Zen Master Dogen
Dogen Talks
Dōgen Zenji (道元禅師; 26 January 1200 – 22 September 1253), was a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk, writer, poet, philosopher, and founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan. He is also known as Dōgen Kigen (道元希玄), Eihei Dōgen (永平道元), Kōso Jōyō Daishi (高祖承陽大師), and Busshō Dentō Kokushi (仏性伝東国師).
Originally ordained as a monk in the Tendai School in Kyoto, he was ultimately dissatisfied with its teaching and traveled to China to seek out what he believed to be a more authentic Buddhism. He remained there for four years, finally training under Tiāntóng Rújìng, an eminent teacher of the Cáodòng lineage of Chinese Chan. Upon his return to Japan, he began promoting the practice of zazen (sitting meditation) through literary works such as Fukanzazengi and Bendōwa.
He eventually broke relations completely with the powerful Tendai School, and, after several years of likely friction between himself and the establishment, left Kyoto for the mountainous countryside where he founded the monastery Eihei-ji, which remains the head temple of the Sōtō school today.
Dōgen is known for his extensive writings like the Shōbōgenzō (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, considered his magnum opus), the Eihei Kōroku (Extensive Record, a collection of his talks), the Eihei Shingi (the first Japanese Zen monastic code), along with his Japanese poetry, and commentaries. Dōgen's writings are one of the most important sources studied in the contemporary Sōtō Zen tradition.
Title | Speaker | |
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Wherever You Are, We Have Zen Way Of PracticeDogen, Shobogenzo, Genjokoan, Suffering, Pain, Don't Know Mind, Happiness,... |
Aug 21 1971 City Center |
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Universal Practice for Laymen and MonksSerial: SR-00175 Whatever you do is practice; be careful not to practice for the sake of the self. Zazen as a way to find realization and get used to realization. Whether priest or layperson,... Practice, Zazen, Bodhisattva, Dogen, Sixth Patriarch, Buddha Mind, Faith, Truth,... |
Jul 25 1971 Tassajara |
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Virtue of Mountain and RiverDogen, Shobogenzo, First Principle, Soto Zen, Rinzai, Faith, Breath, sitting, Pain,... |
Jul 24 1971 Tassajara |
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Sewing SesshinSerial: SR-00122 Sunday, June 20, 1971 Sesshin, Okesa, Dogen, Attachment, New Year, Freedom, Bodhidharma, Lay, Concentration... |
Jun 20 1971 City Center |
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Sewing and Wearing the Buddhist Robes and How It Relates to Our PracticeSerial: 71-06-19 Saturday, June 19, 1971 San Francisco Zendo Dogen, Soto Zen, |
Jun 19 1971 City Center |
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Be Kind with YourselfSerial: SR-00112 Warm-hearted practice. Breathing and posture in zazen. We all have different circumstances, but in the monastery, we have one practice. Rules give freedom to practice. ...Dogen, Zazen, Tatsugami, Freedom, Instruction, Monks, Posture, Priest, American... |
Feb 23 1971 Tassajara |
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No Practice Will Destroy PeopleDogen, |
Dec 27 1970 City Center |
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Zazen Practice and Listen to the Right TeacherSerial: SF-05631 ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #24, by Shundo David Haye ===== In the last years of Suzuki Roshi's life, very few talks were lost from the collections... Sesshin, Dogen, Bodhidharma, Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Observe, Precepts, Faith... |
Aug 03 1970 City Center |
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Japanese Way, American Way, Buddhist WayDogen, American, Freedom, Culture, Doubt, Interview, Demons, training, Building, Pain... |
Jul 19 1970 City Center |
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Ekō Lecture 1Serial: SR-00225 The First Morning Eko [This is the first in a series of six lectures by Suzuki on the four ekos chanted at the conclusion of... Eko, Dogen, Manjushri, Transmission, Chanting, Monks, Wisdom, Precepts, American,... |
Jul 08 1970 Tassajara |
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Do Not Pass Your Days and Nights in VainSerial: SR-00221 Sandokai Lecture XIII: “Don't Spend Your Time in Vain” [This lecture is concerned with the following lines of the Sandokai:... Branching Streams, Sandokai, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, difficulty, sitting, zen,... |
Jul 06 1970 Tassajara |
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A Short Talk During ZazenBranching Streams, Dogen, |
Jun 28 1970 Tassajara |
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Helping OthersSerial: SR-00138 Sesshin Lecture, No. 2, Saturday, May 2, 1970 Sesshin, Dogen, Zuimonki, Building, Doubt |
