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Dogen, Zenji (January 19, 1200 - September 22, 1253), title meaning
"Zen-Master Elementary-Way", was a Japanese Buddhist teacher and founder of
the Soto school of Zen in Japan. He was a leading religious figure and
important philosopher.
He came from a noble family and he quickly learned the meaning of the
Buddhist word "mujo" (impermanence). His parents died when he was still
young, and it is said that this early glimpse of impermanence inspired him
to become a monk. He went first to Mt. Hiei, which was the headquarters of
the sect he studied. In his young age, he questioned that "Both the esoteric
and external doctrines of the Buddha teach that enlightenment is inherent in
all beings from the outset. If this is so, why do all the Buddhas, past,
present, and future, seek enlightenment?" This doubt led him to study
Buddhism under the Rinzai teachers Eisai (1141 - 1215) and under Myozen for
nine years.
In search of the truth, he went to China accompanied by his teacher,
Myozen, at the age of 24, even though crossing the ocean was dangerous at
that time. After visiting well-known monasteries, he came to study with Ju-tsing
(J. Nyojo), the 13th Patriarch in Mt. Tien-tung (J. Tendo). This lineage
would become known as the Soto school in Japanese. Two years after, he
finally realized liberation of body and mind, free from ego.
Dogen came back to Japan after four years abroad. In 1244 he established
Eihei-ji, the main Soto monastery, in Echizen, now Fukui to spread his
Buddhist religion. The temple is still one of the two head temples of the
Soto sect today. He spent about 10 years for teaching in there. His
masterpiece is the Shobogenzo, a collection of essays on Buddhadharma in 95
chapters, that reveals his thoughts and faith. He employed Japanese language
to write, which was unconventional in that time, and put down the point in
simple, logical and concise style. He was followed by Keizan (1268 - 1325),
who popularized Soto Zen.
A famous quote from Dogen:
- To study the Way is to study the self.
- To study the self is to forget the self.
- To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things.
- To be enlightened by all things is to remove the barriers between
one's self and others.
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