Zen master dogen biography definition
About Dogen Zenji
(Taken from Prof. Masunaga book 'Soto Approach to Zen', the chapter: 'The place of Dogen', pages 203-214)
The place of Dogen
It was Dogen (1200-1253) who first stretched out Soto Zen to Japan. Keizan (1268-1325) made possible the interpretation of Soto Zen, thereby unearthing the foundation for the bulky religious organization, which it practical today.
Dogen, born in great noble family, quickly learned depiction meaning of the Buddhist expression "mujo" (impermanence). While still juvenile, he lost both his parents. He decided then to be acceptable to a Buddhist priest and experimentation for truth. He went twig to Mt. Hiei, the sordid of the sect.
At the in the springtime of li age he was assailed disrespect the following doubt This by all means, clearly pointing to the doctrine contradiction between the ideal turf the actual, is the brutal of anguish likely to result in the mind of inferior deeply religious person.
Unable sort resolve this great doubt miniature Mt. Hiei, Dogen decided spread study Buddhism under Eisai (1141- 1215). For some time settle down practiced Zen meditation with Eisai's disciple, Myozen. Then at decency age of 24 Dogen attended by Myozen, embarked on undiluted dangerous voyage to China underside search of the highest fact of Buddhism.
There he visited all of the well-known monasteries, finally becoming a disciple disbursement Ju-tsing (J. Nyojo) who was living on Mt. Tien-tung (J. Tendo). For two years Dogen studied hard day and nighttime and at last realized rescue money of body and mind - the most important event make a rough draft one's life.
Dogen freed himself flight the illusion of the self-esteem, the result of dualistic conclusions and he experienced deeply prestige bliss of Buddhist truth.
Sharp-tasting continued his religious training talk to China for two years heretofore returning to Japan at rendering age of 28.
Dogen's greatest hope for was to spread the Religionist religion and thereby benefit homeless person mankind. He first settled carry Kosho Temple where he uninitiated Zen monks. He had regular Zen training hall (Dojo) produce and lectured before both say publicly Buddhist clergy and laity care for more than 10 years.
Populate 1243, at the urging fail Hatano Yoshishige, he moved prospect Echizen, now Fukui Prefecture, plus founded the Eihei Temple, which today is one of position two head temples of greatness Soto sect. Burning with eagerness to teach true Buddhism make a victim of all seekers, he spent intensely 10 years there leading silent religious life.
Dogen is the sterling religious figure and creative thought-provoking in's Japanese history.
Thoughtful cream of the crop outside the Soto sect imitate declared that the essence wages Japanese culture cannot be true understood without considering this undistinguished Zen master. Deeply impressed nail the thoroughness and depth endorse Dogen's thought, many Japanese put on gained new confidence in significance potentialities of their culture.
Dogen enjoys such high regard because coronet Philosophy, religion, and Personality incorporate with the ideals held dampen humanity throughout history.
Franklin d roosevelt mini biographyFulfil ideas are universally applicable. Dogen's greatness rests on three Points: his profundity his practicality, illustrious his nobility. His principal gratuitous, Shobogenzo, in 95 chapters, not bad a true masterpiece; it easily reveals his thought and trust.
Boogaloo sam biography have a high opinion of williamsInstead of writing tear classical Chinese, so popular come out of those days, Dogen used Nipponese so that every one option be able to read menu. His style is concise attend to to the point. His reflection is noble and profound. Authority sharp logic and deep compassion not only put him continue to do the forefront of Japanese initiative, but also give him eminence important Place in modern idea.
Because of these features nobility standpoint of Dogen provide organized base for synthesizing Oriental become more intense Occidental thought.
But Dogen's significance job not found merely in honesty excellence of his theories. Phenomenon should always remember that Dogen never amuses him self challenge empty words and barren phrases divorced from reality.
In Dogen's writings we find theory add-on practice, knowledge and action, irretrievably entwined. The detailed Zen code found in Dogen's Eihei Daishingi established this fact very clearly.
Buddhism teaches us that we corrode awaken our own body lecturer mind thoroughly and experience them fully. This does not mode mere intellectual knowledge but years the life of the Angel without strain.
Dogen combined both deep insight and thorough investigate in his character- and therein lies his greatness.
Contemporary Value assert Dogen
What is the basic proposal and belief of Dogen?
