The Treasury of the True Dharma Eye (Shobogenzo) is the masterwork of Dogen (1200-1253), founder of the Soto Zen Buddhist sect in Kamakura-era Japan. Steven Heine provides a comprehensive introduction to this essential Zen text, offering a textual, historical, literary, and philosophical examination of Dogen's treatise.
This book is a collection of articles by one of the leading scholars in Japanese thought dealing with three areas of Japanese philosophy and Dôgen's Zen view of liberation, including the key doctrines of casting off body-mind, being-time, and spontaneous manifestation of the kôan; the relation between Buddhism, literary aesthetics, and folk religion; and a comparison of Japanese and Western thought, particularly Heidegger, on science, language, and death. The central theme throughout these essays is the meaning of time and impermanence in Japanese religion and culture based on Buddhist contemplation. The book's title refers to a phrase used by Dôgen, the dramatist Chikamatsu, and others that plays on the twofold image of «dream» representing either the fleeting world of illusion or the nonsubstantial realm of ultimate reality. One of the articles is a new annotated translation of Dôgen's Shôbôgenzô «Muchû setsumu» («Disclosing a Dream Within a Dream») fascicle. Other essays offer novel interpretations of Chikamatsu and Kyoto-school thinkers Kuki Shûzô and Nishitani Keiji in addition to Japanese folk religion.
An essential introduction to the life, writings, and legacy of one of Japan's most prolific Buddhist masters. The founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan, Eihei Dogen (1200–1253) is one of the most influential Buddhist teachers of all time. Although Dogen’s writings have reached wide prominence among contemporary Buddhists and philosophers, there is much that remains enigmatic about his life and writings. In Dogen: Japan’s Original Zen Teacher, respected Dogen scholar and translator Steven Heine offers a nuanced portrait of the master’s historical context, life, and work, paying special attention to issues such as: The nature of the “great doubt” that motivated Dogen’s religious quest The sociopolitical turmoil of Kamakura Japan that led to dynamic innovations in medieval Japanese Buddhism The challenges and transformations Dogen experienced during his pivotal time in China Key inflection points and unresolved questions regarding Dogen’s teaching career in Japan Ongoing controversies in the scholarly interpretations of Dogen’s biography and teachings Synthesizing a lifetime of research and reflection into an accessible narrative, this new addition to the Lives of the Masters series illuminates thought-provoking perspectives on Dogen’s character and teachings, as well as his relevance to contemporary practitioners.
Xuedou's 100 Odes to Old Cases is recognized as the seminal discourse in Chan Buddhism. In this volume, Steven Heine offers a much-needed translation of this pivotal work along with extensive background and commentary.
Koans are intriguing, paradoxical sayings from ancient Zen masters that challenge conventional thinking and serve as a key element in Zen Buddhist practice. Originating in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, these koans are part of a rich literary tradition featuring poetic and prose commentaries on their enigmatic dialogues. They have captivated intellectuals across China, Japan, and Korea, who sought deeper spiritual understanding through the complex interpretations of these metaphysical exchanges.
This work provides the first complete annotated translation of Dôgen's collected Japanese poetry (waka) along with an analysis of the role of aesthetics in Dôgen's philosophical writings in light of medieval Japanese literature. It argues that Dôgen's approach to Buddhist thought is not characterized by a clear-cut and one-sided rejection of aesthetics. Rather, Dôgen's standpoint is based on a fundamental paradoxicality encompassing the interplay of religion and literature, didacticism and lyricism, and absolute and relative expressing a contemplative view of nature and impermanence that is compatible with traditional Japanese religio-aesthetics. This work also critically assesses recent Japanese scholarship on Dôgen's poetry in cultural history and textual studies, and examines the medieval and modern history of the waka collection text and commentaries.
One of the world's leading cultural psychologists debunks the hype surrounding DNA testing and puts to rest our mistaken anxieties about our genes.
D?gen (1200-1253), the founder of the S?t? Zen sect in Japan, is especially known for introducing to Japanese Buddhism many of the texts and practices that he discovered in China. Heine reconstructs the context of D?gen's travels to and reflections on China by means of a critical look at traditional sources both by and about D?gen in light of recent Japanese scholarship. While many studies emphasize the unique features of D?gen's Japanese influences, this book calls attention to the way Chinese and Japanese elements were fused in D?gen's religious vision. It reveals many new materials and insights into Dogen's main writings, including the multiple editions of the Sh?b?genz?, and how and when this seminal text was created by D?gen and was edited and interpreted by his disciples. This book is the culmination of the author's thirty years of research on D?gen and provides the reader with a comprehensive approach to the master's life works and an understanding of the overall career trajectory of one of the most important figures in the history of Buddhism and Asian religious thought.
In "White Collar Zen," Steven Heine explores how Zen Buddhism can aid business professionals in navigating challenges and transforming setbacks into growth opportunities. He presents two harmonious paths: the Way of the Hermit for mental clarity and the Way of the Warrior for decisive action. With practical advice and real-world examples, Heine emphasizes integrity and cooperation in achieving professional excellence.
