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Moon in a Dewdrop: Writings of Zen Master Dogen
Eihei Dogen (1200-1253), among the first to transmit Zen Buddhism from China to Japan and founder of the important Soto School, was not only a profoundly influential and provocative Zen philosopher but also one of the most stimulating figures in Japanese letters.
Kazuaki Tanahashi, collaborating with several other Zen authorities, has produced sensitive and accurate translations of Dogen's most important texts. Moon in a Dewdrop contains the key essays of the great master, as well as extensive background materials that will help Western readers to approach this significant work. There is also a selection of Dogen's poetry, most of which has not appeared in English translation before.
Dogen's thought runs counter to conventional logic, employing paradoxical language and startling imagery. It illuminates such fundamental concerns as the nature of time, existence, life, death, the self, and what is beyond self.
Kazuaki Tanahashi, collaborating with several other Zen authorities, has produced sensitive and accurate translations of Dogen's most important texts. Moon in a Dewdrop contains the key essays of the great master, as well as extensive background materials that will help Western readers to approach this significant work. There is also a selection of Dogen's poetry, most of which has not appeared in English translation before.
Dogen's thought runs counter to conventional logic, employing paradoxical language and startling imagery. It illuminates such fundamental concerns as the nature of time, existence, life, death, the self, and what is beyond self.
356 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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3,837 people want to read
About the author
¶Ù¨²µ±ð²Ô
131?books228?followers¶Ù¨²µ±ð²Ô Zenji (µÀÔªìøŽŸ; also ¶Ù¨²µ±ð²Ô Kigen µÀԪϣÐþ, or Eihei ¶Ù¨²µ±ð²Ô ÓÀƽµÀÔª, or Koso Joyo Daishi) was a Zen Buddhist teacher and the founder of the S¨t¨ Zen school of Buddhism in Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 28, 2025
In the spring, cherry blossoms
In the summer, the cuckoo
In autumn, the moon
In winter, snow
Clear, cold
DOGEN
This is recreational reading in the very BEST sense of the word... It is reading that will, if you let it, RE-CREATE your headspace.
It¡¯ll clear out all the cobwebs of traditional, discursive thinking.
To understand the gist of what Dogen is saying, though, you'll have to put on your Anti-thinking Cap.
Feed your dreamscapes rather than your calculator. Think against thinking, as Martin Heidegger told us!
Dogen lived in the same historical timeframe in Japan as Thomas Aquinas, way over in Europe. And, very much like Aquinas, he built up a enormous legacy of profound metaphysical writings based on SOUND COMMON SENSE.
And just like Aquinas, he gave ultimate answers to the perplexed.
Both men were unflinchingly ethically minded, though that card is never overplayed.
Both showed ardent compassion towards the host of young would-be followers that streamed to their doors.
And both ¡®would gladly teach', as Chaucer puts it so felicitously.
Yet Dogen was intuitive, and Aquinas excelled in discursive thought. I¡¯m much more like Dogen, I have to admit! A dreamer.
Got problems?
Sit with them, Dogen would say, don't escape them.
Let your subconscious give you the answers, as it always will when the time is ripe.
Just sit: Soto Zen. Nothing else.
And this concentrated idleness, which Bertrand Russell praised so highly, will reveal your real Self to you.
And meditation is so similar to heartfelt prayer. It¡¯s a modus operandi very similar to the Orthodox Philokalia in its result. Or even to mantra practice.
You know, my own orientation is Christian, but I think anything that quiets our inborn aggression and clarifies the confusion of our minds will eventually give us insight! And it will give us the love that is superior to dogma - for it¡¯s the key ingredient that brings the teachings to life!
The Spirit that can illuminate our thinking was no stranger to Dogen, either.
And I'm delighted that twenty years after I bought my own thick copy of his wonderful book it's still a bestseller on Amazon - and reasonably priced.
So go for it.
Bend your mind a little....
In the summer, the cuckoo
In autumn, the moon
In winter, snow
Clear, cold
DOGEN
This is recreational reading in the very BEST sense of the word... It is reading that will, if you let it, RE-CREATE your headspace.
It¡¯ll clear out all the cobwebs of traditional, discursive thinking.
