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The Essential Dogen

Writings of the Great Zen Master

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The Essential Dogen

Written by: Kazuaki Tanahashi - editor, Peter Levitt - editor
Narrated by: Brian Nishii
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About this listen

Eihei Dogen (1200 - 1253), founder of the Soto School of Zen Buddhism, is one of the greatest religious, philosophical, and literary geniuses of Japan. His writings have been studied by Zen students for centuries, particularly his masterwork, Shobo Genzo or Treasury of the True Dharma Eye. This is the first book to offer the great master's incisive wisdom in short selections taken from the whole range of his voluminous works. The pithy and powerful readings, arranged according to theme, provide a perfect introduction to Dogen - and inspire spiritual practice in people of all traditions.

©2013 The San Francisco Zen Center (P)2014 Audible Inc. Buddhism Eastern Philosophy Inspiring Meditation China Zen Buddhism
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This seems like a good introduction to this influential ‘reformer’ of Zen, but was he enlightened or confused? Perhaps it’s the editors selections and sequence but it seems like a little of both. There is insight but there is also redundant and pointless rumination. Perhaps culturally this was motivating to his students at the time but a lot of it seems irrelevant to contemporary practitioners (and doesn’t seem irrelevant to contemporary practitioners to use Dogen’s overused device).

The narrator is good but perhaps a bit too dramatic for the topic of enlightenment which is usually characterized by being more even keeled. In any event it’s a good introduction (and it isn’t).

Enlightened or Confused?

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inspirational to real life and with the calmness of ones inner demons when listening it helps with the thought that you can put all towards life

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this book was very informative, however the language used can be confusing. the main points are danced around by confusing Metaphore. Overall good book just a bit complex to understand.

informative but some what confusing language

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Pierce ignorance and enjoy the dharma. Fresh wisdom and insight.
Flowing like a liquid mountain into the gentle breeze and crashing against a lotus tree. The monk smiles.

A Finger in the Nostril

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This book should be titled "deep thoughts from Homer Simpson".. By far, this is the most useless text on Buddhism or zen or spiritual development I have ever read, and I've read a ton.
Don't waste your time, just go meditate for 5 hours...

utterly useless

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