Dogen

Date of Birth: January 19, 1200

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: September 22, 1253

Biography

Dōgen Zenji, commonly known simply as Dōgen, was a Japanese Buddhist priest, writer, poet, and philosopher who founded the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan. Born into an aristocratic family in Kyoto, Japan, Dōgen faced the loss of both his parents at a young age, which deeply influenced his spiritual quest. He became a monk at the age of 13 and journeyed to China to study Chan Buddhism (Zen). After years of intense training, he returned to Japan to disseminate his teachings. Dōgen’s most significant work, the “Shōbōgenzō” (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye), is a collection of essays reflecting his deep insights into the nature of existence, practice, and enlightenment. He emphasized the importance of zazen (seated meditation) and the idea that enlightenment is not a distant goal but something that can be realized in every moment through sincere practice.

5 Interesting Facts about Dogen

1. Dōgen was orphaned at a young age, which prompted his early spiritual inquiries.

2. He traveled to China in 1223 to study Chan Buddhism and returned to Japan in 1227.

3. Dōgen founded the Eihei-ji temple in 1244, which remains one of the two main temples of the Sōtō Zen school today.

4. His work “Shōbōgenzō” consists of 95 fascicles and is considered a cornerstone of Japanese Zen Buddhism.

5. Dōgen’s teachings emphasized the non-duality of practice and enlightenment, suggesting that the very act of practice is enlightenment.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Dogen

1. “Do not think you will necessarily be aware of your own enlightenment.”

2. “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.”

3. “A fool sees himself as another, but a wise man sees others as himself.”

4. “If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?”

5. “Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Dōgen was a religious leader and philosopher, not a modern-day entrepreneur or business figure. Hence, the concept of net worth does not apply to him.