Dogen's Genjo Koan: Three Commentaries

About this book

The classic Buddhist text in three engaging new translations with commentary from contemporary Zen masters. One of the greatest religious practitioners and philosophers of the East Eihei Dogen Zenji (12001253) is today thought of as the founder of the Soto school of Zen. A deep thinker and writer he was deeply involved in monastic methods and in integrating Zen realization into daily life. At times The Shobogenzo was profoundly difficult and he worked on it over his entire life revising and expanding producing a book that is today thought to be one of the highest manifestations of Buddhist thought ever produced. Dogens Genjo Koan (Actualization of Reality) is the first chapter in that book and for many followers it might be thought to contain the gist of Dogens workit is one of the groundwork texts of Zen Buddhism standing easily alongside The Diamond Sutra The Heart Sutra and a small handful of others. Our unique edition of Dogens Genjo Koan contains three separate translations and several commentaries by a wide variety of Zen masters. Nishiari Bokusan Shohaku Okamura Shunryu Suzuki Kosho Uchiyama. Sojun Mel Weitsman Kazuaki Tanahashi and Dairyu Michael Wenger all have contributed to our presentation of this remarkable work. There can be no doubt that understanding and integrating this text will have a profound effect on anyones life and practice.