Favourite Master Dogen Quotes

[Heisoku]

Re: Favourite Master Dogen Quotes

Those who regard worldly affairs as a hindrance to buddhadharma only think that there is no buddhadharma in the secular world, and do not understand that there is no secular world in buddhadharma.

Bendo-wa, Question 14, p155, Moon in a Dew Drop, K. Tanahashi.

All things and all phenomena are just one mind - nothing is excluded or unrelated.

Bendo-wa, Question 10, p154, Moon in a Dew Drop, K. Tanahashi.

The first quote helped me put work and buddhadharma in right perspective. I'm still working on the second!

[Jiken]

Re: Favourite Master Dogen Quotes

"Those who practice know whether realization is attained or not, just as those who drink water know whether it is hot or cold"

Shobogenzo-Bendowa-Volume I page 18 of the Kazuaki Tanahashi translation

Daido

[Shohei]

Re: Favourite Master Dogen Quotes

where is the like button on here lots of gems for sure.

I find a new one each time a crack the book, often in the same line.


Gassho
Shohei

[nealc]

Re: Favourite Master Dogen Quotes

...
Realization, neither general nor particular,
is effort without desire.
Clear water all the way to the bottom;
a fish swims like a fish.
Vast sky transparent throughout;
a bird flies like a bird.

Moon in a Dewdrop p219

[will]

Re: Favourite Master Dogen Quotes

For today:

Shobogenzo Zuimonki:

Students of the way should niether read the scriptures of other Buddhist teachings nor study non-Buddhist texts. If you do read, examine the writings of Zen. Other works should be put aside for a while.


Zen Monks are fond of literature these days, finding it an aid to writing verses and tracts. This is a mistake. Even if you cannot compose a verse, just write what is in your heart. Grammatical niceties do not matter if you just express the teachings of Buddha. Those who lack the mind that seeks the way may complain that someone's writing is bad. Yet no matter how elegant the prose or how exquisite their poetry might be, they are merely toying with words and cannot gain the Truth. I have loved literature since I was young and even now recall beautiful phrases from non-Buddhist works. I have been tempted to take up such books as the Wen-hsuan, but I have come to feel that it would be a waste of time and I am inclined to think that such should be cast aside completely.