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...
firsts oneself
When one first seeks the truth, one separates oneself from it.
spiritual want firsts
If you want to do a certain thing, you first have to be a certain person. Once you become that certain person, you will not care anymore about doing that certain thing.
exercise greed firsts
IF YOU WOULD BE FREE OF GREED, FIRST YOU HAVE TO LEAVE EGOTISM BEHIND. THE BEST MENTAL EXERCISE FOR RELINQUISHING EGOTISM IS CONTEMPLATING IMPERMANENCE.
poverty firsts speak
When other sects speak well of Zen, the first thing that they praise is its poverty.
practice training firsts
The recognition of the coming and going of things is a first step in training and practice.
stars moon rivers
Clearly I know, the mind is mountains, rivers, and the great earth; sun, moon, and stars.
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.
tree plums world
When the old plum tree blooms, the entire world blooms.
men buddha-nature every-man
Every man possesses the Buddha-nature. Do not demean yourselves.
practice understanding intellectual
Cease from practice based on intellectual understanding, pursuing words, and following after speech.
universe
Nothing in the entire universe is hidden.
path
Coming, going, the waterbirds don't leave a trace, don't follow a path.
mistake life-is masters
A zen master's life is one continuous mistake.
reflection moon sky
Realization doesn't destroy the individual any more than the reflection of the moon breaks a drop of water. A drop of water can reflect the whole sky.