakes

Discrimination, Nirvana, Practice Period, Blue Cliff Record, Letting Go, Right Effort...
Mar 07 2020
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Buddha Has Reasons For Teaching Non-Self And Buddha Has Reasons For Teaching Self

Addiction, Discrimination, Anger, Practice Period, Dragons, Impermanence, Enthusiasm...
Feb 01 2020
PM
No Abode Hermitage

Reaching Home Again Without Realizing It

Chanting, Suzuki Roshi, Practice Period, Priest, japanese, Faith, Impermanence, Lotus...
Oct 19 2019
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Teachings for the Welfare of the World

In this summer series, teachings will be offered for those who aspire to embrace and sustain the great earth and all living beings in order to realize peace and freedom in our troubled world.
...

YRB-2019-Summer, Silence, Funeral, Emotions, Interview, soto, Practice Period, Birth-...
Jul 09 2019
3/7
The Yoga Room

Just This Is: the Avatamsaka Sutra in the Zen Tradition

Perfect Wisdom, Discrimination, Buddha Mind, Practice Period, Karmic Consciousness,...
Apr 13 2019
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Buddha Activity

Intimacy, Doubt, Faith, true dharma, zen meditation, Complete Perfect Enlightenment,...
Mar 09 2019
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Silent Sitting and Social Action

All compounded phenomena are unworthy of confidence. Compassion to these unstable phenomena is our practice. Zen stories are about enacting awakening within social interactions. Attend to your body,...

Compassion, Four Foundations, Practice Period,
Oct 20 2018
PM
No Abode Hermitage

The Pivotal Activity of All the Buddhas

Compassion, Practice Period,
Sep 17 2016
AM
No Abode Hermitage

Clean the Temple and Listen to the Cries of the World

Work, Monkey Mind, confusion, Letting Go, Bodhisattva Precepts, Suzuki Roshi, Dragons...
Jun 07 2014
AM
No Abode Hermitage

The Good Friendship of Shitou, Matsu and Yaoshan

Shitou, Mazu, Yaoshan, Koan, Teacher-and-Student, Perfect Wisdom, Manjushri, Faith,...
Feb 01 2014
Morning
No Abode Hermitage

Householder Bodhisattvas, What is Your Aspiration for this New Year? 

Rinzai, Teacher-and-Student, Bodhisattva Precepts, Practice Period, Evil, Commitment...
Jan 02 2012
Afternoon
No Abode Hermitage

Study of delusion is the Buddha Way 

Bodhisattva Vow, Karmic Consciousness, Practice Period, Equanimity, Mahayana,...
Aug 13 2011
Afternoon
No Abode Hermitage

Facing the Wall for Nine Years 

Lotus Sutra, Attachment, true dharma, Zendo, Confession-and-Repentance, Impermanence...
Sep 18 2010
Morning
No Abode Hermitage

The Mind of Enlightenment 

Enthusiasm, Bodhidharma, Practice Period, Faith, Equanimity, Confession-and-...
Aug 05 2010
The Yoga Room

Training for the Selfless Heart 

Patience, Intimacy, Practice Period, Anger, Don't Know Mind, Teacher-and-Student...
Apr 01 2010
The Yoga Room

For a Sentient Being to be a Sentient Being is just not to Move 

Priest, New Year, japanese, Don't Know Mind, Lotus Sutra, Practice Period,...
Nov 14 2009
Afternoon
No Abode Hermitage

Faith that Allows Doubt and the Idea that All Ideas are Contingent and Empty 

Doubt, New Year, Practice Period
Dec 13 2008
Afternoon
No Abode Hermitage

Buddha Sitting as Us; Us Sitting as Buddha 

Birth-and-Death, Lotus Sutra, War, Mindfulness, American, Samsara, Practice Period,...
Oct 18 2008
Afternoon
No Abode Hermitage

Fearlessness 

Separation, Non-violence, Intimacy, Practice Period, War, Impermanence, difficulty...
Nov 01 2007
No Abode Hermitage