What is reality? An icicle forming in fire. Dogen More Quotes by Dogen More Quotes From Dogen You should study not only that you become a mother when your child is born, but also that you become a child. Dogen buddhist spiritual mother Clearly I know, the mind is mountains, rivers, and the great earth; sun, moon, and stars. Dogen stars moon rivers Through one word, or seven words, or three times five, even if you investigate thoroughly myriad forms, nothing can be depended upon. Night advances, the moon glows and falls into the ocean. The black dragon jewel you have been searching for, is everywhere. Dogen ocean moon fall In a snowfall that covers the winter grass a white heron uses his own whiteness to disappear. Dogen use white winter 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 enlightenment painting sky Do not view mountains from the scale of human thought. Dogen scales mountain views Understand clearly that when a great need appears a great use appears also; when there is small need there is small use; it is obvious, then, that full use is made of all things at all times according to the necessity thereof. Dogen use desire needs 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 buddhism spiritual school Consider that nirvana is itself no other than our life. Dogen our-lives Realization doesn't destroy the individual any more than the reflection of the moon breaks a drop of water. A drop of water can reflect the whole sky. Dogen moon reflection sky When the old plum tree blooms, the entire world blooms. Dogen plums tree world The zazen I speak of is not learning meditation. It is simply the Dharma gate of repose and bliss, the practice-realization of totally culminated enlightenment. It is the manifestation of ultimate reality. Traps and snares can never reach it. Once its heart is grasped, you are like the dragon when he gains the water, like the tiger when she enters the mountain. For you must know that just there (in zazen) the right Dharma is manifesting itself and that, from the first, dullness and distraction are struck aside. Dogen dragons heart reality Mountains and rivers at this very moment are the actualization of the world of the ancient Buddhas. Each, abiding in its phenomenal expression, realizes completeness. Dogen expression rivers religion In autumn even though I may see it again, how can I sleep with the moon this evening? Dogen autumn moon sleep Yet, though it is like this, simply, flowers fall amid our longing and weeds spring up amid our antipathy. Dogen weed flower spring All that's visible springs from causes intimate to you. While walking, sitting, lying down, the body itself is complete truth. If someone asks the inner meaning of this: Inside the treasury of dharma eye a single grain of dust. Dogen eye spring lying 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. When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind as well as the bodies and minds of others drop away. No trace of realization remains, and this no trace continues endlessly. Dogen realization self mind Working with plants, trees, fences and walls, if they practice sincerely they will attain enlightenment. Dogen wall practice tree Does a dragon still sing from within a withered tree? Dogen dragons doe tree Know that the true dharma emerges of itself [during the practice of zazen], clearing away hindrances and distractions. Dogen dharma distraction practice
