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Dogen

Dogen Quotes

Philosopher

Dogen was a Japanese Zen master born in January 1200 and died on September 22, 1253. He was the founder of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism in Japan and had a profound influence on the development of Zen Buddhism. Dogen advocated 'Zen is life,' emphasizing the close connection between Zen practice and everyday life, and his thoughts had a wide impact on Japanese culture.

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All Mind Ifs Practice Enlightenment Way Body Self Mountain World Study Water Buddhist All Things Grass Should Forget Mind And Body Moon Spirituality Dharma

Famous Dogen Quotes

“Learn the backward step that turns your light inward to illuminate your self. Body and mind of themselves will drop away, and your original face will be manifest.”

Mind Self Body Light Faces Turns Steps Originals Manifest Inward Mind And Body

Author:Dogen

“Zazen is the ultimate practice. This is indeed the True Self. The Buddhadharma is not to be sought outside of this.”

Self Practice Ultimate Excellence True Self

Author:Dogen

“To study the Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self.”

Way Self Forget Study

Book:Dogen's Genjo Koan: Three Commentaries

Source: Dogen's Genjo Koan: Three Commentaries

“That the self advances and confirms the ten thousand things is called delusion; that the ten thousand things advance and confirm the self is called enlightenment.”

Self Thousand Ten Enlightenment Delusion

Author:Dogen

“What is the way of the Buddha? It is to study the self. What is the study of the self? It is to forget oneself. To forget oneself is to enlightened by everything in the world.”

World Way Self Forget Study Oneself Enlightened

Author:Dogen

“To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things.”

Self Earth Spirit Religion Spirituality Forget Study Thousand Ten Chaos Enlightened

Author:Dogen

“When we discover that the truth is already in us, we are all at once our original selves.”

War Self Inspirational Life Truth Is Discovery Originals

Author:Dogen

“To start from the self and try to understand all things is delusion. To let the self be awakened by all things is enlightenment.”

Trying Self Spiritual Spirituality Enlightenment All Things Delusion Awakened

Author:Dogen

“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.”

Ifs Mind Self Might Eye Moving Watches Practice Clear Return Assuming Boat Permanent Confused Where You Are Shore Unchanging Confused Mind

Author:Dogen

“To study the buddha way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind as well as the bodies and minds of others drop away. No trace of realization remains, and this no trace continues endlessly.”

Way Mind Wells Self Body Forget Study Remains Your Body Realization Mind And Body

Author:Dogen

“To study the Way is to study the Self. To study the Self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things of the universe. To be enlightened by all things of the universe is to cast off the body and mind of the self as well as those of others. Even the traces of enlightenment are wiped out, and life with traceless enlightenment goes on forever and ever”

Way Mind Wells Self Body Universe Forget Forever Study Goes On Enlightenment All Things Casts Enlightened Mind And Body

Author:Dogen

“Just practice good, do good for others, without thinking of making yourself known so that you may gain reward. Really bring benefit to others, gaining nothing for yourself. This is the primary requisite for breaking free of attachments to the Self.”

Thinking May Self Known Practice Benefits Gains Rewards Primaries Attachment Breaking Free

Author:Dogen

“If we look at the world with a deluded body and mind, we will think that our self is permanent. But if we practice correctly and return to our true self, we will realize that nothing is permanent”

Ifs Thinking World Mind Looks Self Body Realizing Practice Return Permanent True Self Mind And Body Deluded

Author:Dogen

“Studying the Buddha way is studying oneself. Studying oneself is forgetting oneself. Forgetting oneself is being enlightened by all things. Being enlightened by all things is to shed the body-mind of oneself, and those of others. No trace of enlightenment remains, and this traceless enlightenment continues endlessly.”

Way Mind Self Body Forget Study Enlightenment All Things Remains Oneself Enlightened Shed

Author:Dogen

About the Author

Born: January 19, 1200
Died: September 22, 1253
Known for: Philosopher
Quotes: 140

Related Topics

Mind Ifs Practice Enlightenment Way Body Self Mountain World Study Water Buddhist All Things Grass Should Forget Mind And Body Moon Spirituality Dharma

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Books & Sources

Beyond Thinking: A Guide to Zen MeditationRelated source material

Dogen's Genjo Koan: Three CommentariesRelated source material

How to Cook Your Life: From the Zen Kitchen to EnlightenmentRelated source material

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