Shobogenzo

• Master Dogen writes the whole of Buddhist philosophy and the whole of Buddhist practice in a consistent way

  An Introduction to Shobogenzo June 2005 — Lotus Centre

The most important texts

1. Understanding the Shobogenzo ●●●

   I found that if we take the Shobogenzo as a handbook to reality, it makes complete sense, contradictions and all.

   chonei, ganzei, kento and biku · editions of the Shobogenzo · Shobogenzo as a handbook to reality · SOAR structure · studying Buddhism based on zazen
2. Introduction to the Shobogenzo ●●●

   The Shobogenzo, which we have published in four volumes, is a collection of 95 lectures and essays by Master Dogen translated from Czech

   Shobogenzo · jewels within jewels · right-Dharma-eye treasury · studying Buddhism based on zazen

Other texts

3. Preface ●●● Shobogenzo

   So the chapters of Shobogenzo usually follow a four-phased pattern

   four-phased pattern · right-Dharma-eye treasury
4. Introductions 1: Rules and Reality ●●● Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters

   Bendowa means a talk about pursuing the truth, or a talk about the practice of zazen

   Bendowa · same thing from different viewpoints
5. An Introduction to Shobogenzo ●●● June 2005 — Lotus Centre

   So, a conversation about pursuing the truth. Master Dogen wrote it soon after he returned from China

   Bendowa · Shobogenzo as the whole of Buddhism
6. Introductions 5: Clear Explanation for Zazen ●●● Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters

   to have a clear explanation helps us to see what zazen is

   blue mountains constantly walking · studying Buddhism based on zazen
7. Bussho 4: Hearing and Understanding ●●● Winter 2005 — Bussho

   we sit and study reality and then try to describe it. So we’re kind of scientists

   Shobogenzo as a vast picture · studying Buddhism based on zazen
8. Kuge 4: Nothing to Get Rid Of ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

   all phenomena are like flowers in space. People might think that they are something to be gotten rid of

   flowers in space · twenty-eight flowers in space
9. Bussho 2: This World, Not Heaven ●●● Summer 2005 — Bussho

   it’s necessary to study Buddhism based on Zazen. In Zazen is contained the subject that Buddhism is talking about

   studying Buddhism based on zazen
10. Bussho 2: Without a Concept of Buddha-Nature ●●● Winter 2005 — Bussho

    So always we come back to the practice of Zazen as our reference

    studying Buddhism based on zazen
11. The Eight Truths of a Great Person ●●● June 2006 — Padmafarma

    Hachi means eight. Dainin means a great person. Gaku means the truth, or intuitive reflection.

    Hachi Dainingaku
12. Kuge 1: Ripening Fruit ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

    Master Dogen uses the words “flowers in space” to express all phenomena in this world

    flowers in space
13. Kuge 2: Coolness in the Centre of Fire ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

    In one single flame there are hundreds and thousands of blue lotus flowers

    blue lotus flowers in fire
14. The Truth as a Cup of Tea ●●● September 2013 — Banský Studenec

    So dotoku means being able to express something. But over time it also came to mean being able to express the truth

    Dotoku
15. Effort Without Knowing the Result ●●● May 2014 — Banský Studenec

    when he studied world history, he saw these same four phases in the development of the world

    four phases of world history
16. Zazen: how to do it ●●●

    Parts of the text in italics are quotations from Fukan zazengi by Master Dogen.

    Fukan zazengi
17. Buddha-nature ●●● Shobogenzo · Bussho

    We should throw away these kinds of wrong interpretations and use the practice of zazen as our reference.

    studying Buddhism based on zazen
18. Introductions 2: Reality in Ordinary Moments ●●● Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters

    Then the next chapter is just a set of rules which Master Dogen wrote for his zazen hall

    rules for the zazen hall
19. Bussho 3: Acting in the Present Moment ●●● Winter 2005 — Bussho

    So a Buddhist lecture is not the same as Zazen

    studying Buddhism based on zazen
20. Kuge 3: The Whole World in Each Flower ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

    all the Buddha’s teachings and the world of buddhas are simply these flowers in space

    flowers in space
21. Precepts as Guidelines ●●● July 2009 — Dibbavana

    In the chapter Shoaku Makusa, not doing wrong, Master Dogen says something which, to me, is quite surprising

    Shoaku Makusa
22. Zazen Is Not Meditation ●●● July 2021 — Skalní fara

    you see everything just as it is, you can feel a kind of affirmation. That's the affirmation that Dogen talks about in the Juki chapter

    receiving affirmation
23. Three Philosophies and One Reality ●●●

    Master Dogen expresses his ideas in the Shobogenzo based on a pattern of four phases.

    four-phased pattern
24. Right and Wrong in Buddhism ●●●

    quoted by Master Dogen in the Shobogenzo, at the start of the chapter titled “Shoaku-makusa – Not Doing Wrongs.”

    Shoaku Makusa
25. Introduction to Master Dogen’s Thought ●●● May 1987 — Gudo Wafu Nishijima

    I met Shobogenzo when I was 17 years old, and when I read it, I was very surprised

    meeting Shobogenzo at seventeen
26. Uji 4: Contradictory Explanations ●●● Winter 2004 — Uji

    he said that he looks at it rather like a huge canvas

    Shobogenzo as a vast picture
27. Bussho 1: Names and Reality ●●● Winter 2005 — Bussho

    the Shobogenzo is not a book that we can buy, take home and study, and then understand clearly. It’s interactive teaching material

    Shobogenzo as interactive teaching material
28. Ikka-no-myoju 5: The Four Views ●●● Summer 2006 — Ikka-no-myoju

    And pray to it! Put it in box, close the lid

    Shobogenzo shut in a box
29. Shoaku Makusa 1: Not Doing Wrong Here and Now ●●● Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa

    he often uses four phases of discussion. He discusses his subject from the abstract point of view, the intellectual point of view.

    four-phased pattern
30. Shoaku Makusa 3: Balance and Not Doing Wrong ●●● Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa

    I don’t know why Master Dogen didn’t write down. But in the thirteenth century I think the paradigm in which people lived was utterly different.

    studying Buddhism based on zazen
31. Kuge 5: Compassion and Freedom in Action ●●● Winter 2007 — Kuge

    the word compassion doesn’t make much of an appearance

    compassion rarely mentioned in the Shobogenzo
32. Introduction to Buddhism and the Practice of Zazen ●●●

    it took me about 35 years to come to a complete understanding of the book

    thirty-five years with Shobogenzo

Keywords