The Dogen Canon D 6 G E N ,S Fre-Shobogenzo Writings and the Question of Change in His Later Works
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To Transmit Dogen Zenji's Dharma
http://www.stanford.edu/group/scbs/Dogen/Dogen_Zen_papers/%20Otani. html [03.10.03] To Transmit Dogen Zenji's Dharma Otani Tetsuo Introduction It is my pleasure to address the distinguished guests who have gathered today at Stanford University to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the birth of Dogen Zenji. In my talk today, I will discuss the topic of "Dharma transmission," first by reflecting on Dogen Zenji's interpretation of the idea. Second, I will examine the so-called "lineage- restoration" movement (shuto fukko) of the early modern period which had the issue of Dharma transmission at its core. And finally, I will conclude with a reflection on the significance of receiving and transmitting the Dharma today. I. Dogen Zenji's Dharma Transmission and Buddha Dharma While practicing in the assembly of Musai Ryoha at Tendozan Monastery right after he went to China at the age of 24, Dogen initially had an interest in the genealogy document (shisho), a certificate authenticating the transmission of the Dharma. Dogen was clearly moved when he actually had opportunities to see "transmission documents" (shisho) and wrote about it in the "Shisho" chapter of his Shobogenzo. In this chapter, he recorded a total of five occasions when he was able to look at a "transmission document" including that of Musai Ryoha. Let us look at these five ocassions in historical sequence: 1] The fall of 1223 when he traveled to China, he was introduced to Den (a monk who was in charge of the temple library), a Dharma descendent of Butsugen Sei'on of the Rinzai Yogi lineage. -
Powerful Warriors and Influential Clergy Interaction and Conflict Between the Kamakura Bakufu and Religious Institutions
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAllllBRARI Powerful Warriors and Influential Clergy Interaction and Conflict between the Kamakura Bakufu and Religious Institutions A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN HISTORY MAY 2003 By Roy Ron Dissertation Committee: H. Paul Varley, Chairperson George J. Tanabe, Jr. Edward Davis Sharon A. Minichiello Robert Huey ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Writing a doctoral dissertation is quite an endeavor. What makes this endeavor possible is advice and support we get from teachers, friends, and family. The five members of my doctoral committee deserve many thanks for their patience and support. Special thanks go to Professor George Tanabe for stimulating discussions on Kamakura Buddhism, and at times, on human nature. But as every doctoral candidate knows, it is the doctoral advisor who is most influential. In that respect, I was truly fortunate to have Professor Paul Varley as my advisor. His sharp scholarly criticism was wonderfully balanced by his kindness and continuous support. I can only wish others have such an advisor. Professors Fred Notehelfer and Will Bodiford at UCLA, and Jeffrey Mass at Stanford, greatly influenced my development as a scholar. Professor Mass, who first introduced me to the complex world of medieval documents and Kamakura institutions, continued to encourage me until shortly before his untimely death. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to them. In Japan, I would like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to Professors Imai Masaharu and Hayashi Yuzuru for their time, patience, and most valuable guidance. -
Soto Zen: an Introduction to Zazen
SOT¯ O¯ ZEN An Introduction to Zazen SOT¯ O¯ ZEN: An Introduction to Zazen Edited by: S¯ot¯o Zen Buddhism International Center Published by: SOTOSHU SHUMUCHO 2-5-2, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8544, Japan Tel: +81-3-3454-5411 Fax: +81-3-3454-5423 URL: http://global.sotozen-net.or.jp/ First printing: 2002 NinthFifteenth printing: printing: 20122017 © 2002 by SOTOSHU SHUMUCHO. All rights reserved. Printed in Japan Contents Part I. Practice of Zazen....................................................7 1. A Path of Just Sitting: Zazen as the Practice of the Bodhisattva Way 9 2. How to Do Zazen 25 3. Manners in the Zend¯o 36 Part II. An Introduction to S¯ot¯o Zen .............................47 1. History and Teachings of S¯ot¯o Zen 49 2. Texts on Zazen 69 Fukan Zazengi 69 Sh¯ob¯ogenz¯o Bend¯owa 72 Sh¯ob¯ogenz¯o Zuimonki 81 Zazen Y¯ojinki 87 J¯uniji-h¯ogo 93 Appendixes.......................................................................99 Takkesa ge (Robe Verse) 101 Kaiky¯o ge (Sutra-Opening Verse) 101 Shigu seigan mon (Four Vows) 101 Hannya shingy¯o (Heart Sutra) 101 Fuek¯o (Universal Transference of Merit) 102 Part I Practice of Zazen A Path of Just Sitting: Zazen as the 1 Practice of the Bodhisattva Way Shohaku Okumura A Personal Reflection on Zazen Practice in Modern Times Problems we are facing The 20th century was scarred by two World Wars, a Cold War between powerful nations, and countless regional conflicts of great violence. Millions were killed, and millions more displaced from their homes. All the developed nations were involved in these wars and conflicts. -
