Zen Master Dogen
Dogen Talks
Dōgen Zenji (道元禅師; 26 January 1200 – 22 September 1253), was a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk, writer, poet, philosopher, and founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan. He is also known as Dōgen Kigen (道元希玄), Eihei Dōgen (永平道元), Kōso Jōyō Daishi (高祖承陽大師), and Busshō Dentō Kokushi (仏性伝東国師).
Originally ordained as a monk in the Tendai School in Kyoto, he was ultimately dissatisfied with its teaching and traveled to China to seek out what he believed to be a more authentic Buddhism. He remained there for four years, finally training under Tiāntóng Rújìng, an eminent teacher of the Cáodòng lineage of Chinese Chan. Upon his return to Japan, he began promoting the practice of zazen (sitting meditation) through literary works such as Fukanzazengi and Bendōwa.
He eventually broke relations completely with the powerful Tendai School, and, after several years of likely friction between himself and the establishment, left Kyoto for the mountainous countryside where he founded the monastery Eihei-ji, which remains the head temple of the Sōtō school today.
Dōgen is known for his extensive writings like the Shōbōgenzō (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, considered his magnum opus), the Eihei Kōroku (Extensive Record, a collection of his talks), the Eihei Shingi (the first Japanese Zen monastic code), along with his Japanese poetry, and commentaries. Dōgen's writings are one of the most important sources studied in the contemporary Sōtō Zen tradition.
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Unknown Date, Serial 00219Serial: NC-00219 Archival Photo Dogen, zen, Soto Zen, Buddha, Lotus Sutra |
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Unknown year, July 1st, Serial 00528Serial: BZ-00528 A short talk on Zazen, followed by many questions and answers: Dealing with sleepiness, a crying child, a restless mind, pain in the legs, etc. "For a Zen student,... Zazen, Thich Nhat Hanh, Posture, Daily Life, Discrimination, Peace, Dogen, Building,... |
Jul 01 |
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Be Kind with YourselfSerial: SR-00112 Warm-hearted practice. Breathing and posture in zazen. We all have different circumstances, but in the monastery, we have one practice. Rules give freedom to practice. ...Dogen, Zazen, Tatsugami, Freedom, Instruction, Monks, Posture, Priest, American... |
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Tassajara |