Eihei Dogen Zenji, the 13th-century Zen master central to bringing Zen from China and helping it take root in Japan, is renowned as one the world’s most remarkable religious geniuses. His works are both richly poetic and deeply insightful and philosophical, pointing to the endless depths of Zen exploration. And almost precisely because of these facts, Dogen is often difficult for readers to understand and fully appreciate. Realizing Genjokoan is a comprehensive introduction to the teachings and approach of this great thinker, taking us on a thorough guided tour of the most important essay — the Genjokoan — in Dogen’s most significant work, called the Shobogenzo. Indeed, the Genjokoan is regarded as the pinnacle of Dogen’s writings, encompassing and encapsulating the essence of all the rest of his work. Our tour guide for this journey is Shohaku Okumura, a prominent teacher in his own right who has dedicated his life to translating and teaching Dogen.
Realizing Genjokoan: The Key to Dogen's Shobogenzo
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41 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first encountered Okumura in "The Art of Just Sitting," edited by John Daido Loori. I immediately resonated with his writing, and especially his approach to Buddhist practice. "Realizing Genjokoan" is a great read for anyone interested in learning about Dogen and the Soto Zen school's perspective on Awakening/practice. Okumura's writing is fresh, humble, lucid, and refreshing. I highly recommend this book. He does a marvelous job unpacking and explicating the first chapter of Dogen's "Shobogenzo," a landmark Zen text that often leaves readers puzzled. After reading this book, I definitely feel more confident to tackle "Shobogenzo" in its entirety.
I can't wait to read his new title, "Living by Vow," due in June, 2012.
--Andre Doshim Halaw
I can't wait to read his new title, "Living by Vow," due in June, 2012.
--Andre Doshim Halaw
34 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By Estragon
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Genjokoan, chosen by Dogen Zenji to be the first chapter of his Shobogenzo, stands as the cornerstone of the man's maddening and penetrating philosophy. Okumura has spent much of his life chewing over the subtleties of Dogen's prose and in the process has offered, I hear, many fine translations. This book, the first by Okumura I have read, proposes to translate and discuss Genjokoan section by section, untangling its many semiotic knots and showing how even such an abstruse text can be focused entirely on practice and the life of sustained, unrelenting zazen. In the process we learn something about its connection to the other chapters of Shobogenzo, the relationship between the early and late periods of Dogen's thought-- the latter exemplified by the Extensive Record (translated, at least in part, by Okumura I believe)-- and the effect other streams of Mahayana philosophy had on the development of Dogen's ideas.
Because Genjokoan itself is so difficult "Realizing Genjokoan" is at times quite dense and academic in tone. this is especially true at the beginning when a great deal of linguistic explication, designed to give us some idea of the sophistication and poetic brilliance of Dogen's prose, takes place. Because of this, though not so much at the beginning for me, I found myself utterly lost at certain points while transfixed at others. This is, of course, a result of my own novice understanding of the material and no fault of Okumura's. But nonetheless, it's worth pointing out that at some points this book is very difficult.
One interesting facet of "Realizing Genjokoan" is Okumura's discussion of the place of "Enlightenment" (or, anyway, Kensho) in Dogen's thought. Taking the orthodox Soto position, Okumura denies Kensho is in any way important to the practice of Zen-- or to Dogen's understanding of Zen-- as opposed to the common belief that the Rinzai sect fetishizes it. Normally I find such debates too close to the doctrinal squabbles of Christian theology for my taste-- they are both intractable and uninteresting at the same time, and it's better not to waste your time on them. However, Okumura's texts presents the Soto argument with a certain good-natured force so its hard to ignore it in this case, and anyway Dogen's entire project during his years before moving to Eiheiji was to provide his followers a kind of pheonomenology of the awakened person (sorry for the pretentious verbiage) so it's kind of the central thing. What's more, some of the best sections (for me) were about this very topic. Okumura skillfully makes the case that for Dogen Realization or Enlightenment exists as a precise, open, and unsentimental moment-by-moment relationship with the universe. The person or self doesn't become "enlightened" because there is no separate individual to enlighten (we are talking about Buddhism after all). Rather, the universe itself is already perfectly enlightened and, since we are not different from the rest of the universe, we can take part of that any time through practice. As everything is already perfect, already enlightened, we don't discover our own "awakening." Instead we continually express the perfect awakening of the entire universe. This is inspiring stuff, and makes the striving for Kensho seem not only drab and selfish but, in the end, totally useless. Of course we know that Kensho is only the start of the journey in Rinzai and that, in the end, the whole purpose of striving is to, paradoxically, see in the bones how useless it is strive. This whitewashing of the Koan and Rinzai tradition is my only real criticism of an otherwise excellent book.
