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Buddhist : Zen / Chan

13th Century

Japan
(East Asia)

Eihei Dogen

Timeline (1200 - 1253)

Poems by Eihei Dogen
Books

Eihei Dogen, Eihei Dogen poetry, Buddhist, Buddhist poetry, Zen / Chan poetry, poetry, poetry

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Dogen, sometimes respectfully referred to as Dogen Zenji, was a key figure in the development of Japanese Zen practice and the founder of the Soto Zen sect.

Dogen was born about 1200 in Kyoto, Japan. At the age of 17, he was formally ordained as a Buddhist monk. Considering the Japaanese Buddhism of the time to be corrupt and influenced by secular power struggles, Dogen traveled to China to discover the heart of the Dharma by studying Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism at several ancient monasteries.

Much of the Ch'an Buddhism he explored utilized koans and "encounter dialogues" to startle the consciousness into enlightenment, but Dogen was critical of this practice. Instead, he was drawn to the teachings of silent meditation.

Dogen returned to Japan in 1236. He left the politicized environment of Kyoto, and settled in the mountains and snow country of remote Echizen Province, where he established his own school of Zen, the Soto school.

While he proved to be a talented writer and poet, the core of Dogen's teaching was to transcend the mind's addiction to language and form in order to become fully present and recognize one's inherent enlightenment.

Poems by Eihei Dogen

	A Zen monk asked for a verse:
	Above all, don't wish to become a future Buddha;
	Ching-ch'ing's raindrop sound
	Coming or Going
	Impermanence
	In the stream
	Like tangled hair
	One of fifteen verses on Dogen's mountain retreat:
	One of six verses on snow:
	The Western Patriarch's doctrine is transplanted!
	Treading along in this dreamlike, illusory realm
	True person manifest throughout the ten quarters of the world
	Wondrous nirvana-mind
	Worship
	Zazen
	One of six verses composed in An'yoin Temple in Fukakusa, 1230:

Recommended Books

	The Poetry of Zen: (Shambhala Library), Edited by Sam Hamill / Edited by J. P. Seaton Amazon.com
	The Soul is Here for its Own Joy: Sacred Poems from Many Cultures, Edited by Robert Bly Amazon.com
	The Zen Poetry of Dogen: Verses from the Mountain of Eternal Peace, by Steven Heine Amazon.com
	Zen Poetry: Let the Spring Breeze Enter, Translated by Lucien Stryk / Translated by Takashi Ikemoto Amazon.com

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Eihei Dogen

Daily Poem Email

Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Support
the Poetry Chaikhana