Record of Things Heard: From the Treasury of the Eye of the True Teaching

by Dōgen, EJO (Compiler), Thomas Cleary (Translator)

This Zen classic is a collection of talks by the great Japanese Zen Master Dogen, the founder of the Soto School. They were recorded by Ejo, one of Dogen's first disciples, and later his foremost successor. The talks and stories in this volume were written in the thirteenth-century Japan, a time when Buddhism was undergoing a "dark age" of misinterpretation and corruption. It was in this atmosphere that Dogen attempted to reassert the true essence of the Buddhist teachings and to affirm "the mind of the Way" and the doctrine of selflessness. Dogen emphasizes the disciplinary aspect of meditation practice is presented here as the backbone without which Buddhism could not exist.

The stories in this volume are often humorous and paradoxical, relating the Buddhist teachings by means of example. Commonly in the Zen tradition, discussions between teacher and student and the telling of tales are used to point to a greater truth, which mere theory could never explain.

Dogen relates interesting stories of his travels in China, where the inspiration he found lacking in Japanese Buddhism was flourishing in the Ch'an school of Chinese Buddhism.

Genres: Buddhism

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2001

About the author

Dōgen Zenji (道元禅師; also Dōgen Kigen 道元希玄, or Eihei Dōgen 永平道元, or Koso Joyo Daishi) was a Zen Buddhist teacher and the founder of the Sōtō Zen school of Buddhism in Japan.

Reviews

[Scott Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were a lot of good concepts. But also it shows that monks are fools too.
The most important thing is to sit and do nothing. One monk lost his legs after 9 years.
Abandon your body, mind, possessions, and loved ones. Only The Way matters.
Do not plan where your next meal is coming from. Do not save. Do not seek achievement.
Good food for thought, but take with a pinch of salt.

[Linus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great classic teachings by Zen master Dogen, full of practical advice on life and practice, and way less obtruse then many of his other texts. Recommended to any serious practitioner of Zen.