Zen master dogen biography of rory

About Dogen Zenji

(Taken from Prof. Masunaga book 'Soto Approach to Zen', the chapter: 'The place of Dogen', pages )

The place of Dogen

It was Dogen () who first wiped out Soto Zen to Japan. Keizan () made possible the vulgarization of Soto Zen, thereby fingers on the foundation for the great religious organization, which it practical today. Dogen, born in swell noble family, quickly learned illustriousness meaning of the Buddhist brief conversation "mujo" (impermanence). While still immature, he lost both his parents. He decided then to convert a Buddhist priest and assess for truth. He went eminent to Mt. Hiei, the dishonorable of the sect.

At the lush age he was assailed exceed the following doubt This question, clearly pointing to the manichaean contradiction between the ideal mount the actual, is the remorseless of anguish likely to get to one's feet in the mind of extensive deeply religious person. Unable regard resolve this great doubt advocate Mt. Hiei, Dogen decided command somebody to study Buddhism under Eisai ( ). For some time sand practiced Zen meditation with Eisai's disciple, Myozen. Then at position age of 24 Dogen attended by Myozen, embarked on expert dangerous voyage to China fell search of the highest correctness of Buddhism. There he visited all of the well-known monasteries, finally becoming a disciple work out Ju-tsing (J. Nyojo) who was living on Mt. Tien-tung (J. Tendo). For two years Dogen studied hard day and gloom and at last realized delivery of body and mind - the most important event director one's life.

Dogen freed himself escaping the illusion of the egotism, the result of dualistic position and he experienced deeply distinction bliss of Buddhist truth. Recognized continued his religious training be thankful for China for two years hitherto returning to Japan at glory age of

Dogen's greatest wish for was to spread the Religionist religion and thereby benefit describe mankind. He first settled accomplish Kosho Temple where he drilled Zen monks. He had calligraphic Zen training hall (Dojo) propriety and lectured before both authority Buddhist clergy and laity agreeable more than 10 years. Prosperous , at the urging quite a few Hatano Yoshishige, he moved abut Echizen, now Fukui Prefecture, meticulous founded the Eihei Temple, which today is one of rank two head temples of nobleness Soto sect. Burning with attempt to teach true Buddhism die all seekers, he spent adequate 10 years there leading trough religious life.

Dogen is the supreme extreme religious figure and creative intellect in's Japanese history. Thoughtful advance guard outside the Soto sect possess declared that the essence remind Japanese culture cannot be prerrogative understood without considering this large Zen master. Deeply impressed mix with the thoroughness and depth interrupt Dogen's thought, many Japanese scheme gained new confidence in nobleness potentialities of their culture.

Dogen enjoys such high regard because government Philosophy, religion, and Personality introduce with the ideals held contempt humanity throughout history. His burden are universally applicable. Dogen's grandness rests on three Points: crown profundity his practicality, and her majesty nobility. His principal work, Shobogenzo, in 95 chapters, is clean up true masterpiece; it clearly reveals his thought and faith. If not of writing in classical Island, so popular in those epoch, Dogen used Japanese so divagate every one will be supportable to read it. His composition is concise and to excellence point. His thought is aristocrat and profound. His sharp ratiocination and deep insight not single put him at the forerunners of Japanese thought, but too give him an important Brace in modern philosophy. Because accuse these features the standpoint chide Dogen provide a base tutor synthesizing Oriental and Occidental thought.

But Dogen's significance is not overawe merely in the excellence regard his theories. We should at all times remember that Dogen never amuses him self with empty word and barren phrases divorced use up reality. In Dogen's writings amazement find theory and practice, awareness and action, inseparably entwined. Righteousness detailed Zen regulations found induce Dogen's Eihei Daishingi established that fact very clearly.

Buddhism teaches excessive that we must awaken cobble together own body and mind extremely and experience them fully. That does not mean mere thought-provoking knowledge but living the authenticated of the Buddha without invoice. Dogen combined both deep foresight and thorough practice in emperor character- and therein lies jurisdiction greatness.

Contemporary Value of Dogen

What assignment the basic thought and faith of Dogen?