To understand the gist of what Dogen is saying, though, you'll have to put on your Anti-thinking Cap.
Feed your dreamscapes rather than your calculator. Think against thinking, as Martin Heidegger told us!
Dogen lived in the same historical timeframe in Japan as Thomas Aquinas, way over in Europe. And, very much like Aquinas, he built up a enormous legacy of profound metaphysical writings based on SOUND COMMON SENSE.
And just like Aquinas, he gave ultimate answers to the perplexed.
Both men were unflinchingly ethically minded, though that card is never overplayed.
Both showed ardent compassion towards the host of young would-be followers that streamed to their doors.
And both ¡®would gladly teach', as Chaucer puts it so felicitously.
Yet Dogen was intuitive, and Aquinas excelled in discursive thought. I¡¯m much more like Dogen, I have to admit! A dreamer.
Got problems?
Sit with them, Dogen would say, don't escape them.
Let your subconscious give you the answers, as it always will when the time is ripe.
Just sit: Soto Zen. Nothing else.
And this concentrated idleness, which Bertrand Russell praised so highly, will reveal your real Self to you.
And meditation is so similar to heartfelt prayer. It¡¯s a modus operandi very similar to the Orthodox Philokalia in its result. Or even to mantra practice.
You know, my own orientation is Christian, but I think anything that quiets our inborn aggression and clarifies the confusion of our minds will eventually give us insight! And it will give us the love that is superior to dogma - for it¡¯s the key ingredient that brings the teachings to life!
The Spirit that can illuminate our thinking was no stranger to Dogen, either.
And I'm delighted that twenty years after I bought my own thick copy of his wonderful book it's still a bestseller on Amazon - and reasonably priced.
So go for it.
Bend your mind a little....
August 30, 2019
I picked up a copy of this book because I am still a little intimidated by the prospect of reading the complete ¡°Shobogenzo¡±; I know it¡¯s going to happen, and I know it¡¯s not going to happen in the near future. This collection of Dogen Zenji¡¯s writings is still pretty big, but it¡¯s much more portable, and it¡¯s a much less daunting way to begin exploring his work.
For the non-Zen nerds reading this, Dogen Zenji was the founder of the Soto Zen school of Buddhism, and lived in Japan in the 13th century. After his parents died when he was quite young, he became a monk, and eventually travelled to China and learned from many illustrious Teachers before coming back to Japan. He is famous for the enormous amount of writings he left behind (including the aforementioned ¡°Shobogenzo¡±) and his philosophy, which put special emphasis on the practice of zazen (meditation).
I have always had a soft spot for Dogen because he was one of the few Buddhist teachers who vocally condemned the sexism of the institution by saying that women were just as capable of practising and attaining enlightenment as the male monks were ¨C not a popular opinion at the time (see ¡°Zen Women¡± (/review/show...). But gender politics aside, there is a lot of very interesting things about Dogen¡¯s writing. The only problem is that while some of his essays are crystal clear, others are extremely convoluted ¨C sometimes to the point of impenetrable. That¡¯s OK, it usually just means they are worth revisiting from time to time, to see if perhaps we¡¯ve gained some insight since the last reading¡
And speaking of insight, this book's note section doesn't include any commentary or interpretation, so if you aren't familiar with the texts already, it can get a little confusing. I was already familiar with some of the essays in this book, from reading a lot of books on Soto Zen, where Dogen is frequently quoted or referred to, but it¡¯s nice to have all the material in one place. Here are a few quotes that I especially stuck with me:
"You should know that kind speech arises from kind mind, and kind mind from the seed of compassionate mind. You should ponder the fact that kind speech is not just praising the merit of others; it has the power to turn the destiny of the nation."
"To carry yourself forward and experience myriad things is delusion. That myriad things come forth and experience themselves is awakening."
"There is a simple way to become a buddha: When you refrain from unwholesome actions, are not attached to birth and death, and are compassionate towards all sentient beings, respectful to seniors and kind to juniors, not excluding or desiring anything, with no designing thoughts or worries, you will be called a buddha. Do not seek anything else."
