Dōgen's Pure Standards for the Zen Community, livre ebook

Presents a complete, annotated translation of Dogen's writing on Zen monasticism and the spirit of community practice. Dogen (1200-1253) is Japan's greatest Zen master.

Presents a complete, annotated translation of Dogen's writing on Zen monasticism and the spirit of community practice. Dogen (1200-1253) is Japan's greatest Zen master.

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.

In addition to the translation, the book includes detailed annotation, a substantial introduction, glossaries of Japanese technical terms and persons mentioned, and lineage charts, all providing relevant background in historical and religious context.

List of Illustrations

Foreword by Ikko Narasaki Roshi

Foreword by Jusan Kainei Edward Brown

Acknowledgments

Introduction by Taigen Daniel Leighton

Overview of Dogen's Writings

The Role of Community in Buddhism

Alignment with Nature

Cultural Adaptation and Expression

Introductions to the Individual Essays

Chan Stories and the Soto Use of Koans

Significance of the Eihei Shingi in Dogen's Teaching and Practice

Contemporary Understandings of Dogen's Historical Context

Earlier Monastic Codes

The Textual History of the Eihei Shingi

Development of Standards for the Community in the Keizan Shingi

Translation Issues: Gender and Pronouns

Dogen's Use of Language

Glossaries and Notes

Personal Experience of the Monastic Container

Conclusion

The Pure Standards of Eihei Dogen Zenji [Eihei Shingi]

Instructions for the Tenzo (Tenzokykun)

The Model for Engaging the Way (Bendoho)

The Dharma for Taking Food (Fushukuhanpo)

Regulations for the Study Hall (Shuryo Shingi)

The Dharma when Meeting Senior Instructors of Five Summer Practice Periods (Taitaiko Gogejariho)

Pure Standards for the Temple Administrators (Chiji Shingi)

Director [Kan'in]

Ino [Supervisor of Monks]

Tenzo [Chief Cook]

Work Leader [Shissui]

Appendix: Afterword to the Shohon Edition

Glossary of Japanese Terms

Glossary and Index of Names

Lineage Charts

Selected Bibliography

The Translators