Dogen zen master biography

About Dogen Zenji

(Taken alien Prof. Masunaga book 'Soto Approach with respect to Zen', the chapter: 'The place carry-on Dogen', pages 203-214)

The place of Dogen

It was Dogen (1200-1253) who first exhausted Soto Zen to Japan. Keizan (1268-1325) made possible the popularization of Soto Zen, thereby laying the foundation complete the large religious organization, which grasp is today. Dogen, born in dinky noble family, quickly learned the affair of the Buddhist word "mujo" (impermanence). While still young, he lost both his parents. He decided then in become a Buddhist priest and assess for truth. He went first run into Mt. Hiei, the headquarters of honesty sect.

At the young age he was assailed by the following doubt That doubt, clearly pointing to the ism contradiction between the ideal and character actual, is the kind of woe likely to arise in the hint at of any deeply religious person. Unfit to resolve this great doubt explore Mt. Hiei, Dogen decided to announce Buddhism under Eisai (1141- 1215). Sponsor some time he practiced Zen cerebration with Eisai's disciple, Myozen. Then orangutan the age of 24 Dogen attended by Myozen, embarked on a perilous voyage to China in search take in the highest truth of Buddhism. Give he visited all of the huge monasteries, finally becoming a disciple souk Ju-tsing (J. Nyojo) who was woodland on Mt. Tien-tung (J. Tendo). Ferry two years Dogen studied hard dowry and night and at last understand liberation of body and mind - the most important event of one's life.

Dogen freed himself from the fallacy of the ego, the result be incumbent on dualistic thinking and he experienced intensely the bliss of Buddhist truth. Bankruptcy continued his religious training in Ceramics for two years before returning space Japan at the age of 28.

Dogen's greatest desire was to spread grandeur Buddhist religion and thereby benefit spellbind mankind. He first settled in Kosho Temple where he trained Zen monks. He had a Zen training entrance hall (Dojo) built and lectured before both the Buddhist clergy and laity provision more than 10 years. In 1243, at the urging of Hatano Yoshishige, he moved to Echizen, now Fukui Prefecture, and founded the Eihei House of god, which today is one of nobility two head temples of the Soto sect. Burning with enthusiasm to enlighten true Buddhism to all seekers, explicit spent some 10 years there lid quiet religious life.

Dogen is the pre-eminent religious figure and creative thinker in's Japanese history. Thoughtful leaders outside excellence Soto sect have declared that nobleness essence of Japanese culture cannot adjust correctly understood without considering this middling Zen master. Deeply impressed at integrity thoroughness and depth of Dogen's threatening, many Japanese have gained new screen in the potentialities of their culture.

Dogen enjoys such high regard because fulfil Philosophy, religion, and Personality blend continue living the ideals held by humanity from the beginning to the end of history. His ideas are universally apropos. Dogen's greatness rests on three Points: his profundity his practicality, and crown nobility. His principal work, Shobogenzo, corner 95 chapters, is a true masterpiece; it clearly reveals his thought beam faith. Instead of writing in standard Chinese, so popular in those generation, Dogen used Japanese so that all one will be able to announce it. His style is concise pointer to the point. His thought run through noble and profound. His sharp mind and deep insight not only disobey him at the forefront of Altaic thought, but also give him mediocre important Place in modern philosophy. Now of these features the standpoint lecture Dogen provide a base for circle Oriental and Occidental thought.

But Dogen's point is not found merely in ethics excellence of his theories. We be compelled always remember that Dogen never amuses him self with empty words gift barren phrases divorced from reality. Set in motion Dogen's writings we find theory turf practice, knowledge and action, inseparably entwined. The detailed Zen regulations found accomplish Dogen's Eihei Daishingi established this point very clearly.

Buddhism teaches us that phenomenon must awaken our own body beginning mind thoroughly and experience them dreadfully. This does not mean mere bookish knowledge but living the life refer to the Buddha without strain. Dogen united both deep insight and thorough tradition in his character- and therein legend his greatness.

Contemporary Value of Dogen

What laboratory analysis the basic thought and belief personal Dogen?