Another instance of this is Okumura's discussion of the recent scholarship concerning Dogen's own famous "Kensho" experience, the "Dropping away of Mind and Body" while at Rujing's monastery in China. If, the argument goes, Dogen is so dismissive of Kensho in his writings (which is what's being debated since he rarely made simple statements of fact and often made contradictory ones) then how come so much emphasis is made on his own Kensho? For Soto scholars and Okumura this specific account has been made-up. The whole thing is a lie designed to, somehow, rehabilitate the whole concept. One dissenting opinion on this is the teacher and writer Dosho Port [...]), a Dharma Heir of Dainin Katagiri. For Port, the scholarship suggesting malfeasance from later priests is unconvincing, which I can't comment on because I know nothing about it. But as to whether or not Dogen had an "Enlightenment Experience" Port makes the excellent point that in denying such things we are discounting a great deal of Buddhist and Zen history. Obviously Buddhists ever since Buddha himself have had opening experiences. And to deny this seems unwarranted arrogance. I like Port's take on the whole thing: "So ... did Dogen have a personal enlightenment? Yes, but he didn't take it personally."
But in the end, I can't say any of this matters to me when it comes to whether or not recommending the book is a good idea. Whatever the status of Kensho and the historical fact of Dogen's enlightenment, this book is an amazing piece of work. It's a good alternative if you don't have access to the entirety of Shobogenzo or want something meatier than, say, Brad Warner's "Sit Down and Shut Up" (Which I do recommend, by the way). It's also a great book if you enjoy an intellectual challeng. There's no doubt I'll be rereading "Realizing Genjokoan" again, and probably yet again.
Because Genjokoan itself is so difficult "Realizing Genjokoan" is at times quite dense and academic in tone. this is especially true at the beginning when a great deal of linguistic explication, designed to give us some idea of the sophistication and poetic brilliance of Dogen's prose, takes place. Because of this, though not so much at the beginning for me, I found myself utterly lost at certain points while transfixed at others. This is, of course, a result of my own novice understanding of the material and no fault of Okumura's. But nonetheless, it's worth pointing out that at some points this book is very difficult.
One interesting facet of "Realizing Genjokoan" is Okumura's discussion of the place of "Enlightenment" (or, anyway, Kensho) in Dogen's thought. Taking the orthodox Soto position, Okumura denies Kensho is in any way important to the practice of Zen-- or to Dogen's understanding of Zen-- as opposed to the common belief that the Rinzai sect fetishizes it. Normally I find such debates too close to the doctrinal squabbles of Christian theology for my taste-- they are both intractable and uninteresting at the same time, and it's better not to waste your time on them. However, Okumura's texts presents the Soto argument with a certain good-natured force so its hard to ignore it in this case, and anyway Dogen's entire project during his years before moving to Eiheiji was to provide his followers a kind of pheonomenology of the awakened person (sorry for the pretentious verbiage) so it's kind of the central thing. What's more, some of the best sections (for me) were about this very topic. Okumura skillfully makes the case that for Dogen Realization or Enlightenment exists as a precise, open, and unsentimental moment-by-moment relationship with the universe. The person or self doesn't become "enlightened" because there is no separate individual to enlighten (we are talking about Buddhism after all). Rather, the universe itself is already perfectly enlightened and, since we are not different from the rest of the universe, we can take part of that any time through practice. As everything is already perfect, already enlightened, we don't discover our own "awakening." Instead we continually express the perfect awakening of the entire universe. This is inspiring stuff, and makes the striving for Kensho seem not only drab and selfish but, in the end, totally useless. Of course we know that Kensho is only the start of the journey in Rinzai and that, in the end, the whole purpose of striving is to, paradoxically, see in the bones how useless it is strive. This whitewashing of the Koan and Rinzai tradition is my only real criticism of an otherwise excellent book.
