Rational Zen: The Mind of Dogen Zenji (Shambhala Dragon Editions) [Paperback]

Thomas Cleary (Author)

Book Description

Series: Shambhala Dragon Editions | Publication Date: May 1, 2001

Zen has often been portrayed as being illogical and mystifying, even aimed at the destruction of the rational intellect. These new translations of the thirteenth-century Zen master Dogen—one of most original and important Zen writers—illustrate the rational side of Zen, which has been obscured through the centuries, tainting people's understanding of it.

Rational Zen consists of enlightening selections from Dogen's two masterworks, "Treasury of Eyes of True Teaching" (the famed Shobogenzo, Japan's most sophisticated philosophical work) and "Universal Book of Eternal Peace," which until now has been unavailable in English. The translator also provides explanations of the inner meanings of Dogen's writings and sayings—the first commentaries of their kind of English. A compendium of authentic source materials further enhances the reader's insight into Dogen's methods, linking them to the great classical traditions of Buddhism that ultimately flowered in Zen.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This collection . . . is an occasion for celebration by American Buddhists. . . . those concerned with the living meaning embedded in these writings can only feel gratitude for the riches Cleary has provided."— Tricycle

"Thomas Cleary's strong rendering of important sections of Dogen Zenji's essential writings, with his excellent and comprehensive notes, opens the gate to a far wider understanding and appreciation of the extraordinary work of the founder of Japanese Zen."—Peter Matthiessen, author of Nine-Headed Dragon River



"My reverence for both Dogen and Cleary is virtually unbounded. . . . It is becoming hard, in fact, to read anyone's translations but Cleary's."—Jim Harrison, author of Legends of the Fall



"A vivid and fresh new translation. . . . Cleary preserves Dogen's form and . . . succeeds in creating an atmosphere that awakens the essence of Dogen Zenji's teachings for American Zen students."—Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi, Roshi

Language Notes

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

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570626340
• ISBN-13: 978-1570626340
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,635,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Important Japanese Zen Master, August 10, 2000

By 

Michael P. McGarry (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rational Zen: The Mind of Dogen Zenji (Shambhala Dragon Editions) (Paperback)

Dogen Zenji (1200-1253) is general regarded as the most important Japanese Zen Master. He is credited with bringing the Soto Zen tradition to Japan. This volume contains selections from his two most important works, *Eihei Koroku*, "Universal Book of Eternal Peace", and *Shobogenzo*, "Treasury of Eyes of True Teaching". There are 50 aphorisms from the *Eihei Koroku* and 5 essays from the *Shobogenzo*. Cleary includes a detailed introduction to this pivotal figure in the history of Zen, as well as extensive annotations on the texts.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A useful Dogen primer, November 9, 2005

By 

Hakuyu "Ikeda" (Kyoto, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rational Zen: The Mind of Dogen Zenji (Shambhala Dragon Editions) (Paperback)

Thomas Cleary has made a name for himself with a prolific number of translations from Buddhist sources. The readings presented here - selections from the Shobogenzo and Eihei Goroku make a handy Dogen primer. Usually careful with his translations/choice of terms, the present work is no exception to this and for the most part, readers will savour the authentic flavour of Dogen's thought. However, I can't say that Cleary's choice of title struck me as being terribly appropriate. Derived from the term 'do-ri' - which some westerers like to interpret as 'reason of the way' - it thus gives the misleading impression that Zen might somehow fit in with our 'rationalistic' preconceptions. But this is the self-same 'ri' (Chin. li) that we find in the Kegon-kyo and thus synonymous with 'kung' or sunyata. Reading it the other way gives it a literary, if not a literal Confucian connotation, foreign to Dogen's considerations.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Translations From Both of Dogen's Great Records AA++, November 6, 2008

By 

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

This review is from: Rational Zen: The Mind of Dogen Zenji (Shambhala Dragon Editions) (Paperback)

Thomas Cleary's, Rational Zen: The Mind of Dogen Zenji, is a treasure trove of some of the greatest Japanese Zen texts from both of the important records of the Great Zen Master, Eihei Dogen.

The thirteenth century Zen master, Eihei Dogen (considered by the Japanese Soto school as the founder of Soto Zen in Japan) has been the subject of a vast amount of study and research by scholars as well as the Zen orthodoxy in recent decades--and not without reason! As Cleary demonstrates in this excellent collection of translations, Dogen was easily one of most original and important Zen masters, not just in Japan, but in the entire history of Zen.

Rational Zen contains of supurb selection from Dogen's two most important records: Shobogenzo (Treasury of the True Dharma-Eye), one of the most important Buddhist texts in the history of Buddhism (as well as the most important philosophical text ever created in Japan); and "Eihei Koroku" (Dogen's Extensive Record) which is now available in English (see, Leighton & Okumura).

In this book, Cleary debunks the widespread misunderstanding of Zen as being irrational, mystical, or anti-intellectual. Rational Zen contains translations by this thirteenth-century Zen master that highlight the intellectual and rational aspects essential to for the authentic practice/realization of Zen. Cleary's usual excellence is augmented with a rich collection of comprehensive notes and profoundly insightful commentary.

Bottom Line: Essential reading for all serious Zen students/practitioners. A treasure trove of Zen wisdom that can be mined for a lifetime!