If you are interested in Zen, you are going to have to read Dogen eventually - though probably not very early in the process. When you feel ready for it, this is an excellent place to start. Also consider Brad Warner¡¯s books on the ¡°Shobogenzo¡±, namely ¡°Sit Down and Shut Up¡± (/review/show...), ¡°Don¡¯t Be a Jerk¡± (/review/show...) and ¡°It Came From Beyond Zen¡± (/review/show...). He knows what he¡¯s talking about.
For the non-Zen nerds reading this, Dogen Zenji was the founder of the Soto Zen school of Buddhism, and lived in Japan in the 13th century. After his parents died when he was quite young, he became a monk, and eventually travelled to China and learned from many illustrious Teachers before coming back to Japan. He is famous for the enormous amount of writings he left behind (including the aforementioned ¡°Shobogenzo¡±) and his philosophy, which put special emphasis on the practice of zazen (meditation).
I have always had a soft spot for Dogen because he was one of the few Buddhist teachers who vocally condemned the sexism of the institution by saying that women were just as capable of practising and attaining enlightenment as the male monks were ¨C not a popular opinion at the time (see ¡°Zen Women¡± (/review/show...). But gender politics aside, there is a lot of very interesting things about Dogen¡¯s writing. The only problem is that while some of his essays are crystal clear, others are extremely convoluted ¨C sometimes to the point of impenetrable. That¡¯s OK, it usually just means they are worth revisiting from time to time, to see if perhaps we¡¯ve gained some insight since the last reading¡
And speaking of insight, this book's note section doesn't include any commentary or interpretation, so if you aren't familiar with the texts already, it can get a little confusing. I was already familiar with some of the essays in this book, from reading a lot of books on Soto Zen, where Dogen is frequently quoted or referred to, but it¡¯s nice to have all the material in one place. Here are a few quotes that I especially stuck with me:
"You should know that kind speech arises from kind mind, and kind mind from the seed of compassionate mind. You should ponder the fact that kind speech is not just praising the merit of others; it has the power to turn the destiny of the nation."
"To carry yourself forward and experience myriad things is delusion. That myriad things come forth and experience themselves is awakening."
"There is a simple way to become a buddha: When you refrain from unwholesome actions, are not attached to birth and death, and are compassionate towards all sentient beings, respectful to seniors and kind to juniors, not excluding or desiring anything, with no designing thoughts or worries, you will be called a buddha. Do not seek anything else."
If you are interested in Zen, you are going to have to read Dogen eventually - though probably not very early in the process. When you feel ready for it, this is an excellent place to start. Also consider Brad Warner¡¯s books on the ¡°Shobogenzo¡±, namely ¡°Sit Down and Shut Up¡± (/review/show...), ¡°Don¡¯t Be a Jerk¡± (/review/show...) and ¡°It Came From Beyond Zen¡± (/review/show...). He knows what he¡¯s talking about.
December 3, 2014
Viewing Peach Blossoms and Realizing the Way
In spring wind
peach blossoms
begin to come apart.
Doubts do not grow
branches and leaves.
-pg 214
The amount of wisdom in this collection of writings by 13th Century Zen Master Dogen is devastating. I had to read the book very slowly, sometimes only a single page per day. The book is broken into five main parts after a brief but interesting introduction and biography of the man:
Part 1, Practical Instructions; Part 2, Philosophical Works; Part 3, Poetic Imagery; Part 4, Transmission of the teaching; and Part 5, Poems
The material here is rich. Particularly in the Philosophical Works section, I didn't feel any amount of intellectual foundation work could prepare me for Dogen Zenji's writings. Rather, steady and focused Zen practice seemed the only helpful context. That said, it seems a lifetime of practice could be spent contemplating his work. This stuff goes deep. No wonder we are still reading his work over 800 years later and still finding it shockingly relevant.
The translations in this book are outstanding. They make what are already pretty universal topics (present tense living?) even more relevant. One would never figure the age of these texts from the clear and concise language used in the translations.
All in all, I am very hesitant to recommend this book to anyone who hasn't had much exposure to Zen writing and thought. This would certainly be a challenging read for anyone with scant experience practicing Zen meditation. That said, the work here is so often beyond gorgeous that I would love to share it with anyone interested. Shunryu Suzuki may be a better place to start but students shouldn't wait too long to dive into Dogen. There is a lifetime of contemplation here; one should get started right away.
