Sangha dogen zenji biography
Sangha dogen zenji biography
Dogen zenji poetry!
About Dogen Zenji
(Taken from Prof. Masunaga book 'Soto Approach to Zen', the chapter: 'The place of Dogen', pages )
The place of Dogen
It was Dogen () who first brought Soto Zen to Japan.
Keizan () made possible the popularization of Soto Zen, thereby laying the foundation for the large religious organization, which it is today. Dogen, born in a noble family, quickly learned the meaning of the Buddhist word "mujo" (impermanence).
Sangha dogen zenji biography wikipedia
While still young, he lost both his parents. He decided then to become a Buddhist priest and search for truth. He went first to Mt. Hiei, the headquarters of the sect.
At the young age he was assailed by the following doubt This doubt, clearly pointing to the dualistic contradiction between the ideal and the actual, is the kind of anguish likely to arise in the mind of any deeply religious person.
Unable to resolve this great doubt at Mt. Hiei, Dogen decided to study Buddhism under Eisai ( ). For some time he practiced Zen medita