Dogen on Meditation And Thinking: A Reflection on His View of Zen [Paperback]

Hee-Jin Kim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2006

Looks at Dogen's writings on meditation and thinking.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Thirty years after the publication of his classic work Dogen Kigen--Mystical Realist, Hee-Jin Kim reframes and recasts his understanding of Dogen's Zen methodology in this new book. Through meticulous textual analyses of and critical reflections on key passages primarily from Dogen's Shobogenzo, Kim explicates hitherto underappreciated aspects of Dogen's religion, such as the ambiguity of delusion and also of enlightenment, intricacies of negotiating the Way, the dynamic functions of emptiness, the realizational view of language, nonthinking as the essence of meditation, and a multifaceted conception of reason. Kim also responds to many recent developments in Zen studies that have arisen in both Asia and the West, especially Critical Buddhism. He brings Dogen the meditator and Dogen the thinker into relief. Kim's study clearly demonstrates that language, thinking, and reason constitute the essence of Dogen's proposed Zen praxis, and that such a Zen opens up new possibilities for dialogue between Zen and contemporary thought. This fresh assessment of Dogen's Zen represents a radical shift in our understanding of its place in the history of Buddhism.

"Kim has been very successful in providing novel, innovative means of interpreting Dogen's approach to such seminal issues as meditative thinking, nonduality, illusion, language, logical thinking, and realization. A new generation of readers will be eager to learn from the `grand master' of the field and will benefit from his insightful analysis of key passages from Dogen's collected works. This book will take its place among other prominent philosophical studies of Dogen by Masao Abe, Joan Stambaugh, and Gereon Kopf." -- Steven Heine, author of Dogen and the Koan Tradition: A Tale of Two Shobogenzo Texts --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Hee-Jin Kim is Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of Oregon and the author of Dogen Kigen--Mystical Realist. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (November 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791469263
• ISBN-13: 978-0791469262
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #518,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hee-Jin Kim is THE MASTER when it comes to Eihei Dogen, February 10, 2008

By 

Ted Biringer "Author of The Flatbed Sutra of ... (Anacortes, Washington United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dogen on Meditation And Thinking: A Reflection on His View of Zen (Paperback)

Hee-Jin Kim's first book, "Eihei Dogen: Mystical Realist," is still THE BOOK on Eihei Dogen and his teachings, but with his publication of "Dogen on Meditation and Thinking: A Reflection on His View of Zen," it is no longer the ONLY book. This may be the most important work on the Zen teachings of the founder of Soto Zen in Japan in more than a decade.

This latest book by Kim is a masterly work. He not only clarifies, and amplifies many of the major points of "Mystical Realist," he adds a wealth of new and often astonishing insight.

Thirty years after his landmark book on Dogen, Kim shares the wisdom of a lifetime of study and meditation on Dogen's Zen. He provides the reader with a lucid, detailed, and understandable guide to some of the most powerful Zen teachings of Dogen, including explications on:

The nondual unity of delusion and enlightenment

Dogen's view (and mastery) of words, letters, language and expression

Dogen's view on "the human condition"

The dynamics of realization

The important differences between "duality" and "dualism"

Dogen's masterful use of Zen koans

Dogen's view of "the essential practice"

Dogen on "original" vs. "acquired" enlightenment

And much more...

Hee-Jin Kim uses Dogen's extraordinary studies of Zen koans, recent scholarship, and his own lifetime experience of studying Dogen's writings, to bring us into the very heart and mind of this amazing Zen master. Every sentence is packed with insight, from his powerful explication on the nondual nature of practice and enlightenment, to his comments on the current state of Dogen studies.

In this work, Kim is even more straightforward than he was in "Mystical Realist." When he points out some of the things that "have been grossly overlooked by pratitioners and scholars alike," he does not pull any punches. With gentle, but firm and exacting language, Kim points out some of the glaring defects of much of the "Zen practice" being carried out in the name of Eihei Dogen at present. With no less precision, Kim dismantles some of the flawed presumptions at work in the scholarly communities, especially some of those offered by the proponents of "Critical Buddhism" within the Soto Zen academia.

While the book remains focused on Zen master Eihei Dogen's teachings concerning meditation, thinking, not-thinking and nonthinking, the reader will be rewarded with information not found elsewhere in English.

If I could give it 10 stars, I would. It is an essential book for any serious student of Zen. In fact, you should get at least two copies because, like "Mystical Realist," it is a book you will find yourself returning to so often you are bound to wear it out.

Thank you Dr. Kim for sharing your profound knowledge and wisdom on this great Zen master! (Also, please re-print your other great book, Flowers of Emptiness. It is a goldmine of insights!)

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars striving for understanding, April 30, 2008

By 

Robert Hughes (Post Falls, Idaho, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dogen on Meditation And Thinking: A Reflection on His View of Zen (Paperback)

Kim advances my understanding of Dogen's reasoning.

I have long been baffled by Abe's critical assertion that Dogen's Zen view of Dharma/Buddha-nature is naive.

Abe, in "A Study of Dogen," contrasted Dogen's view with Shinran's view.

(In simple terms, Dogen's view emphasizes self-power (works);

whereas Shinran's view emphasizes other-power (grace).)

Abe seemed to assert that Dogen's view merely naively encompassed the development of understanding the Dharma/Buddha-nature through realizing the inverse evil nature of human striving--surrendering basic human evil self-nature, as Shinran would see it, to rely exclusively on other-power (grace) for salvation.

But according to Abe,

Shinran is likewise naive,

because a true understanding must exist in breaking through both Buddha (other-power/God?) and Mara (self-power/Satan?).

Hmmm.

Now, Kim gives some clarification to Abe's supposed conundrum by discussing the functioning of

thinking/not thinking/nonthinking and reason.

Kim points out that Dogen meant that even a wrong/evil view was a function of reason,

a "misguided striving for reason" to be sure, but nonetheless reason that Dharma-nature embraces, rather than abandons.

This seems to refute Abe's view that Dogen naively encompassed the "inversely corresponding development of the Dharma" (a vow in other-power that redeems even evil persons.)

To me, Kim's formulation of "not thinking" as

"that thinking which is not/beyond thinking"

supports a view that Dogen was not as naive as Abe sees him.

"Not thinking" is not the absence or simple negation of "thinking,"

but a "thinking" that informs "thinking" of its own fundamental limitations.

I would say that "not thinking" is a "thinking of the not type."

In any event, Kim's book can really make one think.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dogen and Hee Jin Kim, December 3, 2008

By 

John F. Guernsey (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dogen on Meditation And Thinking: A Reflection on His View of Zen (Paperback)

This book is a superior explication of Dogen Zenji's teachings. Dogen, known as one of the most difficult to understand Zen masters has also become known as one of the most profound thinkers to put word to paper. If you have more than a fleeting interest in Zen or Dogen, this is a fine companion to accompany you on the way. Professor Kim helps us gain insight into the, sometimes confusing world of Dogen and Zen. If you enjoy this book, Hee-Jin Kim's first book Dogen Kigen; Mystical RealistDogen Kigen: Mystical Realist (Monographs of the Association for Asian Studies) should also find a home in your library.