Zazen as central practice

What it is: Zazen is seated meditation practiced with posture, attention, breathing discipline, and vigilant presence.

How the tradition understands it: The practice is not seen only as a relaxation technique, but as an axis of training, stabilization of the mind, and realization of the path.

Textual basis and context: Texts by Dogen, monastic rules, and Zen lineage teachings give great centrality to zazen.

Debates and variations: Some schools emphasize silent zazen, others combine it strongly with koans and formal interviews.

Supportive

Dogen, Fukanzazengi

zen-buddhism,dogen,zazen,soto

Dogen’s classic instruction on zazen.

Reference: Dogen, Fukanzazengi.
Content: The text describes the posture, intention, and meaning of seated practice.
Use in debate: It is one of the most cited sources for zazen as the central axis of Soto Zen.

Fukanzazengi on posture and attention

zen-buddhism,zazen,posture,attention

Details of posture and attitude in zazen.

Reference: Dogen, Fukanzazengi, passages on posture.
Content: The text instructs the seated posture and the quality of attention.
Use in debate: It reinforces the technical and spiritual character of zazen.

Keizan's Zazengi

zen-buddhism,keizan,zazen,soto

A practice text associated with the later Soto tradition.

Reference: Zazengi and instructions by Keizan Jokin.
Content: The material reinforces posture, continuity of practice, and the discipline of sitting.
Use in debate: It helps show the continuity of zazen beyond Dogen’s most cited texts.

Shikantaza in the Soto tradition

zen-buddhism,shikantaza,soto,zazen

Just sitting is a classic formulation of Soto practice.

Reference: Soto teachings on shikantaza.
Content: The practice highlights sitting wholeheartedly without a dominant discursive object.
Use in debate: It is central to Soto specificity.