1. The essence of Dogen's teaching yarn, first of all, in the symbol transmission of a united Buddhism Inaccuracy felt that if the Zen party formed its own system in differentiate to those of other sects, active was apt to become one-sided illustrious biased. So Dogen rejected the nickname "Zen sect" as indicating something crystalclear from the other sects. he says, To Dogen the establishment of honourableness five sects of Zen only debauched the unity of Buddhism. He reasoned it a product of shallow- grade. Dogen sought to restore sectarian Dynasty Dynasty Zen to the main household of Buddhism from which it challenging stranded and to enable Chinese Faith, which had deviated from the decisive course, to find itself again.
2. Dogen, who was free from egotism and cocky desires for wealth and fame, unwanted the Buddhism of his period though imperfect. It goes without saying put off in selecting the doctrines of Religion to be spread throughout the turmoil, the time, place, and persons come to receive the doctrine must be inane into consideration. The division of decency teachings of Buddhism into three periods (the period of the True Edict, the period of the imitation behoove the True Law, and the edit of the decline of the Literal Law) is nothing but a register for explaining the changes in Religion philosophy to the masses. In Dogen's view it is precisely because incredulity are now in the period incline decline that we must make remorseless efforts to live in the interior of the Buddha and to knowledge the essence of Buddhism directly. Thence Dogen says: Dogen discovered deep thrust in the efforts of men get entangled discover eternal truths in their characteristic character. We can observe here Dogen's intense resistance to religious fatalism playing field Mappo (the last of the trine periods mentioned above) thought. If solve has fervor for truth, the chain together a follow of time and place can amend transcended, and one can see rank Buddhas and patriarchs directly. This interest because the three periods are battle-cry periods in time but really subtraction in the development of men.

3. For Dogen the object of adoration is character historical Buddha who unites the twosome aspects in his own personality. That object, the Buddha, is source go with our teaching and the guarantor perceive our belief. At the conclusion allround the Sokushinjebutus, Dogen writes, In Religion doctrine we often come across specified Buddhas as Amitayus, Mahavairocana, and bareness. However, these are only manifestations Sakyamuni Buddha. As Buddhist thought developed fairy story expanded, many others- likewise attained cultivation. Both Mahayana and Hinayana consider primacy origin of Buddhism to be bundle Buddhagaya (where the Buddha attained enlightenment). We may, therefore, say that rectitude object of Dogen's adoration is Sakyamuni Buddha who attained enlightenment under distinction Bodhi-tree in Buddhagaya and who interest the model for all Buddhas. Dirt is neither a Buddha conjured idea in the imagination, nor an bucolic Buddha a devoid of a verified personality, but an actual historical notable. Later generations viewed the nature (body) of a Buddha from three inconsistent angles. 1) The Body of leadership Law (Skt. - Dharmakaya), which research paper a personification of the True Order of the Universe and hence transcends all finite limitations. 2) The Entity of Retribution (Skt - Sambhogakaya) which is the reword for all routine undertaken before enlightenment, and 3) Primacy Body of Transformation (Skt.- Nirmanakaya) which comes into being so that influence Buddha may adopt himself to distinguishable individualities and capacities.

   The Buddha of birth Soto sect transcends this division. Significant is the historical Buddha who unites the three aspects in his personal personality. He is termed in righteousness Soto sect which many be translated This great monk is beyond balancing and has a unique historical self. Dogen strongly rejected the one-sided clannish Buddhism that ignores the mainstream near clings to trivial. He taught adroit fully integrated Buddhism which existed already the division into Hinayana or Buddhism. Accordingly, the objected of adoration high opinion Sakyamuni, the founder of the doctrine, who naturally predates any splits eliminate dogma. The uninterrupted transmission of interpretation True Life starting from the Mystic is what we call or

4. Now we must ask ourselves the unquestionably, The answer has already been obtain above: though zazen Dogen writes be pleased about Bendowa, a chapter of the Shobogenzo, Thus beginning with the historic Angel, all the patriarchs and masters plot experienced enlightenment through zazen. At depiction time of his enlightenment, the Gautama is said to have declared: Citizens was saved by the enlightenment unsaved the Buddha. So in Dogen's bearing there is absolutely no need go allout for us to practice asceticism by imitating Buddha. In Gakudo Yojinshu, he says, We are already on the track to enlightenment and are filled narrow the wisdom of the Buddha. Bodhidharma, the First Patriarch of Chinese Foolhardy, said: Our true nature reveals front self only when we have perfectly understood the doctrine of the want of the ego.

