Quotessence
Home / Authors / Dogen
Dogen

Dogen Quotes

Philosopher

Filter quotes by topic

AllMindIfsPracticeEnlightenmentWayBodySelfMountainWorldStudyWaterBuddhistAll ThingsGrassShouldForgetMind And BodyMoonSpiritualityDharma

Famous Dogen Quotes

“A fish swims in the ocean, and no matter how far it swims there is no end to the water. A bird flies in the sky, and no matter how far it flies there is no end to the air. However the fish and the bird have never left their elements. Thus each of them totally covers its full range, and each of them totally experiences its realm... Know that water is life and air is life. The bird is life and the fish is life. Life must be the bird and life must be the fish... practice, enlightenment and people are like this.”

PeopleKnowsEndsMatterLeftWaterPracticeAirSkyElementsOceanBirdEnlightenmentFishesRangeRealmsSwimWater Is Life
Author:Dogen
Create image

“In the assemblies of the enlightened ones there have been many cases of mastering the Way bringing forth the heart of plants and trees; this is what awakening the mind for enlightenment is like. The fifth patriarch of Zen was once a pine-planting wayfarer; Rinzai worked on planting cedars and pines on Mount Obaku. . . . Working with plants, trees, fences and walls, if they practice sincerely they will attain enlightenment.”

IfsWayMindHeartHas BeensSpiritualityPracticeCasesTreeWallEnlightenmentPlantAwakeningEnlightenedGardeningFenceFifthSincerelyAssemblyPlant A TreeCedarsPlants And TreesPatriarch
Author:Dogen
Create image

“When you ride in a boat and watch the shore, you might assume that the shore is moving. But when you keep your eyes closely on the boat, you can see that the boat moves. Similarly, if you examine myriad things with a confused body and mind you might suppose that your mind and nature are permanent. But when you practice intimately and return to where you are, it will be clear that there is nothing that has unchanging self.”

IfsMindSelfMightEyeMovingWatchesPracticeClearReturnAssumingBoatPermanentConfusedWhere You AreShoreUnchangingConfused Mind
Author:Dogen
Create image

“The zazen I speak of is not learning meditation. It is simply the Dharma gate of repose and bliss, the practice-realization of totally culminated enlightenment. It is the manifestation of ultimate reality. Traps and snares can never reach it. Once its heart is grasped, you are like the dragon when he gains the water, like the tiger when she enters the mountain. For you must know that just there (in zazen) the right Dharma is manifesting itself and that, from the first, dullness and distraction are struck aside.”

KnowsFirstsHeartRealitySpeakWaterPracticeMeditationMountainEnlightenmentGainsUltimateRealizationManifestationBlissDragonsGatesManifestDistractionTrapsTigersDharmaReposeSnaresDullnessUltimate Reality
Author:Dogen
Create image

“Whenever learners or those beyond learning awaken the mind, for the first time they plant one buddha-nature. Working with the four elements and five clusters, if they practice sincerely they attain enlightenment. Working with plants, trees, fences and walls, if they practice sincerely they will attain enlightenment. This is because the four elements and five clusters and plants, trees, fences and walls are fellow students; because they are of the same essence, because they are the same mind and the same life, because they are the same body and the same mechanism.”

IfsLifeMindFirstsBodyPracticeFiveFourTreeStudentsWallElementsEnlightenmentFirst TimeEssenceFellowsPlantMechanismFenceSincerelyLearnersPlant A TreeClustersBuddha NatureFour Elements
Author:Dogen
Create image