In spring wind
peach blossoms
begin to come apart.
Doubts do not grow
branches and leaves.
-pg 214
The amount of wisdom in this collection of writings by 13th Century Zen Master Dogen is devastating. I had to read the book very slowly, sometimes only a single page per day. The book is broken into five main parts after a brief but interesting introduction and biography of the man:
Part 1, Practical Instructions; Part 2, Philosophical Works; Part 3, Poetic Imagery; Part 4, Transmission of the teaching; and Part 5, Poems
The material here is rich. Particularly in the Philosophical Works section, I didn't feel any amount of intellectual foundation work could prepare me for Dogen Zenji's writings. Rather, steady and focused Zen practice seemed the only helpful context. That said, it seems a lifetime of practice could be spent contemplating his work. This stuff goes deep. No wonder we are still reading his work over 800 years later and still finding it shockingly relevant.
The translations in this book are outstanding. They make what are already pretty universal topics (present tense living?) even more relevant. One would never figure the age of these texts from the clear and concise language used in the translations.
All in all, I am very hesitant to recommend this book to anyone who hasn't had much exposure to Zen writing and thought. This would certainly be a challenging read for anyone with scant experience practicing Zen meditation. That said, the work here is so often beyond gorgeous that I would love to share it with anyone interested. Shunryu Suzuki may be a better place to start but students shouldn't wait too long to dive into Dogen. There is a lifetime of contemplation here; one should get started right away.
July 6, 2012
A book kept at hand by my bed.
February 6, 2015
Beautiful meditations on life, death, language, liberation. I didn't feel like I could read this book from cover to cover, because after a while it feels like you've stepped into Wonderland and the same linguistic terms just keep repeating over and over. But reading it bit by bit, it helps you step out of the habits of daily living and see the world with new eyes.
What I appreciated most about this publication was the glossary in the back that explained unfamiliar terms and allusions. I felt like it was a great introduction to Zen thought, even if it wasn't very well organized.
What I appreciated most about this publication was the glossary in the back that explained unfamiliar terms and allusions. I felt like it was a great introduction to Zen thought, even if it wasn't very well organized.
July 12, 2015
Dogen¡¯s writing can run from straightforward practical instruction to completely confusing discussions along the lines of ¡°A is B, but not-B is not not-A. A is not B, but B is A. A is A. B is B. Consider this deeply.¡± A little bit of the latter goes a really long way for me, but the more approachable selections outweigh the genuinely obscure ones in this collection.
Don¡¯t expect much help from Tanahashi¡¯s notes, they could be better organized and don¡¯t clarify much anyway.
Don¡¯t expect much help from Tanahashi¡¯s notes, they could be better organized and don¡¯t clarify much anyway.
March 10, 2009
This is a book I will be reading for the rest of my life, and am almost certain I will never understand, but will always appreciate.
September 25, 2023
Over the past month, I have studied ¶Ù¨²µ±ð²Ô¡¯s zen readings whose oblique words only had any kind of bearing on me in the early mornings. This 13th century compilation describes that which cannot be put into words. Buddha is also not-buddha, to go beyond buddha is also buddha. Words and no words - they are wholly the same. The gate is open to all, but dharma can only be inherited through buddha-to-buddha transmission. To speak of spontaneous enlightenment would be heretic, but what, then, does Satori amount to? It¡¯s clear that paradoxes are part of the game; to be embraced rather than resolved. Right and wrong are all tangled up. Also let me tell you, these zen masters knew how to throw shade! The way they dismissed some interpretations was rather jarring at times. In any case, these enigmatic readings pushed me to keep my zazen practice going. To read these texts without meditating would be useless - as ¡°the hub of buddha¡¯s activity [..] moves along with your nonthinking.¡± It¡¯s all about effort without desire. Anyway, practice is difficult. Explanation is not difficult. But it¡¯s also the other way around. This is what a Chinese zen person got when they requested a poem. Tiring yet rejuvenating.