Another instance of this is Okumura's discussion of the recent scholarship concerning Dogen's own famous "Kensho" experience, the "Dropping away of Mind and Body" while at Rujing's monastery in China. If, the argument goes, Dogen is so dismissive of Kensho in his writings (which is what's being debated since he rarely made simple statements of fact and often made contradictory ones) then how come so much emphasis is made on his own Kensho? For Soto scholars and Okumura this specific account has been made-up. The whole thing is a lie designed to, somehow, rehabilitate the whole concept. One dissenting opinion on this is the teacher and writer Dosho Port [...]), a Dharma Heir of Dainin Katagiri. For Port, the scholarship suggesting malfeasance from later priests is unconvincing, which I can't comment on because I know nothing about it. But as to whether or not Dogen had an "Enlightenment Experience" Port makes the excellent point that in denying such things we are discounting a great deal of Buddhist and Zen history. Obviously Buddhists ever since Buddha himself have had opening experiences. And to deny this seems unwarranted arrogance. I like Port's take on the whole thing: "So ... did Dogen have a personal enlightenment? Yes, but he didn't take it personally."
But in the end, I can't say any of this matters to me when it comes to whether or not recommending the book is a good idea. Whatever the status of Kensho and the historical fact of Dogen's enlightenment, this book is an amazing piece of work. It's a good alternative if you don't have access to the entirety of Shobogenzo or want something meatier than, say, Brad Warner's "Sit Down and Shut Up" (Which I do recommend, by the way). It's also a great book if you enjoy an intellectual challeng. There's no doubt I'll be rereading "Realizing Genjokoan" again, and probably yet again.
14 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Buttercup
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Kindle version is missing at least 50 pages regarding Dogen's life. The paperback has this and two other items - the Heart Sutra and Dogan's commentary on the Heart Sutra. As far as Shohaku's book goes, it is a easy to understand guide to the Genjokoan - just get it in paperback!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
please read it and be whole
Dogen's Genjokoan should not require introduction or explanation--it so essential and dear to buddhist practitioners--but, this great scholar who's life embodies the "way,"... Read more
Published 17 days ago by swimtime
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best reads on the Zen of Dogen
An excellent analysis of a fundamental text of the Japanese Soto school and its founder. One of the most revered texts of Master Dogen analyzed to the core.
Published 3 months ago by Rodrigo Daien
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply phenomenal
This book is simply a phenomenal dissection and explanation of the most important piece of the Shobogenzo. The analysis is very insightful without ever becoming difficult to read. Read more
Published 17 months ago by N. Dawson
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is a revelation...
Informative, thoughtful, charming, challenging, this much-needed key to exploring Dogen's thought, specifically centered on the first chapter of his Shobogenzo -- "Genjokoan" --... Read more
Published on March 20, 2011 by Ryan R. Asmussen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent exploration of Dogen's Genjokoan
Dogen's Genjokoan is an amazing text: beautiful, poetic, profound, enigmatic, baffling, infuriating, unforgettable. Read more
Published on December 4, 2010 by Seth Segall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whether you're a new student, on your path, or a long practitioner of...
Whether you're a new student, on your path, or a long practitioner of Zen, Tao, or Yoga this book is for you. Use it as a refresher, reference, or a text for your students. Read more
Published on November 10, 2010 by taofpaul
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