Dogen Zenji Goroku Record of Sayings of Zen Master Dogen
Dogen Zenji Goroku Record of Sayings of Zen Master Dogen Introduction Zen is traditionally called “a separate transmission outside doctrine, pointing directly to the human mind to see its essential nature and realize enlightenment.” The distinction between experience and doctrine is emphasize in the Lankavatara sutra, a scripture associated with the founding of Zen in China, which says that Buddhism is not a set of doctrines, but doctrines are expedients of Buddhism, like specific remedies for particular ailments. The essential nature of mind, the central initiatory experience of Zen, refers to the mind untrammeled by acquired mental habits, opinions, and prejudices ingrained by personal history and cultural conditioning. A classic illustration of this likens mind and essential nature to ice and water; the ice represents mind “frozen” into habitual patterns of thought and feeling molded by circumstances, water represents the original fluid nature of the essence of awareness. The initial disentanglement and awakening of pristine awareness is followed by what is called “nurturing the sacred embryo,” maturing the ability to remain unfettered while mastering deliberate use of mind, so that one becomes “free to go or stay,” able to “let go or hold fast,” to “go against the current or go along,” adapting to conditions independently. Zen arose in China (where it is pronounced Chan) several centuries after the introduction of Buddhist scriptures from India and Central Asia, but Zen lore envisions its “special transmission outside doctrine” continuing from the time of the historical Buddha a thousand years before its introduction to China. Zen was likewise established in Japan as an independent movement hundreds of years after the introduction of the scriptural Buddhist teachings from Korea and China. -
Zen Classics: Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism
Zen Classics: Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism STEVEN HEINE DALE S. WRIGHT, Editors OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Zen Classics This page intentionally left blank Zen Classics Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism edited by steven heine and dale s. wright 1 2006 1 Oxford University Press, Inc., publishes works that further Oxford University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education. Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With offices in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Copyright ᭧ 2006 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Published by Oxford University Press, Inc. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 www.oup.com Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Zen classics: formative texts in the history of Zen Buddhism / edited by Steven Heine and Dale S. Wright. p. cm Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents: The concept of classic literature in Zen Buddhism / Dale S. Wright—Guishan jingce and the ethical foundations of Chan practice / Mario Poceski—A Korean contribution to the Zen canon the Oga hae scorui / Charles Muller—Zen Buddhism as the ideology of the Japanese state / Albert Welter—An analysis of Dogen’s Eihei goroku / Steven Heine—“Rules of purity” in Japanese Zen / T. -
Nihontō Compendium
Markus Sesko NIHONTŌ COMPENDIUM © 2015 Markus Sesko – 1 – Contents Characters used in sword signatures 3 The nengō Eras 39 The Chinese Sexagenary cycle and the corresponding years 45 The old Lunar Months 51 Other terms that can be found in datings 55 The Provinces along the Main Roads 57 Map of the old provinces of Japan 59 Sayagaki, hakogaki, and origami signatures 60 List of wazamono 70 List of honorary title bearing swordsmiths 75 – 2 – CHARACTERS USED IN SWORD SIGNATURES The following is a list of many characters you will find on a Japanese sword. The list does not contain every Japanese (on-yomi, 音読み) or Sino-Japanese (kun-yomi, 訓読み) reading of a character as its main focus is, as indicated, on sword context. Sorting takes place by the number of strokes and four different grades of cursive writing are presented. Voiced readings are pointed out in brackets. Uncommon readings that were chosen by a smith for a certain character are quoted in italics. 1 Stroke 一 一 一 一 Ichi, (voiced) Itt, Iss, Ipp, Kazu 乙 乙 乙 乙 Oto 2 Strokes 人 人 人 人 Hito 入 入 入 入 Iri, Nyū 卜 卜 卜 卜 Boku 力 力 力 力 Chika 十 十 十 十 Jū, Michi, Mitsu 刀 刀 刀 刀 Tō 又 又 又 又 Mata 八 八 八 八 Hachi – 3 – 3 Strokes 三 三 三 三 Mitsu, San 工 工 工 工 Kō 口 口 口 口 Aki 久 久 久 久 Hisa, Kyū, Ku 山 山 山 山 Yama, Taka 氏 氏 氏 氏 Uji 円 円 円 円 Maru, En, Kazu (unsimplified 圓 13 str.) 也 也 也 也 Nari 之 之 之 之 Yuki, Kore 大 大 大 大 Ō, Dai, Hiro 小 小 小 小 Ko 上 上 上 上 Kami, Taka, Jō 下 下 下 下 Shimo, Shita, Moto 丸 丸 丸 丸 Maru 女 女 女 女 Yoshi, Taka 及 及 及 及 Chika 子 子 子 子 Shi 千 千 千 千 Sen, Kazu, Chi 才 才 才 才 Toshi 与 与 与 与 Yo (unsimplified 與 13 -
BEYOND THINKING a Guide to Zen Meditation