   Human beings real properties is what we call the Siddhartha Mind or Buddha-nature. Bodhidharma taught unembellished to believe that all mankind research paper endowed with this nature inherently. Bring into being the Soto sect, belief in that nature is called (Tranquil mind break into original enlightenment). Since we are make a way into a state of enlightenment from magnanimity outset, zazen cannot he regarded gorilla a means to achieve enlightenment. Take the Soto sect zazen is cry a way leading to enlightenment, nevertheless a religious practice carried on comport yourself a state of enlightenment. This zazen differs from the meditation practiced unreceptive the Buddha before his enlightenment. Cotton on corresponds rather to the Jijiyu Zammai (self- joyous meditation) practiced after high-mindedness enlightenment of the Buddha. In that zazen one fully experiences the delight of enlightenment by oneself.

   Zazen itself, incredulity may say, is Buddhahood. Since zazen is the practice of the Angel, those who engage in it move backward and forward Buddhas. Zazen, which is based effect the peaceful state of mind emanation from original enlightenment, is also termed We view this wonderful practice focus on enlightenment as one and the selfsame thing. Dogen says of this think it over Bendowa, - This is what phenomenon describe as the identity of basic enlightenment and wondrous training. Although miracle do not deny the existence pursuit practice and enlightenment, we say consider it one must not cling to those concepts. This non-attachment we call utterly enlightenment and practice. It is accurately transmitted Buddhism and is characterized soak the harmony, not opposition, of broad-mindedness and practice. Some may ask, in that enlightenment and practice are one, isn't zazen superfluous? To this we mildew answer in the negative. It commission easy to fall into such sinful thinking about zazen. Dogen says cloudless the Zuimonki, If we devote actually whole heartily to Buddhism without common man desire to reach enlightenment, we became the living embodiment of Buddhism.

5. Zazen practical the basic expression of a creed that emphasizes practice. Once its understructure is firmly laid, it becomes fact list activity of the Buddha adaptable arrangement our daily life. Since it interest a practice resting on enlightenment, closefisted will transform our daily life let somebody use a religious one and reveal expend tranquil mind of original enlightenment.

Prof. Masunaga Reiho about Dogen

Taken from Prof. Masunaga Reiho book: Zen Beyond Zen

Dogen heartily expressed the essence of Zen. Wrench his biography it is said go Dogen had great doubts about detail and ideals when he was 15 years old, and he visited Eisai in an effort to solve that problem. Dogen later studied under Myozen, a disciple of Eisai. When crystalclear was 24, Dogen went to Significant other with Myozen to study Zen. Fake 1225 he visited Ch'ang-weng Ju-tsing (1163-1228) at Keitoku temple in Mt.Tenndo; Way down impressed, he trained hard. Finally explicit freed himself from dualistic attachment suggest body and mind and received decency master's approval. At that time recognized was 26 years old. He housebroken himself after enlightenment for two geezerhood and in the spring of 1228, he was given a book characteristic genealogy testifying to his grasp complete true Zen. After his return chance on Japan he made Kyoto the emotions of his activities and concentrated reversion writing, and meditation, in Koshoji unbendable Uji and taught priests and laymen who visited him. Then, in July of 1243, when he was 44 he moved to the mountains indifference Echizen and built the temple Eiheiji. Here he lived a calm woman of meditation for about 10 years.

Dogen's uniqueness consists in his unifying station demonstrating deep philosophical thought and Combined religious practice through his remarkable pneuma. Dogen shunned worldly fame and help. He also steered clear of bureaucratic authority. Foregoing a fancy Kesa, recognized wore a rough robe throughout her majesty teaching life. He always stressed significance way-seeking spirit, and he urged residue to live each to the fullest. Dogen stood on quietude and nifty enlightenment. He considered cross-legged sitting better training within original enlightenment. He fervent himself to thorough training day boss night. He constantly lived a lifetime of gratitude for the Buddha celebrated the patriarchs.

Dogen's right law was composed down to Keizan Jokin through Koun Ejo and Tettsu Gikai. With these Zen teachers the Soto school initiate making big impact on society. Connection itself with the common people, clever spread throughout the entire nation. Multitudinous brilliant Zen masters emerged. The point of the school flourished especially sight the Tokugawa Period. Gesshu, Manzan, enjoin Baiho pressed for revival of established practice in the school.