May 02 1970 City Center |
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Sincere PracticeSerial: SR-00140 How To Have Sincere Practice Tatsugami, Dogen, Precepts, Monks, Intuition, Don't Know Mind, Posture, Buddha... |
Apr 28 1970 City Center |
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RulesDogen, Posture, Balance, Doubt, Faith |
Jan 18 1970 City Center |
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OLD - FragmentDogen, |
Jan 18 1970 X |
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Fundamental Buddhist Point: To Adjust Ourselves To Our SurroundingsSerial: SR-00192 Adjusting to life at City Center. Cleaning and zazen. Do we need furniture to practice? Dogen, Eiheiji, Zazen, Culture, Building, sitting |
Dec 21 1969 City Center |
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Winter Sesshin Lecture No. 5Serial: SR-00202 Winter Sesshin Lecture No. 5 Sesshin, Bodhisattva, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Oneness, Ceremony, Precepts, Wisdom... |
Dec 03 1969 Tassajara |
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Practice Should Not Be Perfect, So Descendants Have Something To DoSerial: SR-00203 Winter Sesshin Lecture No. 4 Sesshin, Dogen, Building, difficulty, Monastic Practice, Transmission, Zazen, Breath... |
Dec 02 1969 Tassajara |
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Lotus Sutra, Lecture No. III-1Serial: SR-00212 [Third Lotus Sutra Series]1 Introduction to third series of talks on the Lotus Sutra. Zen as practical... Lotus Sutra, Mahayana, Dogen, Mahayana, Lotus Sutra, Precepts, Ego, Sutra, Priest,... |
Oct 20 1969 Series 3, Talk 1 Tassajara |
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OLD - Fragment of Q & ASerial: SR-00210 File name: 69-10-14-X: fragment of Q & A (titled by pf) A fragment of about 2 minutes found after chanting on tape for 69-10-14. This is contiguous with the talk on... Dogen, Transmission, Suffering, Monks, sitting, Silence, Priest, zen, War |
Oct 14 1969 X |
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Why I Came to AmericaSerial: SR-00157 "Why I became a priest" Memories of his father as a temple priest. Wanting to be an unusual priest himself, to teach people. Training at a temple with Oka... Priest, Meiji, Japan, Dogen, Priest, training, New Year, Ceremony, Enemies, Monks,... |
Sep 16 1969 Sokoji |
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Pure Silk, Sharp IronSerial: SR-00246 Sitting cross-legged - and then what? Having the right state of mind. Chinese and Japanese culture. His absent-mindedness, impatience. Virtue of endurance. Zazen, Dogen, Culture, Ego, Transmission, training, Patience, Forms, Pain, War,... |
Sep 14 1969 |
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Wherever You Are, Enlightenment Is ThereSerial: SF-05184A Sesshin: First Night Lecture, “I Don't Know Zazen” Knowing that we have buddha nature even while we are in the... Dogen, Buddha Nature, Enlightenment, Five Ranks, Buddha Nature, Composure, Emotions,... |
Sep 1969 Tassajara |
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Stand Up By The GroundSerial: SF-05209 Protection Master "Suzuki Roshi summer sesshin 1969 2nd night lecture Sesshin, Second Night Lecture Sesshin, Dogen, Time, Continuous Practice, Freedom, Doubt |
Sep 1969 Tassajara |
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OLD - Our Way to Attain LiberationSerial: SF-05087B Roshi's Lectures - 2 of them - Aug 18, 69 17/8 side 1(on cassette) - Dan Gourley #5 --------------------------------------- Monday Evening, August 18, 1969... Dogen, Sixth Patriarch, Monastic Practice, |
Aug 18 1969 Tassajara |
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Not Always SoSerial: SR-00124 August Sesshin Lecture Sesshin, Dogen, Interdependence, Freedom, Gratitude, Composure, Posture, Emptiness,... |
Aug 07 1969 Sokoji |
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The Most Important PreceptPrecepts, Dogen, Eiheiji, Sanctuary, Hate, Suffering, Truth |
Aug 01 1969 Tassajara |
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Eulogy For Trudy Dixon Given During Her Funeral CeremonySerial: SR-00028 Words from the funeral eulogy for Trudy Dixon. Magnanimous mind Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Dogen, Buddha Mind, Buddha Mind, Passions, Compassion... |
Jul 11 1969 Sokoji |
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Rinzai Zen and Soto ZenSerial: SR-00033 July 1969 Morning. Dogen, Buddha Nature, Evil, Freedom, Priest, Ego, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center,... |
Jul 1969 Sokoji |
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Direct Experience of RealityBaso, Dogen, lecture, Sutra, Forms, Pain, sitting |
Jun 22 1969 Sokoji |
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OLD - Direct Experience of RealityDogen, Sutra, Death, sitting |
Jun 22 1969 Sokoji |