ABOUT THE BOOK Spiritual practice is not some kind of striving to produce enlightenment, but an expression of the enlightenment already inherent in all things: Such is the Zen teaching of Dogen Zenji (1200–1253) whose profound writings have been studied and revered for more than seven hundred years, influencing practitioners far beyond his native Japan and the Soto school he is credited with founding. In focusing on Dogen’s most practical words of instruction and encouragement for Zen students, this new collection highlights the timelessness of his teaching and shows it to be as applicable to anyone today as it was in the great teacher’s own time. Selections include Dogen’s famous meditation instructions; his advice on the practice of zazen, or sitting meditation; guidelines for community life; and some of his most inspirational talks. Also included are a bibliography and an extensive glossary. DOGEN (1200–1253) is known as the founder of the Japanese Soto Zen sect. Sign up to learn more about our books and receive special offers from Shambhala Publications. Or visit us online to sign up at shambhala.com/eshambhala. Translators Reb Anderson Edward Brown Norman Fischer Blanche Hartman Taigen Dan Leighton Alan Senauke Kazuaki Tanahashi Katherine Thanas Mel Weitsman Dan Welch Michael Wenger Contributing Translator Philip Whalen BEYOND THINKING A Guide to Zen Meditation Zen Master Dogen Edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi Introduction by Norman Fischer SHAMBHALA Boston & London 2012 SHAMBHALA PUBLICATIONS, INC. Horticultural Hall 300 Massachusetts Avenue -
Excerpts from Dōgen's How to Practice Buddhism (Bendōwa
Primary Source Document with Questions (DBQs) EXCERPTS FROM DŌGEN’S HOW TO PRACTICE BUDDHISM (BENDŌWA) Introduction Dōgen Zenji (1200‐1253), the founder of the Sōtō Zen sect in Kamakura Japan, is often referred to as the leading classical philosopher in Japanese history. His essays on numerous Buddhist topics included in his main text, the Shōbōgenzō (Treasury of the True Dharma‐Eye), reflect an approach to religious experience based on a more philosophical analysis than in the writings of Zen. (Zen is known as a “special transmission outside the scriptures, without reliance on words and letters.”) The single main element in Dōgen’s approach is his emphasis on the meaning of impermanence or the transiency of all aspects of human and natural existence. Selected Document Excerpts with Questions From Sources of Japanese Tradition, compiled by Wm. Theodore de Bary, Donald Keene, George Tanabe, and Paul Varley, 2nd ed., vol. 1 (New York: Columbia University Press, 2001), 321‐324. © 2001 Columbia University Press. Reproduced with the permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Excerpts from Dōgen’s How to Practice Buddhism (Bendōwa) Because the Fully Awakened Ones [Buddhas] provide mysterious assistance, when you practice sitting Zen, you will definitely slough off body‑mind, eliminate habitually defiled thought patterns, and realize divinely genuine Buddha dharma. You will aid all Buddha activity in all Buddha wayfaring sites as infinite as atoms. You will encourage the aptitude for practicing beyond Buddha and promote the dharma beyond Buddha. At that moment all lands, plants, fences, and roof tiles throughout the dharma realms of the ten directions also engage in Buddha activity, causing everyone to obtain the Buddha’s inconceivable mysterious assistance in attaining awakening as easily as they receive natural blessings like wind and water. -
The Simplicity of Dogen
The Simplicity of Dogen J ohn T. Brinkman DOGEN KlGEN (1200-1253) epitomized the religious dimension of Zen and reinterpreted the meaning of Buddhist meditative practice with compelling insight whose acknowledged impress informs contempora ry Japanese thought. The endeavors of his thinking were a refined influence in the transition of Ch’an from China and in its transforma tion in Japan. The intensity of Ch’an Buddhism attained a special sta tus in Japan through the efforts of DOgen. From its origin, the practice of sudden enlightenment has been noted as a markedly Chinese development. It arose out of certain cultural processes and offered a form of Buddhism considered reformative if not revolutionary in its effect. The Ch’an Movement, better known as Zen, has been de scribed by Hu Shih (1881-1962) as a “ reformation or revolu tion in Buddhism,” and by [D. T.] Suzuki as a movement in which “the Chinese mind completely asserted itself, in a sense, in opposition to the Indian mind. Zen could not rise and flourish in any other land or among any other people.” 1 The very course and history of ritualized meditative practice in China has been understood as a pattern for Japan’s timely responsiveness to the teaching of DOgen and as presage of Zen development in its Japanese phase. A four hundred year period of Buddhist learning preceded the advent of Ch’an in China. Four centuries of Buddhist as similation prefaced Ddgen’s Zen in Japan. A 1242 conversation noted in the Kenzeiki, a medieval biography of Ddgen, would have Ddgen 1 Wing-tsit Chan, trans, and comp., Source Book in Chinese Philosophy (Prince ton: Princeton University Press, 1963), p. -
