Dogen

Dōgen was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher and philosopher, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Japanese Buddhism. Born in 1200 in Kyoto, Japan, Dōgen became a prominent proponent of Sōtō Zen, a school of Zen Buddhism that emphasizes zazen (seated meditation) as the core practice. At the age of 13, he entered the monastic life and later traveled to China to study with renowned Zen masters. Upon his return to Japan, Dōgen founded the Eihei-ji temple, which remains one of the main centers of Sōtō Zen practice. His writings have had a lasting impact on Zen Buddhism, and his teachings emphasize the direct experience of enlightenment through meditation.

Dōgen is best known for his work, "Shōbōgenzō" (The True Dharma Eye), a collection of essays and teachings that explore profound Buddhist concepts such as impermanence, emptiness, and the nature of reality. In his teachings, Dōgen argued that enlightenment is not a distant goal, but something that is realized through the practice of zazen in the present moment. He placed great emphasis on non-duality, the idea that the distinction between practice and enlightenment, and between form and emptiness, is ultimately illusory.

One of Dōgen’s famous quotes is: "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 awakened by all things." Another well-known quote of his is: "When you walk, just walk. When you sit, just sit. But don’t wobble." These words reflect Dōgen’s deep teaching on the importance of mindfulness and being fully present in each moment, a core principle of his Zen practice that has resonated with many practitioners over the centuries.