mystic poet

Dogen

Do not follow the ideas of others
but learn to listen to the voice within yourself.
Your body and mind will become clear
and you will realize the unity of all things.

Dogen (1200-1253) was orphaned at an early age and became a Zen monk at thirteen. After seven years of study, he traveled to China to unravel his "Great Doubt" and gain a better understanding of Buddhism. He achieved enlightenment under T'ien-t'ung Ju-ching. He returned to Japan, founded the Soto school of Zen and wrote Shobo Genzo (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye) a collections of essays.


Dogen's poetry

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. Coming, going, the waterbirds don't leave a trace, don't follow a path. Midnight. No waves, no wind, the empty boat is flooded with moonlight. Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water. The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken. Although its light is wide and great, The moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide. The whole moon and the entire sky Are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.

home page

poets list

.