Dogen
Dogen
Dōgen Zenji, also known as Dōgen Kigen, Eihei Dōgen, Koso Joyo Daishi, or Bussho Dento Kokushi, was a Japanese Buddhist priest, writer, poet, philosopher, and founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan. 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 five years, finally training under Tiantong Rujing, an...
ocean water mountain
Mountains and oceans have whole worlds of innumerable wondrous features. We should understand that it is not only our distant surroundings that are like this, but even what is right here, even a single drop of water.
practice distraction dharma
Know that the true dharma emerges of itself [during the practice of zazen], clearing away hindrances and distractions.
views mountain scales
Do not view mountains from the scale of human thought.
self way study
To study the Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self.
winter white snowfall
In a snowfall that covers the winter grass a white heron uses his own whiteness to disappear.
practice benefits dharma
Do not practice buddha-dharma with the thought that it is to benefit others.
short-life discipline today
Students today should live fully every moment of time. This dew-like life fades away; time speeds swiftly. In this short life of ours, avoid involvement in superfluous things and just study the Way.
spiritual school buddhism
As I study both the exoteric and the esoteric schools of Buddhism, they maintain that human beings are endowed with Dharma-nature by birth. If this is the case, why did the Buddhas of all ages - undoubtedly in possession of enlightenment - find it necessary to seek enlightenment and engage in spiritual practice?
mistake life-is masters
A zen master's life is one continuous mistake.
path
Coming, going, the waterbirds don't leave a trace, don't follow a path.
practice understanding intellectual
Cease from practice based on intellectual understanding, pursuing words, and following after speech.
men buddha-nature every-man
Every man possesses the Buddha-nature. Do not demean yourselves.
tree plums world
When the old plum tree blooms, the entire world blooms.
ocean opportunity roots
Do not miss the opportunity of offering even a single drop into the ocean of merit or a grain atop the mountain of the roots of beneficial activity.