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Flowers of Emptiness: Selections from Dogen's Shobogenzo (Studies in Asian Thought and Religion, Vol 2)

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Hee-Jin Kim's Flowers of Emptiness: Selections From Dogen's Shobogenzo is one of the three most important books available in English for an understanding and appreciating of Dogen and his writings. The other two are Professor Kim's masterful explorations of Dogen and his works: Eihei Dogen: Mystical Realist, the definitive English language book on the founder of Soto Zen in Japan and his works, and Dr. Kim's most recent book Dogen on Meditation and Thinking: His View on Zen.

Ever since its original publication in 1975 Mystical Realist (then titled: Dogen Kigen--Mystical Realist) has been the most essential English language book on Dogen and his works. Several revisions (the latest in 2004) have allowed Kim to improve upon and expand his original ideas. Flowers of Emptiness: Selections From Dogen's Shobogenzo, is an excellent companion to Kim's masterpiece, providing selected translations from thirty (30) fascicles of Dogen's Shobogenzo, each with extensive and insightful notes by Professor Kim.

While the formatting could be improved to enhance the book's readability, its scholarly presentation is meticulous. The insight that Kim offers us on Eihei Dogen and his work has proved itself through the test of time. Like Master Dogen's own work, Kim clears away the entangling vines with the razor sharp sword of Manjusri. His precise and lively translations offer us clear insight into Dogen's multidimensional Shobogenzo. This book is, as is all of Kim's work, an essential text for all students of Dogen and anyone interested in the authentic teaching of Zen Buddhism.