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View submission: Is zazen truly Zen?
I really appreciate your lengthy response. It’s illuminating. Thank you.
A final question. Dogen found that shinkantaza was a very effective way to “do” enlightenment. From what I understand he doesn’t limit the ways to “enter”enlightenment essentially gatekeeping it (as some critics suggest) by way of zazen only. Did he find that sitting still in the position the Buddha sat was just the best and most expedient way to practice (through running the above zen tradition diagnostics that you mentioned)? Instead of doing it by way of cooking for example?
Thanks again!
Comment by Qweniden at 24/01/2025 at 21:30 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Dogen found that shinkantaza was a very effective way to “do” enlightenment.
One of Dogen's core teachings was that zazen itself is an expression of the reality of awakening. Zazen itself, verifies the truth of awakening. It's a heavily non-dual teaching that makes more sense after having practiced for a while.
His teacher was a zazen-fanatic and the Caodong tradition in general was known for long hard hours of sitting. Dogen was clearly influenced by this.
From what I understand he doesn’t limit the ways to “enter”enlightenment essentially gatekeeping it (as some critics suggest) by way of zazen only
For much of his career (and certainly the later half), his teaching was geared towards those practicing in his monastic community. He gave detailed instructions for how to do everything one might encounter during a day. Washing one's face, cooking, cleaning and even pooping all had detailed instructions on how to do them.
The reason for this is that he felt that meditation should be 24/7. By having strict rules and procedures, it forces someone into mindfulness in order to pay attention enough to do things correctly. This type of training is called shugyo and is the cornerstone of the Soto Zen approach to practice.
We as householders practicing in the world can take the same approach by deeply paying attention to everything we do. Washing the dishes? Completely become that activity. Driving to work? Completely become that activity. Talking to your boss? Completely become that activity.
Did he find that sitting still in the position the Buddha sat was just the best and most expedient way to practice (through running the above zen tradition diagnostics that you mentioned)? Instead of doing it by way of cooking for example?
In the Bendowa essay Dogen says:
Now, all ancestors and all Buddhas who uphold Buddha-Dharma have made it the true path of enlightenment to sit upright practicing in the midst of self-fulfilling samādhi. Those who attained enlightenment in India and China followed this way. It was done so because teachers and disciples personally transmitted this excellent method as the essence of the teaching. In the authentic tradition of our teaching, it is said that this directly transmitted, straightforward Buddha-Dharma is the unsurpassable of the unsurpassable. From the first time you meet a master, without engaging in incense offering, bowing, chanting Buddha's name, repentance, or reading scriptures, you should just wholeheartedly sit, and thus drop away body and mind.
So yeah, like the Caodong masters he descended from, he was extremely pro-zazen.
But as mentioned, he also very much emphasized "everything is meditation" style practice. You mentioned cooking and he actually has an essay (book?) that contains detailed instructions for the monastery cook. In it he says:
If [the monastery cook] throws all his energy into whatever the situation truly calls for, then both the activity and the method by which he carries it out will naturally work to nurture the seeds of the buddhadharma.”