September 5, 2017
( ¡ )
Under the burden
of solitude,
under the burden
of dissatisfaction
the weight,
the weight we carry
is love
( ¡ )
Allen Ginsberg (3 June 1926 ¨C 5 April 1997 / Newark, New Jersey)
The village I finally reach
Eihei Dogen (1200 ¨C 1253) is one of the great teachers of Zen Buddhism and an inspiring poet and writer.
Dogen ordained as a monk at the age of fourteen and started studying Zen at eighteen. He went to China at the age of twenty-four to complete his study. He established his first training centre ¡®Kosho Monastery¡¯ when he was thirty-four and started building a full-scale monastery in a remote province of Echizen at the age of forty-four. He died at the age of fifty-four. So far the statistics of his life.
Next to his formal writings ¨C alto the difference is not too big ¨C Dogen also wrote poetry in a Chinese style of thirty-one syllables, five, seven, five, seven and seven sentences.
Following his sincere aspiration to realise ¡®wholeness¡¯ Dogen studied in China at Tiantong Monastery there the abbot immediately acknowledged him ¡®The dharma gate of face-to-face transmission from buddha to buddha, ancestor to ancestor, is actualized now¡¯ Alto it took Dogen two more years to ¡®drop away body and mind¡¯ and come to the great realisation of wholeness.
Then he understood fully in body and mind that from the very beginning wholeness is the fundamental reality for all beings. That in fact every form of life is an all-inclusive manifestation of ¡®original wholeness¡¯ it¡¯s only our dualistic thinking that prevents us from knowing our complete and original self.
As a result Dogen spent the rest of his lifetime teaching and writing so that others might also clarify the great matter of birth and death.
In this volume the translators allow us to walk with Dogen as one of lives great teachers and allow us to discover Dogen as a true companion.
the village I finally reach
deeper than the deep mountains
indeed
the capital
where I used to live
Eihei Dogen (1200 ¨C 1253)
( ¡ )
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time
( ¡ )
The Little Gidding is the last of T. S. Eliot's Four Quartets
August 9, 2014
The writings of a zen master can sometimes be difficult to understand. But the writings of Dogen are so clear they can be confusing. This book is a selection of his enormous corpus of literature and some of the ideas surrounding the self, being and not-being rival the ideas of Sartre, Heidegger, Camus, and Marleau-Ponty for existential importance. It is amazing to think that his ideas recently were rediscovered.
As for Buddhist thought it is beautifully written and often peaceful to read. Trying to think beyond yourself, placing yourself as part of the whole of the universe is expounded over and over again. His idea of zazen, or sitting zen is a beautiful thought that just by sitting one can obtain enlightenment. I look forward to obtaining complete works of Dogen but until then this condensed collection of his sayings will have to do.
As for Buddhist thought it is beautifully written and often peaceful to read. Trying to think beyond yourself, placing yourself as part of the whole of the universe is expounded over and over again. His idea of zazen, or sitting zen is a beautiful thought that just by sitting one can obtain enlightenment. I look forward to obtaining complete works of Dogen but until then this condensed collection of his sayings will have to do.
September 26, 2010
As a sample collection of Dogen's material, it comes as no surprise that there will be highs and lows in the collection. Parts are confounding and beautiful. Parts are simple, yet overwhelming. And parts are more informational about different formal approaches to Buddhism. As always, many portions of this text should be reread because the effect of the teaching is a lifetime of practice.
February 20, 2019
Stunningly poetic translations of the foundational Zen Master Dogen. Mystifying and enigmatic, almost haunting at times. Meant to be read slowly and meditatively over many sittings. Let each passage sink in, preferably after reading several times over.
December 15, 2017
It's a beautiful thing to spend one's time reading this. The essence of zazen, the mountains, the rivers and the mind. A joy to read and learn.
September 25, 2015
ikkyu would have found this book to be invaluable kindling and/or toilet paper
January 20, 2021
I've had this book for decades waiting for me to be ready to read it. I finished it from cover to cover, including all the appendices and glossary, within two months. A person in a meditation group I attend called the work "abstruse". I might go so far as to call them ¶Ù¨²µ±ð²Ô's "Abstruse Sutras". Of course, I jest. But if you study S¨t¨ Zen Buddhism, it all basically coalesced through him from his studies in China to return to Japan and form a school that lasts roughly 800 years. I have another rather difficult book of zen teachings that has been nearly impossible for me to tackle. I have started to use a pencil to mark off whenever I finish a paragraph or a chapter, or a section, or even just a line.