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How should we establish our system of practice in San FranciscoSerial: SR-00019 Tuesday Evening, June 17, 1969 Just sit, and follow the teacher's instruction. Story of four kinds of horse. Humans go to the moon, but don't... Rinzai, Soto Zen, Dogen, Zazen, New Year, Concentration, Big Mind, Priest, Pain,... |
Jun 17 1969 Sokoji |
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How To Take Our Bodhisattva's VowSerial: SR-00017 Tuesday Morning, April 29, 1969 Bodhisattva Vow, Dogen, Agama Sutra, Precepts, Mahayana, Sutra, Observe, Freedom, Vow... |
Apr 29 1969 Sokoji |
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At The End Of The Year We Clean Up Our HouseSerial: SF-05970-B Dec 1968 New Year Lecture Beginner’s Mind, Dogen, Japan, New Year, Beginners, Transmission, Instruction, Priest... |
Dec 29 1968 Sokoji |
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OLD - Fragment of Q & ADogen, |
Oct 14 1968 X |
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The True DragonDogen, Baso, Dragons, Freedom, Soto Zen, Emptiness, Bodhidharma, Instruction, Zazen... |
Oct 12 1968 B Sokoji |
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The Ten Powers Of A BodhisattvaSerial: SF-05106 Sunday Morning, August 25, 1968 Bodhisattva, Dogen, Rinzai, Soto Zen, Emptiness, Five Ranks, Attachment, Posture,... |
Aug 25 1968 Sokoji |
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Esalen Institute: First of two lecturesSerial: SF-05870 This is the first of two talks given at Esalen. Dogen, Time, Four Noble Truths, Lotus Sutra, New Year, Continuous Practice, Emptiness... |
Jun 28 1968 Esalen |
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Nature of Our PracticeSerial: SF-05141-B Tuesday, December 5, 1967, Lecture B Sesshin, Dogen, Fukanzazengi, Dragons, Daily Life, Observe, Freedom, training,... |
Dec 05 1967 B Tassajara |
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The More We Study Our Way, The More Difficult It Is To Explain ItSerial: SF-05142 SR018 - Track 1 - Roshi's Lecture sesshin #4 12/4/67 Evening - copied Sesshin, Dogen, Observe, Ceremony |
Dec 04 1967 Evening Tassajara |
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Putting Power In Your HaraSerial: SF-05133-A Afternoon Sesshin Lecture Sesshin, Dogen, Fukanzazengi, Buddha Mind, Big Mind, Separation, New Year,... |
Dec 01 1967 A Tassajara |
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OLD - Genjo Koan No. 4Serial: SR-00195 Thursday, August 24, 1967 Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Faith, Nirvana, Lay, Emptiness, Suffering, Pain, Death... |
Aug 24 1967 A Tassajara |
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OLD - Genjo Koan No. 4Serial: SR-00195A Thursday, August 24, 1967 Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Breath, Emptiness, Hate, Forms, Building |
Aug 24 1967 A Tassajara |
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Genjo Koan no 4Serial: SF-05136 Track 1 17/8 - Suzuki lectures - beginning missed, one or two sentences; beginning: This is the last lecture of sesshin. We have talked of emptiness and form, but have not... Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Time, Faith, Emptiness, Continuous Practice, Dragons... |
Aug 24 1967 A Tassajara |
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OLD - Buddhism Is Not a Special Teaching; Enlightenment Is Not a Particular StageSerial: 67-08-23 Wednesday, August 23, 1967 Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, |
Aug 23 1967 Tassajara |
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Buddhism Is Not a Special Teaching; Enlightenment Is Not a Particular StageSerial: SF-05134D ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #17, by Shundo David Haye ===== About half way through this sesshin talk, you can start to hear crickets in the background, getting... Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Enemies, Continuous Practice, Doubt, Religion, Peace... |
Aug 23 1967 Tassajara |
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Genjo Koan no 2Serial: SF-05134C ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #16, by Shundo David Haye ===== This third talk from the historic inaugural sesshin at Tassajara in 1967, given the day after the... Sesshin, Dogen, Priest, Emptiness, Dragons, confusion, Hate |
Aug 21 1967 Tassajara |
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OLD - Genjo-Koan No. 2Serial: 67-08-21 Monday, August 21, 1967 Dogen, Genjokoan, |
Aug 21 1967 Tassajara |
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Genjo KoanSerial: SF-05134A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #14, by Shundo David Haye ===== The acquisition of Tassajara in 1967 was a huge leap for Zen Center. Suzuki Roshi had long been... Genjokoan, Dogen, Sesshin, Emptiness, New Year, Interview, Freedom |
Aug 20 1967 Morning Tassajara |