Rational Zen

by Thomas Cleary

Book Overview

Zen has often been portrayed as being illogical and mystifying, even aimed at the destruction of the rational intellect. These new translations of the thirteenth-century Zen master Dogen--one of most... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877739730
• ISBN13: 9780877739739
• Release Date: May 1995
• Publisher: Shambhala
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Essential Translations From Both of Dogen's Great Records AA++

Thomas Cleary's, Rational Zen: The Mind of Dogen Zenji, is a treasure trove of some of the greatest Japanese Zen texts from both of the important records of the Great Zen Master, Eihei Dogen. The thirteenth century Zen master, Eihei Dogen (considered by the Japanese Soto school as the founder of Soto Zen in Japan) has been the subject of a vast amount of study and research by scholars as well as the Zen orthodoxy in recent decades--and not without reason! As Cleary demonstrates in this excellent collection of translations, Dogen was easily one of most original and important Zen masters, not just in Japan, but in the entire history of Zen. Rational Zen contains of supurb selection from Dogen's two most important records: Shobogenzo (Treasury of the True Dharma-Eye), one of the most important Buddhist texts in the history of Buddhism (as well as the most important philosophical text ever created in Japan); and "Eihei Koroku" (Dogen's Extensive Record) which is now available in English (see, Leighton & Okumura). In this book, Cleary debunks the widespread misunderstanding of Zen as being irrational, mystical, or anti-intellectual. Rational Zen contains translations by this thirteenth-century Zen master that highlight the intellectual and rational aspects essential to for the authentic practice/realization of Zen. Cleary's usual excellence is augmented with a rich collection of comprehensive notes and profoundly insightful commentary. Bottom Line: Essential reading for all serious Zen students/practitioners. A treasure trove of Zen wisdom that can be mined for a lifetime!

A useful Dogen primer

Thomas Cleary has made a name for himself with a prolific number of translations from Buddhist sources. The readings presented here - selections from the Shobogenzo and Eihei Goroku make a handy Dogen primer. Usually careful with his translations/choice of terms, the present work is no exception to this and for the most part, readers will savour the authentic flavour of Dogen's thought. However, I can't say that Cleary's choice of title struck me as being terribly appropriate. Derived from the term 'do-ri' - which some westerers like to interpret as 'reason of the way' - it thus gives the misleading impression that Zen might somehow fit in with our 'rationalistic' preconceptions. But this is the self-same 'ri' (Chin. li) that we find in the Kegon-kyo and thus synonymous with 'kung' or sunyata. Reading it the other way gives it a literary, if not a literal Confucian connotation, foreign to Dogen's considerations.

The Most Important Japanese Zen Master

Dogen Zenji (1200-1253) is general regarded as the most important Japanese Zen Master. He is credited with bringing the Soto Zen tradition to Japan. This volume contains selections from his two most important works, *Eihei Koroku*, "Universal Book of Eternal Peace", and *Shobogenzo*, "Treasury of Eyes of True Teaching". There are 50 aphorisms from the *Eihei Koroku* and 5 essays from the *Shobogenzo*. Cleary includes a detailed introduction to this pivotal figure in the history of Zen, as well as extensive annotations on the texts.