I don't really know what to say about the book at all at present. Maybe later I will come back and add a critique or comment on the text itself. I will say that it appears to be translated well, or clearly into English. It is philosophy, literature, poetry and history mashed into one book of scholarly research. The reason I started it was to understand his writings on time in relation to being, much as Heidegger wrote on Being and Time nearly 700 years later.
The most difficult yet enjoyable aspect to reading ¶Ù¨²µ±ð²Ô is his use of paradox to flip the meaning of a phrase or an idea around. Otherwise, this is recommended for anyone who wants to understand Zen Buddhism.
Now to try to get through Ulysses on my own. Wish me luck!
I don't really know what to say about the book at all at present. Maybe later I will come back and add a critique or comment on the text itself. I will say that it appears to be translated well, or clearly into English. It is philosophy, literature, poetry and history mashed into one book of scholarly research. The reason I started it was to understand his writings on time in relation to being, much as Heidegger wrote on Being and Time nearly 700 years later.
The most difficult yet enjoyable aspect to reading ¶Ù¨²µ±ð²Ô is his use of paradox to flip the meaning of a phrase or an idea around. Otherwise, this is recommended for anyone who wants to understand Zen Buddhism.
Now to try to get through Ulysses on my own. Wish me luck!
June 30, 2024
From the blurb: 'Eihei Dogen (1200-1253), among the first to transmit Zen Buddhism from China to Japan and founder of the important Soto School, was not only a profoundly influential and provocative Zen philosopher but also one of the most stimulating figures in Japanese letters.
Kazuaki Tanahashi, collaborating with several other Zen authorities, has produced sensitive and accurate translations of Dogen's most important texts. Moon in a Dewdrop contains the key essays of the great master, as well as extensive background materials that will help Western readers to approach this significant work. There is also a selection of Dogen's poetry, most of which has not appeared in English translation before.
Dogen's thought runs counter to conventional logic, employing paradoxical language and startling imagery. It illuminates such fundamental concerns as the nature of time, existence, life, death, the self, and what is beyond self.'
.
An important book. A part of the book gives direct advice about awakening. The rest, in this regard, is not easily helpful to the beginner. Hence 3 stars.
.
'Buddha said,"All things are ultimately liberated. There is nowhere that they abide."
You should know that even though all things are liberated and not tied to anything, they abide in their own phenomenal expression.'
Kazuaki Tanahashi, collaborating with several other Zen authorities, has produced sensitive and accurate translations of Dogen's most important texts. Moon in a Dewdrop contains the key essays of the great master, as well as extensive background materials that will help Western readers to approach this significant work. There is also a selection of Dogen's poetry, most of which has not appeared in English translation before.
Dogen's thought runs counter to conventional logic, employing paradoxical language and startling imagery. It illuminates such fundamental concerns as the nature of time, existence, life, death, the self, and what is beyond self.'
.
An important book. A part of the book gives direct advice about awakening. The rest, in this regard, is not easily helpful to the beginner. Hence 3 stars.
.
'Buddha said,"All things are ultimately liberated. There is nowhere that they abide."
You should know that even though all things are liberated and not tied to anything, they abide in their own phenomenal expression.'
May 10, 2019
Dogen is wonderful but I'm afraid he often appears to be more enigmatic than is really necessary. Tanahashi does a good job of demystifying Dogen's language by explaining the Buddhist references used throughout but I believe there could be even more annotation to this end. The other commonly read collection of his work, The Heart of Dogen's Shobogenzo, translated by Wadell and Abe is also a good collection, though more philosophical in nature, the prose less beautiful, and the footnotes even less comprehensive.
July 11, 2017
This is not an easy read. The terminology is specialised and unfamiliar. It is hard to get a glimpse of the meanings behind this unfamiliar language. This is not your average Zen text. There are some sections in which Dogen deals with the practicalities of Zen, but there are also sections in which there is no familiar ground to stand on. Not to be recommended for the newcomer to Zen. This not Alan Watts or Robert Aitken level.
