Gyoji: continuous practice in Soto Zen tradition

In Soto Zen Buddhism, one of the key terms for understanding practice is gyoji (行持), usually translated as continuous practice.

This concept reminds us that Zen practice is not limited to zazen (seated meditation). It extends to every aspect of ordinary life. Each action, no matter how small, can express the Way.

Gyoji points to a steady and sincere effort. There is no “time to practice” separate from “time to live.” Preparing food, cleaning, speaking with others, working, resting, and caring for community can all become practice when approached with attention.

Its roots are found in the teachings of Dogen Zenji, founder of Soto Zen in Japan in the 13th century. For Dogen, practice and realization are not two different things. Practice itself is enlightenment-in-action.

In Soto monasteries, gyoji appears in the care given to ritual and daily routine alike. Chanting sutras, cooking, and sweeping are performed with the same wholehearted presence as zazen. The dualism between “spiritual” and “ordinary” life dissolves.

For lay practitioners, gyoji is equally central. We may not follow monastic schedules, but we can still embody this spirit in family life, work, and relationships. Practice then becomes portable: it is not dependent on one place or one moment.

Continuous practice also teaches impermanence. By returning to what is here now, we see that each moment is unique and unrepeatable. Instead of chasing a distant spiritual goal, we discover awakening within immediate experience.

Gyoji is therefore not only a doctrinal concept. It is practical guidance:

• Keep returning to presence.
• Give full attention to simple tasks.
• Practice with continuity rather than intensity spikes.
• Let zazen shape how we speak, decide, and relate.

If you are beginning, gyoji helps integrate Zen into daily life. If you have practiced for years, it deepens stability and humility. In both cases, it invites the same movement: do not separate practice from life.