Enlightenment Unfolds

by Kazuaki Tanahashi

     Enlightenment Unfolds is a sequel to Kaz Tanahashi's previous collection, Moon in a Dewdrop, which has become a primary source on Dogen for Western Zen students. Dogen Zenji (1200-1253) is unquestionably the most significant religious figure in Japanese history. Founder of the Soto school of Zen (which emphasizes the practice of zazen or sitting meditation), he was a prolific writer whose works have remained popular for six hundred years. Enlightenment Unfolds presents even more of the incisive and inspiring writings of this seminal figure, focusing on essays from his great life work, Treasury of the True Dharma Eye , as well as poems, talks, and correspondence, much of which appears here in English for the first time.

     Tanahashi has brought together his own translations of Dogen with those of some of the most respected Zen teachers and writers of our own day, including Reb Anderson, Edward Espe Brown, Norman Fisher, Gil Fronsdal, Blanche Hartman, Jane Hirschfield, Daniel Leighton, Alan Senauke, Katherine Thanas, Mel Weitzman, and Michael Wenger.

     

Genres: Buddhism, Zen, Religion, Philosophy, Japan, Spirituality

368 pages, Paperback

First published March 9, 1999

About the author

Kazuaki Tanahashi, born and trained in Japan and active in the United States since 1977, has had solo exhibitions of his calligraphic paintings internationally. He has taught East Asian calligraphy at eight international conferences of calligraphy and lettering arts. Also a peace and environmental worker for decades, he is a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything is contained in the moment and you are the Time-Being. You do not aquire enlightenment, you simply discover that you always were enlightened. Like any jovial god entertaining itself, thou art that which is, you have only forgotten.

Oh!
The dramatic painfulness
of laboring within an illusion
Sleeping on a hillside
Warm grass
Arms of the earth hold me
Empty mind

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dogen is not one you will ever finish, thank your lucky stars.

[John Porcellino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great compilation of writings by Soto Zen founder Dogen Zenji, arranged by one of his most lucid translators/editors. Can't go wrong.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great compilations of the writings of Zen Master Dogen, Anyone could value from reading this text in an unbiased manner.