Shobogenzo Zuimonki
Shobogenzo Zuimonki http://global.sotozen-net.or.jp/eng/library/Zuimonki/index.html Introduction 1.Zen Master Eihei Dogen and Koun Ejo Shobogenzo Zuimonki consists of the dharma talks of Eihei Dogen Zenji (1200–1253) who transmitted Soto Zen from China to Japan. These talks were originally recorded by Koun Ejo Zenji, Dogen’s dharma successor, and probably edited by his disciples after Ejo’s death. In this introduction, I’d like to briefly introduce Ejo Zenji since he is not as well known in the West as Dogen Zenji. Ejo was born of a noble family, the Fujiwara, in Kyoto, in 1198. In 1215, at eighteen years of age, he was ordained as a Tendai monk under Master Enno at Yokawa on Mt. Hiei. He studied the fundamental philosophy of Buddhism; the Kusha (Abhidharmakosa-bhasya) Jojitsu (Satyasidhi-sastra), and Tendai teachings etc. However, he realized that studying for fame and profit or for high position in the Buddhist order was meaningless. Arousing bodhi-mind, he wanted to leave the monastery just as many other Buddhist leaders did in that age. According to the Denkoroku (The Record of Transmitting the Light) of Keizan Jokin, who received ordination from Ejo and later became the successor of Tettsu Gikai, Ejo once visited his mother. His mother said; “I allowed you to become a monk not because I wanted you to rise to a high position and associate with the upper class. Just do not study or practice for fame and profit. I hope only that you will practice in poverty, wear black robes, hang a bamboo hat on your back, and walk on your own feet [instead of riding in palanquins].” Upon hearing this, Ejo changed his robes and never went back to Mt. -
Time and Self: Religious Awakening in Dogen and Shinran
Time and Self: Religious Awakening in Dogen and Shinran TRENT COLLIER [The nembutsu] is precisely for those who are utterly ignorant and foolish, and who therefore forget about study and practice, believing that simply to say the Name of Amida Buddha with their tongues, day and night, is to enact the fulfillment of practice. While the way of wisdom corr nds to the Tendai teaching or Zen meditation, the gate of compassion designed for the foolish does not differ with regard to what is true and real. On a cold night, it makes no difference whether you are wearing robes of pat terned brocade or lying under layers of hempen patchwork once you have fallen asleep and forgotten about the wind. Shinkei N this passage from a 15th century work on renga poetry, Shinkei (1406-1475) contrasts the arduous path of Tendai or Zen with the com parativelyI simple path of nembutsu practice.1 While Shinkei was speaking figuratively, the literal meaning of his words—that the nembutsu is for the “foolish and ignorant”—reflects a perception of the Pure Land path that per sists to this day. Buddhist studies in the modem West have largely ignored the Pure Land tradition, focusing instead on schools that are more obviously complex, philosophical, or meditative. Whether from disinterest in the doc trines and practices of the Pure Land tradition or from aversion to traditions too similar in structure to the Judeo-Christian tradition, Western students of Buddhism have neglected a large and thoroughly profound body of work. 1 Dennis Hirota, Wind in the Pines: Classic Writings o f the Way o f Tea as a Buddhist Path (Fremont, California: Asian Humanities Press, 1995), 168—9. -
Creating Heresy: (Mis)Representation, Fabrication, and the Tachikawa-Ryū
Creating Heresy: (Mis)representation, Fabrication, and the Tachikawa-ryū Takuya Hino Submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 2012 © 2012 Takuya Hino All rights reserved ABSTRACT Creating Heresy: (Mis)representation, Fabrication, and the Tachikawa-ryū Takuya Hino In this dissertation I provide a detailed analysis of the role played by the Tachikawa-ryū in the development of Japanese esoteric Buddhist doctrine during the medieval period (900-1200). In doing so, I seek to challenge currently held, inaccurate views of the role played by this tradition in the history of Japanese esoteric Buddhism and Japanese religion more generally. The Tachikawa-ryū, which has yet to receive sustained attention in English-language scholarship, began in the twelfth century and later came to be denounced as heretical by mainstream Buddhist institutions. The project will be divided into four sections: three of these will each focus on a different chronological stage in the development of the Tachikawa-ryū, while the introduction will address the portrayal of this tradition in twentieth-century scholarship. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Abbreviations……………………………………………………………………………...ii Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………iii Dedication……………………………………………………………………………….………..vi Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………...vii Introduction………………………………………………………………………….…………….1 Chapter 1: Genealogy of a Divination Transmission……………………………………….……40 Chapter