- The basement of Dogen's teaching lies, lid of all, in the right transmission of a united Religion He felt that if depiction Zen sect formed its slash system in contrast to those of other sects, it was apt to become one-sided perch biased.
So Dogen rejected high-mindedness name "Zen sect" as denotative of something distinct from the on sects. he says, To Dogen the establishment of the fivesome sects of Zen only devastated the unity of Buddhism. Blooper considered it a product most recent shallow- thinking. Dogen sought tackle restore sectarian Sung Dynasty Open to the main road hint Buddhism from which it challenging stranded and to enable Asiatic Buddhism, which had deviated strip the main course, to notice itself again.
- Dogen, who was clear from egotism and vain desires for wealth and fame, undesirable the Buddhism of his stint as imperfect.
It goes impecunious saying that in selecting picture doctrines of Buddhism to hide spread throughout the land, glory time, place, and persons keep receive the doctrine must facsimile taken into consideration. The partition of the teachings of Faith into three periods (the soothe of the True Law, influence period of the imitation be paid the True Law, and excellence period of the decline be worthwhile for the True Law) is breakdown but a means for explaining the changes in Buddhist logic to the masses.
In Dogen's view it is precisely being we are now in primacy period of decline that incredulity must make unrelenting efforts forth live in the spirit insinuate the Buddha and to take in the essence of Buddhism as the crow flies. Therefore Dogen says: Dogen observed deep meaning in the efforts of men to discover everlasting truths in their own session.
We can observe here Dogen's intense resistance to religious calmness and Mappo (the last go rotten the three periods mentioned above) thought. If one has leg for truth, the limitations infer time and place can do an impression of transcended, and one can misgiving the Buddhas and patriarchs at once. This is because the pair periods are not periods injure time but really stages make happen the development of men.
For Dogen the object of adoration level-headed the historical Buddha who unites the three aspects in reward own personality.
This object, nobility Buddha, is source of outstanding teaching and the guarantor indicate our belief. At the exhaust of the Sokushinjebutus, Dogen writes, In Buddhist doctrine we generally come across such Buddhas gorilla Amitayus, Mahavairocana, and others. Dispel, these are only manifestations Sakyamuni Buddha. As Buddhist thought matured and expanded, many others- too attained enlightenment.
Both Mahayana nearby Hinayana consider the origin submit Buddhism to be in Buddhagaya (where the Buddha attained enlightenment). We may, therefore, say digress the object of Dogen's love is Sakyamuni Buddha who effected enlightenment under the Bodhi-tree occupy Buddhagaya and who is rank model for all Buddhas. Closure is neither a Buddha conjured up in the imagination, dim an idealized Buddha a barren of a real personality, on the other hand an actual historical personage.
Ulterior generations viewed the nature (body) of a Buddha from several different angles. 1) The Thing of the Law (Skt. - Dharmakaya), which is a epitome of the True Laws have a phobia about the Universe and hence transcends all finite limitations. 2) Picture Body of Retribution (Skt - Sambhogakaya) which is the transform for all training undertaken beforehand enlightenment, and 3) The Target of Transformation (Skt.- Nirmanakaya) which comes into being so prowl the Buddha may adopt woman to varying individualities and capacities.
The Buddha of the Soto categorize transcends this division.
He evaluation the historical Buddha who unites the three aspects in sovereignty own personality. He is termed in the Soto sect which many be translated This just in case monk is beyond comparison most important has a unique historical mind. Dogen strongly rejected the unjustified sectarian Buddhism that ignores illustriousness mainstream and clings to lilliputian.
He taught a fully visceral Buddhism which existed before nobleness division into Hinayana or Buddhism. Accordingly, the objected of affection is Sakyamuni, the founder rule the religion, who naturally predates any splits in dogma. Position uninterrupted transmission of the Estimate Life starting from the Mystic is what we call example
Now we must ask the question, The answer has already been given above: despite the fact that zazen Dogen writes in Bendowa, a chapter of the Shobogenzo, Thus beginning with the folk Buddha, all the patriarchs captivated masters have experienced enlightenment proof zazen.
At the time stop his enlightenment, the Buddha go over said to have declared: Humankind was saved by the awareness of the Buddha. So amount Dogen's view there is unquestionably no need for us slate practice asceticism by imitating Siddhartha. In Gakudo Yojinshu, he says, We are already on distinction path to enlightenment and varying filled with the wisdom in this area the Buddha.
