Dogen's Pure Standards for the Zen Community (Suny Series, Buddhist Studies) [Paperback]

Eihei Dogen (Author), Taigen Daniel Leighton (Editor), Shohaku Okumura (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 14, 1995 | Series: Suny Series, Buddhist Studies

This is a complete translation of Eihei Shingi, the major writing by the Japanese Zen master Eihei Dogen (1200-1253) on monastic practice and the role of community life in Buddhism. Dogen was the founder of the Soto branch of Japanese Zen, but his teaching was not limited by any particular school of Buddhism. His writings are generally regarded today as a great summit of Japanese Buddhist philosophy, meditation practice, psychology, and poetic insight into the nature of reality.

Eihei Shingi contains Dogen's principal guidelines and instructions for everyday life and rituals in the monastic training center he established. Included are a collection of dramatic teaching stories, or koans, on the attitude and responsibilities for practitioners in the community, the only collection of traditional koans with this practical focus.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Japanese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Taigen Daniel Leighton is a priest and teaches at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in Muir Beach, California. He also teaches at the Institute of Buddhist Studies at the Graduate Theological Union. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (December 14, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791427102
• ISBN-13: 978-0791427101
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #829,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Philosophy in Practice--Dogen's Eihei Shingi, July 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dogen's Pure Standards for the Zen Community (Suny Series, Buddhist Studies) (Paperback)

For those addicted to Dogen's poetic and philosophical writings (and I include myself among our number), this volume provides a useful, and perhaps necessary, insight into Dogen's practical concerns for the sangha. These writings contain the depth of Dogen's philosophical insight into zazen practice while speaking of the day-to-day details of monastic life. The Shobogenzo speaks of enlightenment in and as the "myriad things," this volume reveals the concrete myriad things in Dogen's life.

Eihei Shingi is similar in style to Dogen's Shobogenzo Zuimonki as a down-to-earth collection of teachings meant to instruct monks. I believe it will appeal to those who enjoy Shobogenzo Zuimonki, those looking to create an authentic Zen monastic practice and devout Buddhists who have difficulty digesting Dogen's more mind-bending philosophical teachings.

As a non-scholar, I found the translation clear with sufficient footnotes to explain any ambiguities within the text! or thought. Many of the footnotes also appear to contain the insights of Rev. Shohaku Okumura and resonate with the teachings of Uchiyama Roshi and Kodo Sawaki Roshi.