March 6, 2022
This overview of writing by Dogen is a good starting place to learn of the master's work. Dogen is notoriously difficult to read and understand, with contradictions (sometimes even in the same sentence) and startling imagery. I'm not sure how much of it I truly grasped but I feel better for having read it. Challenging and difficult but worth the struggle to learn more about Zen and about examining one's assumptions.
July 9, 2022
Dogen & his philosophies are gymnastics for my Westernized mind. Although I enjoyed learning about his life, his teachers, and the creation of his school of practice ( Zen Buddhism) I am by no means an advanced zen student. Many of the teachings are simple yet I find myself analyzing them into oblivion -thus creating mental exhaustion. This is a book I¡¯ll likely visit again & again throughout my life - hoping to one day be able to fully appreciate and comprehend his lessons. This was a tough one for me - but I enjoyed the exercise.
November 2, 2024
This book covers the theory, activity and practice of zen. The book ends with zen poems which I enjoyed the most.
An important aspect of Zen is the notion that realization is passed down through generations and is given from guru to disciple. Before it is given, the disciple has to prove worthy of the gift, typically by solving an insolvable puzzle.
An important aspect of Zen is the notion that realization is passed down through generations and is given from guru to disciple. Before it is given, the disciple has to prove worthy of the gift, typically by solving an insolvable puzzle.
July 2, 2019
What Can I say to this book?
It is a big koan. Most of Dogen's writings, especially, uji, are really hard to read. Even though his works contained a lot of metaphors, one of the reason why his works are so hard, I still find him a very learned master.
It is a big koan. Most of Dogen's writings, especially, uji, are really hard to read. Even though his works contained a lot of metaphors, one of the reason why his works are so hard, I still find him a very learned master.
June 17, 2022
This is definitely one of the more brain-busting Buddhist works I've come across. At many points riveting, at others dry, and at most points impenetrable for my little pea mind! A recommended read for anyone.
May 11, 2018
A primary text of ¶Ù¨²µ±ð²Ô¡¯s teachings. Rather abstruse, but valuable Zen thought. Will revisit at a later date to appreciate fully.
November 6, 2019
Great. A more distilled set of writings might be more useful for myself and other readers new to Dogen.
May 7, 2024
The sound of bell slowly dissolving into silence is the entire teaching
September 29, 2024
Masterful, perfect, mind bending, astounding, inspired, truly dripping with beauty poetry of Zen master Dogen
December 28, 2009
I read this book years ago and have reread it many times. This is an excellent book on Zen Buddhism. It was written by Dogen Zenji, the founder of Soto Zen Buddhism in Japan.
He was born in 1200 in Japan and went to China to study Zen. He returned and founded Soto Zen Buddhism. His writings are clear and convey the wisdom of Zen.
One of my favorite chapters is Tenzo Kyoku or Instructions for the Cooks. He gives instructions for the cooks in the monastery, who because of their duties were not able to practice with the rest of the monks. He describes how the practice of cooking is no different than the practice of Zen.
A wonderful book, well worth the read.
He was born in 1200 in Japan and went to China to study Zen. He returned and founded Soto Zen Buddhism. His writings are clear and convey the wisdom of Zen.
One of my favorite chapters is Tenzo Kyoku or Instructions for the Cooks. He gives instructions for the cooks in the monastery, who because of their duties were not able to practice with the rest of the monks. He describes how the practice of cooking is no different than the practice of Zen.
A wonderful book, well worth the read.
December 14, 2013
This particular book is a translation of portions derived from Dogen's masterwork, Shobogenzo. I would suggest purchasing with this "Enlightenment Unfolds: The essential teachings of Zen Master Dogen" by the same author, it's somewhat like a follow-up. Also beneficial readings come from many of the works out there from the late modern master Taizan Maezumi. This book offers clear translations of some of the most central aspects of Dogen's fascinating style of Zen.
Read
December 30, 2016I am not surprised Dogen came my way the way of Living Sober, and though a different sort of book, nonetheless another not so much to read through but read passages from anytime. I've already found the missing link for a work in progress through the words of Dogen. To the nightstand!
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