This talk was given by Harada Sekkei Roshi at a sesshin in Germany about 30 years ago

皆さんの中にはすでに弟子丸老師その他の禅の先生について坐禅を長くなさっておられる人があると聞いております。	I hear that among those of you attending this sesshin some have trained under Deshimaru Roshi and other Zen teachers for many years.
私の所属する教団は曹洞宗でありますが、曹洞宗というような教団に関係なく接心中は話をさせて頂きます。	Although my temple in Japan belongs to what is called the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism, my talks during sesshin are not limited to the teaching of the Soto sect.
この度４ヶ所の接心も同じようにあらゆる教団とか宗派というものを離れてただ法というもののために接心をおこなってきました。	Just as in the previous four sesshins, this sesshin is conducted only for the sake of the Dharma and is apart or independent of any religious organization or sect.
そういう訳でありますから、過去に色んな老師につかれた方も、また初めて坐禅をなさる方も、あるいは仏教を信じない人、あるいはその他の教えの団体に所属する人も法という前には全く差別がありません（同じであります）。	Therefore, in regard to the Dharma, no distinctions are made because of one’s previous teacher, or because of a lack of previous experience, or because of a difference in religious beliefs, or because one doesn’t believe in Buddhism.
坐禅のために坐禅を行ずる、坐禅のために坐禅の修行をするということです。	We practice zazen for the sake of zazen. We do zazen for its own sake.
坐禅ということは本当に自分が自由になる。	What we call zazen is to become truly free, liberated.
それから本当に安心をすることです。	And zazen is to attain or reach true peace of mind.
それが、皆さんが今その坐禅と安心ということは即ち皆さんの今の姿です。	And right now this zazen and this peace of mind is exactly the present condition of each one of us now.
その事を今のこの事実を本当に自分がそうだと納得をするんです。	And we practice to come to grasp/consent to this fact or truth of our own present reality being this.
提唱と独参を接心中に行います。	During sesshin there will be teisho and dokusan.
独参は全部の人が来なくてもよろしい。独参は、話をしたい人だけが来ればよろしい。	It is not necessary for everyone to go to dokusan.　 Only those who would like to talk with me should go to dokusan.
ただ、皆さんが安心をして坐禅をするために独参があります。深く坐禅をして頂くために独参をするわけです。	However, dokusan is for the purpose of sitting with peace of mind. In other words, dokusan is held in order for you to settle yourself firmly in your zazen practice.
疑いを持って坐禅をしておっては時間の浪費です。	Sitting with doubts concerning your practice is a waste of time.
ですから、疑いを無くして本当に安心して坐禅をするために独参があるわけです。	Therefore, dokusan is offered in order to get rid of those doubts and to be able to sit assured about the direction of your practice.
ですから、疑問、坐禅のこと、あるいは仏教の事について少しでも疑問のある人は独参を受けていただければよろしいです。	Therefore, those of you who have any doubts or questions about zazen, or would like to inquire about Buddhism, should come to dokusan.
この接心中は無言の行です。無言の行をして頂きたいと思います。	During this sesshin we refrain from speaking. Speak only when absolutely necessary. I would like you to conduct this sesshin in silence, not just in the zendo but also the entire time during sesshin.
坐禅の時は勿論ですが、作務の時あるいはその他、休憩の時もお互いの修行のために邪魔にならないような生活に心がけて下さい。	Not only during sitting, but also during work and rest periods, conduct your daily lives during sesshin in a way that does not disturb the practice of others.
皆さんが協力をして一日も早く道場に慣れて頂くようにお願いを致します。	Cooperating in this way, everyone can quickly become familiar and accustomed to the dojo and sesshin schedule.
この接心中、皆さん体に十分注意をして、ここに居られる皆さんが最後まで接心が継続が出来ます様にお願いをしておきます。	During sesshin please take great care of yourselves, making it possible for all of us to endeavor until the end of sesshin.
それから色々言われている要件のために外に出られる人は出入口付近に坐って頂けると便利です。	Due to various circumstances a few people will be coming and going during zazen. It would be convenient if they would sit near the exits.
それから警策を受けては体の都合が悪い人は係りの方に話しておいて下さい。	Those sitters who would prefer not to be hit by the kyosaku should speak with the person in charge before the start of sesshin. (The kyosaku is the wooden stick that Koten Roshi occasionally carries walking through the zendo during zazen.)