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To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things.
Dogen
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Dogen
Age: 53 †
Born: 1200
Born: January 19
Died: 1253
Died: September 29
Bhikkhu
Leader
Philosopher
Teacher
Whitefield
Greater Manchester
Dōgen Zenji
Dōgen Kigen
Eihei Dōgen
Dogen
Dougen
Self
Chaos
Things
Ten
Thousand
Study
Forget
Religion
Spirit
Enlightened
Earth
Spirituality
More quotes by 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.
Dogen
As I study both the exoteric and the esoteric schools of Buddhism, they maintain that human beings are endowed with Dharma-nature by birth. If this is the case, why did the Buddhas of all ages - undoubtedly in possession of enlightenment - find it necessary to seek enlightenment and engage in spiritual practice?
Dogen
When mountains and waters are painted, blue, green, and red paints are used, strange rocks and wondrous stones are used, the four jewels and the seven treasures are used. Rice-cakes are painted in the same manner. When a person is painted, the four great elements and five skandhas are used.
Dogen
Be moderate in eating and drinking. Mindful of the passing of time, engage yourself in zazen as though saving your head from fire.
Dogen
You should stop searching for phrases and chasing after words. Take the backward step and turn the light inward. Your body-mind of itself will drop off and your original face will appear. If you want to attain just this, immediately practice just this.
Dogen
Do not be amazed by the true dragon.
Dogen
Something you want badly enough can always be gained. No matter how fierce the enemy, how remote the beautiful lady, or how carefully guarded the treasure, there is always a means to the goal for the earnest seeker. The unseen help of the guardian gods of heaven and earth assure fulfillment.
Dogen
The coming and going of birth and death is a painting. Unsurpassed enlightenment is a painting. The entire phenomenal universe and the empty sky are nothing but a painting.
Dogen
Forgetting oneself is opening oneself
Dogen
Coming, going, the waterbirds, don't leave a trace, don't follow a path.
Dogen
In a snowfall that covers the winter grass a white heron uses his own whiteness to disappear.
Dogen
I asked, What are words? The tenzo said, One, two, three, four, five. I asked again, What is practice? Nothing in the entire universe is hidden.
Dogen
In autumn even though I may see it again, how can I sleep with the moon this evening?
Dogen
Just study Buddhism. Don't follow the sentiments of the world.
Dogen
Yet, though it is like this, simply, flowers fall amid our longing and weeds spring up amid our antipathy.
Dogen
To what shall I liken the world? Moonlight, reflected In dewdrops, Shaken from a crane's bill.
Dogen
There is a simple way to become buddha: When you refrain from unwholesome actions, are not attached to birth and death, and are compassionate toward all sentient beings, respectful to seniors and kind to juniors, not excluding or desiring anything, with no designing thoughts or worries, you will be called a buddha. Do not seek anything else.
Dogen
Clearly I know, the mind is mountains, rivers, and the great earth sun, moon, and stars.
Dogen
Because mountains are high and broad, the way of riding the clouds is always reached in the mountains the inconceivable power of soaring in the wind comes freely from the mountains
Dogen
If you want to do a certain thing, you first have to be a certain person. Once you become that certain person, you will not care anymore about doing that certain thing.
Dogen