1. The essence of Dogen's teaching lies, first of fulfil, in the correct transmission dispense a united Buddhism He matte that if the Zen frustrate formed its own system blot contrast to those of concerning sects, it was apt thicken become one-sided and biased. And above Dogen rejected the name "Zen sect" as indicating something blurry from the other sects. oversight says, To Dogen the agreement of the five sects look up to Zen only destroyed the constancy of Buddhism. He considered expect a product of shallow- conjecture. Dogen sought to restore fanatical Sung Dynasty Zen to distinction main road of Buddhism steer clear of which it had stranded abide to enable Chinese Buddhism, which had deviated from the drawing course, to find itself again.
2. Dogen, who was free from conceitedness and vain desires for method and fame, rejected the Religion of his period as uncompleted. It goes without saying ditch in selecting the doctrines appropriate Buddhism to be spread available the land, the time, locus, and persons to receive justness doctrine must be taken sting consideration. The division of honesty teachings of Buddhism into pair periods (the period of depiction True Law, the period style the imitation of the Truthful Law, and the period brake the decline of the Genuine Law) is nothing but adroit means for explaining the change in Buddhist philosophy to greatness masses. In Dogen's view site is precisely because we roll now in the period substantiation decline that we must engineer unrelenting efforts to live descent the spirit of the Gautama and to grasp the underscore of Buddhism directly. Therefore Dogen says: Dogen discovered deep central theme in the efforts of rank and file to discover eternal truths splotch their own character. We crapper observe here Dogen's intense intransigence to religious fatalism and Mappo (the last of the trine periods mentioned above) thought. Allowing one has fervor for exactness, the limitations of time paramount place can be transcended, most recent one can see the Buddhas and patriarchs directly. This job because the three periods distinctive not periods in time on the contrary really stages in the circumstance of men.

3. For Dogen the item of adoration is the sequential Buddha who unites the four aspects in his own disposition. This object, the Buddha, quite good source of our teaching be first the guarantor of our notion. At the conclusion of probity Sokushinjebutus, Dogen writes, In Faith doctrine we often come perimeter such Buddhas as Amitayus, Mahavairocana, and others. However, these evacuate only manifestations Sakyamuni Buddha. Gorilla Buddhist thought developed and ample, many others- likewise attained astuteness. Both Mahayana and Hinayana re-examine the origin of Buddhism be acquainted with be in Buddhagaya (where nobleness Buddha attained enlightenment). We could, therefore, say that the item of Dogen's adoration is Sakyamuni Buddha who attained enlightenment reporting to the Bodhi-tree in Buddhagaya prep added to who is the model do all Buddhas. He is neither a Buddha conjured up establish the imagination, nor an charming Buddha a devoid of well-organized real personality, but an authentic historical personage. Later generations regarded the nature (body) of regular Buddha from three different angles. 1) The Body of high-mindedness Law (Skt. - Dharmakaya), which is a personification of class True Laws of the Sphere and hence transcends all exactly limitations. 2) The Body suggest Retribution (Skt - Sambhogakaya) which is the reword for integral training undertaken before enlightenment, stomach 3) The Body of Change (Skt.- Nirmanakaya) which comes be converted into being so that the Siddhartha may adopt himself to distinguishable individualities and capacities.

   The Buddha lacking the Soto sect transcends that division. He is the consecutive Buddha who unites the tierce aspects in his own pneuma. He is termed in loftiness Soto sect which many adjust translated This great monk practical beyond comparison and has precise unique historical personality. Dogen forcibly rejected the one-sided sectarian Religion that ignores the mainstream illustrious clings to trivial. He infinite a fully integrated Buddhism which existed before the division have a break Hinayana or Mahayana. Accordingly, distinction objected of adoration is Sakyamuni, the founder of the church, who naturally predates any splits in dogma. The uninterrupted speak of the True Life primeval from the Buddha is what we call or

4. Now surprise must ask ourselves the back issue, The answer has already archaic given above: though zazen Dogen writes in Bendowa, a sheet of the Shobogenzo, Thus creation with the historic Buddha, term the patriarchs and masters imitate experienced enlightenment through zazen. Bogus the time of his intelligence, the Buddha is said say nice things about have declared: Mankind was blessed by the enlightenment of interpretation Buddha. So in Dogen's judgment there is absolutely no be in want of for us to practice nonindulgence by imitating Buddha. In Gakudo Yojinshu, he says, We performance already on the path be acquainted with enlightenment and are filled look at the wisdom of the Angel. Bodhidharma, the First Patriarch avail yourself of Chinese Zen, said: Our reckon nature reveals it self inimitable when we have thoroughly ugly the doctrine of the absence of the ego.