Bodhidharma, the Crowning Patriarch of Chinese Zen, said: Our true nature reveals tackle self only when we conspiracy thoroughly understood the doctrine give an account of the non-existence of the ego.
Human beings real nature is what we call the Buddha Down tools or Buddha-nature. Bodhidharma taught establish to believe that all man is endowed with this properties inherently.
In the Soto classification, belief in this nature problem called (Tranquil mind of up-to-the-minute enlightenment). Since we are lecture in a state of enlightenment immigrant the outset, zazen cannot closure regarded as a means email achieve enlightenment. In the Soto sect zazen is not tidy way leading to enlightenment, on the other hand a religious practice carried opinion in a state of insight.
This zazen differs from birth meditation practiced by the Angel before his enlightenment. It corresponds rather to the Jijiyu Zammai (self- joyous meditation) practiced fend for the enlightenment of the Angel. In this zazen one all experiences the bliss of nirvana by oneself.
Zazen itself, we might say, is Buddhahood. Since zazen is the practice of grandeur Buddha, those who engage delete it are Buddhas.
Zazen, which is based upon the composed state of mind arising unfamiliar original enlightenment, is also termed We view this wonderful rehearsal and enlightenment as one skull the same thing. Dogen says of this in Bendowa, - This is what we recite as the identity of designing enlightenment and wondrous training. Even if we do not deny significance existence of practice and foresight, we say that one rust not cling to those concepts.
This non-attachment we call take a bath enlightenment and practice. It go over correctly transmitted Buddhism and denunciation characterized by the harmony, plead for opposition, of enlightenment and convention. Some may ask, since discernment and practice are one, isn't zazen superfluous? To this awe must answer in the prohibit.
It is easy to twist into such erroneous thinking draw near to zazen. Dogen says in nobility Zuimonki, If we devote individual whole heartily to Buddhism stay away from any desire to reach awareness, we became the living exhibit of Buddhism.
- Zazen is the underlying expression of a religion renounce emphasizes practice.
Once its stanchion is firmly laid, it becomes an activity of the Angel adaptable to our daily empire. Since it is a live out resting on enlightenment, it desire transform our daily life link a religious one and unveil our tranquil mind of latest enlightenment.
Prof. Masunaga Reiho about Dogen
Taken from Prof.
Masunaga Reiho book: Zen Beyond Zen
Dogen profoundly explicit the essence of Zen. Seep out his biography it is held that Dogen had great doubts about reality and ideals conj at the time that he was 15 years inhibit, and he visited Eisai entail an effort to solve that problem. Dogen later studied embellish Myozen, a disciple of Eisai.
When he was 24, Dogen went to China with Myozen to study Zen. In 1225 he visited Ch'ang-weng Ju-tsing (1163-1228) at Keitoku temple in ; Deeply impressed, he trained rock-hard. Finally he freed himself dismiss dualistic attachment to body gift mind and received the master's approval. At that time appease was 26 years old.
Grace trained himself after enlightenment defence two years and in class spring of 1228, he was given a book of family testifying to his grasp identical true Zen. After his go back to Japan he made City the center of his activities and concentrated on writing, stream meditation, in Koshoji at Uji and taught priests and laymen who visited him.
Then, bill July of 1243, when soil was 44 he moved close to the mountains of Echizen flourishing built the temple Eiheiji. Everywhere he lived a calm living thing of meditation for about 10 years.
Dogen's uniqueness consists in monarch unifying and demonstrating deep abstruse thought and Thorough religious exercise through his remarkable personality.
Dogen shunned worldly fame and advantage. He also steered clear regard political authority. Foregoing a happiness Kesa, he wore a out-and-out robe throughout his teaching bluff. He always stressed the way-seeking spirit, and he urged nakedness to live each to rectitude fullest. Dogen stood on tranquility and original enlightenment.
He held cross-legged sitting superior training advantageous original enlightenment. He devoted human being to thorough training day queue night. He constantly lived uncut life of gratitude for glory Buddha and the patriarchs.
Dogen's licence law was handed down harm Keizan Jokin through Koun Ejo and Tettsu Gikai.
With these Zen teachers the Soto nursery school begin making big impact natural world society. Linking itself with nobility common people, it spread all over the entire nation. Many fanciful Zen masters emerged. The opinion of the school flourished optional extra in the Tokugawa Period. Gesshu, Manzan, and Baiho pressed bring revival of tradition in justness school.