Dogen Studies

Kuroda Studies in East Asian Buddhism

by William R. LaFleur (Editor)

The induction of Dо̄gen into the modern academic world, or per-haps more accurately, the academic world's first real engagement with Dо̄gen came about 1924 when Watsuji Tetsurо̄ (1889-1960) published a provocative essay entitled Shaman Dо̄gen. It was this essay that to many of Watsuji's contemporaries seemed to rescue Dо̄gen from what they considered to be his entrapment for nearly seven centuries in the sectarian embrace of the Sо̄tо̄ school. Watsuji insisted that Dо̄gen no longer should be thought of as belonging exclusively to the monastic community. Claiming, instead, that Dо̄gen belongs to mankind, Watsuji with this declaration initiated the non-sectarian study of this thirteenth-century figure and in effect commenced what are called Dо̄gen Studies [Dagen kenkyii] in modern times.



As one way of exploring what it might possibly mean to say that Dо̄gen belongs to mankind, the Kuroda Institute held a conference on Dо̄gen at Tassajara Springs, California from October 8 to 10, 1981. The essays of this volume are a part of its result.

Genres: Buddhism, Zen

Paperback

First published May 1, 1985

Reviews

[Andy McLellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a fair amount of material on Dogen and, despite being published back in 1985, this volume is one of the best among them.

To be honest, I only bought it to read Carl Bielefeldt's chapter but found so much more of interest here which greatly deepened my understanding of Dogen and his writings. Some was overly philosophical for my needs, comparing Dogen to western philosophers, but most of the essays were highly applicable to Zen history and practice in direct ways.

I think this is out of print now but there are second-hand copies available which I would highly recommend buying if you are interested in exploring Dogen's writing and thinking.

[mkmk · Rating 5 out of 5]

But to overcome this arrogance and abandon these fundamental assumptions would be difficult to accomplish if [...] egocentrism and speciesism are both expressions of the human mind's fear of insignificance, impermanence, and death.