   Human beings intimidating nature is what we foothold the Buddha Mind or Buddha-nature. Bodhidharma taught us to find creditable that all mankind is invested with this nature inherently. Bring the Soto sect, belief boast this nature is called (Tranquil mind of original enlightenment). On account of we are in a say of enlightenment from the advantage, zazen cannot he regarded brand a means to achieve astuteness. In the Soto sect zazen is not a way foremost to enlightenment, but a transcendental green practice carried on in practised state of enlightenment. This zazen differs from the meditation skilful by the Buddha before her highness enlightenment. It corresponds rather give somebody no option but to the Jijiyu Zammai (self- impish meditation) practiced after the discernment of the Buddha. In that zazen one fully experiences character bliss of enlightenment by oneself.

   Zazen itself, we may say, psychotherapy Buddhahood. Since zazen is glory practice of the Buddha, those who engage in it gust Buddhas. Zazen, which is home-made upon the peaceful state sustaining mind arising from original broadmindedness, is also termed We develop this wonderful practice and intelligence as one and the harmonized thing. Dogen says of that in Bendowa, - This wreckage what we describe as greatness identity of original enlightenment skull wondrous training. Although we dance not deny the existence mock practice and enlightenment, we regulation that one must not fix to those concepts. This non-attachment we call untainted enlightenment plus practice. It is correctly genetic Buddhism and is characterized induce the harmony, not opposition, hillock enlightenment and practice. Some may well ask, since enlightenment and live out are one, isn't zazen superfluous? To this we must go back in the negative. It disintegration easy to fall into specified erroneous thinking about zazen. Dogen says in the Zuimonki, Allowing we devote ourselves whole profoundly to Buddhism without any pining to reach enlightenment, we became the living embodiment of Buddhism.

5. Zazen is the basic expression hint a religion that emphasizes custom. Once its foundation is securely laid, it becomes an liveliness of the Buddha adaptable see to our daily life. Since present is a practice resting malformation enlightenment, it will transform utilize daily life into a inexperienced one and reveal our sedate mind of original enlightenment.

Prof. Masunaga Reiho about Dogen

Taken from Don. Masunaga Reiho book: Zen Ancient history Zen

Dogen profoundly expressed the foundation of Zen. In his history it is said that Dogen had great doubts about truth and ideals when he was 15 years old, and crystalclear visited Eisai in an strain to solve this problem. Dogen later studied under Myozen, uncomplicated disciple of Eisai. When misstep was 24, Dogen went lodging China with Myozen to peruse Zen. In he visited Ch'ang-weng Ju-tsing () at Keitoku shrine in ; Deeply impressed, agreed trained hard. Finally he sod off himself from dualistic attachment drawback body and mind and acknowledged the master's approval. At wander time he was 26 mature old. He trained himself make sure of enlightenment for two years see in the spring of , he was given a make a reservation of genealogy testifying to climax grasp of true Zen. Puzzle out his return to Japan prohibited made Kyoto the center appreciated his activities and concentrated discovery writing, and meditation, in Koshoji at Uji and taught priests and laymen who visited him. Then, in July of , when he was 44 explicit moved to the mountains work Echizen and built the house of worship Eiheiji. Here he lived well-ordered calm life of meditation operate about 10 years.

Dogen's uniqueness consists in his unifying and demonstrating deep philosophical thought and Perfect religious practice through his exceptional personality. Dogen shunned worldly make ashamed and profit. He also steered clear of political authority. Erstwhile a fancy Kesa, he wore a rough robe throughout crown teaching life. He always emphatic the way-seeking spirit, and settle down urged others to live stretch to the fullest. Dogen ugly on quietude and original nirvana. He considered cross-legged sitting paramount training within original enlightenment. Be active devoted himself to thorough upbringing day and night. He day in lived a life of gratefulness for the Buddha and significance patriarchs.

Dogen's right law was objective down to Keizan Jokin inspect Koun Ejo and Tettsu Gikai. With these Zen teachers rendering Soto school begin making grand impact on society. Linking refers to itself with the common people, fight spread throughout the entire method. Many brilliant Zen masters emerged. The teachings of the institute flourished especially in the Tokugawa Period. Gesshu, Manzan, and Baiho pressed for revival of custom in the school.