Dogen Talks

Zen Master Dogen

Dōgen Zenji (道元禅師; 26 January 1200 – 22 September 1253), was a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk, writer, poet, philosopher, and founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan. He is also known as Dōgen Kigen (道元希玄), Eihei Dōgen (永平道元), Kōso Jōyō Daishi (高祖承陽大師), and Busshō Dentō Kokushi (仏性伝東国師).

Originally ordained as a monk in the Tendai School in Kyoto, he was ultimately dissatisfied with its teaching and traveled to China to seek out what he believed to be a more authentic Buddhism. He remained there for four years, finally training under Tiāntóng Rújìng, an eminent teacher of the Cáodòng lineage of Chinese Chan. Upon his return to Japan, he began promoting the practice of zazen (sitting meditation) through literary works such as Fukanzazengi and Bendōwa.

He eventually broke relations completely with the powerful Tendai School, and, after several years of likely friction between himself and the establishment, left Kyoto for the mountainous countryside where he founded the monastery Eihei-ji, which remains the head temple of the Sōtō school today.

Dōgen is known for his extensive writings like the Shōbōgenzō (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, considered his magnum opus), the Eihei Kōroku (Extensive Record, a collection of his talks), the Eihei Shingi (the first Japanese Zen monastic code), along with his Japanese poetry, and commentaries. Dōgen's writings are one of the most important sources studied in the contemporary Sōtō Zen tradition.

From Dōgen on Wikipedia

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Title	Speaker	Date
Universal Practice for Laymen and Monks Serial: SR-00175 Whatever you do is practice; be careful not to practice for the sake of the self. Zazen as a way to find realization and get used to realization. Whether priest or layperson,... Practice, Zazen, Bodhisattva, Dogen, Sixth Patriarch, Buddha Mind, Faith, Truth,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 25 1971 Tassajara
Zazen Practice and Listen to the Right Teacher Serial: SF-05631 ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #24, by Shundo David Haye ===== In the last years of Suzuki Roshi's life, very few talks were lost from the collections... Sesshin, Dogen, Bodhidharma, Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Observe, Precepts, Faith...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 03 1970 City Center
Rules Dogen, Posture, Balance, Doubt, Faith	Suzuki Roshi	Jan 18 1970 City Center
Wherever You Are, Enlightenment Is There Serial: SF-05184A Sesshin: First Night Lecture, “I Don't Know Zazen” September 1969 Tassajara Knowing that we have buddha nature even while we are in the... Dogen, Buddha Nature, Enlightenment, Five Ranks, Buddha Nature, Composure, Emotions,...	Suzuki Roshi	Sep 1969 Tassajara
Stand Up By The Ground Serial: SF-05209 Protection Master "Suzuki Roshi summer sesshin 1969 2nd night lecture Sesshin, Second Night Lecture September, 1969 Tassajara Sesshin, Dogen, Time, Continuous Practice, Freedom, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Sep 1969 Tassajara
At The End Of The Year We Clean Up Our House Serial: SF-05970B Dec 1968 New Year Lecture Beginner’s Mind, Dogen, Japan, New Year, Beginners, Transmission, Instruction, Priest...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 29 1968 Sokoji
The True Dragon Dogen, Baso, Dragons, Freedom, Soto Zen, Emptiness, Bodhidharma, Instruction, Zazen...	Suzuki Roshi	Oct 12 1968 B Sokoji
The Ten Powers Of A Bodhisattva Serial: SF-05106 Sunday Morning, August 25, 1968 [This date is probably incorrect. Earlier (July 21, 1968), Suzuki mentioned that he had already explained the ten powers of a bodhisattva.... Bodhisattva, Dogen, Rinzai, Soto Zen, Emptiness, Five Ranks, Attachment, Posture,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 25 1968 Sokoji
Esalen Institute: First of two lectures Serial: SF-05870 This is the first of two talks given at Esalen. Dogen, Time, Four Noble Truths, Lotus Sutra, New Year, Continuous Practice, Emptiness...	Suzuki Roshi	Jun 28 1968 Esalen
The Mind Which We Will Acquire Serial: SF-05140B SR20 - Reel #5 Suzuki - other side - Roshi - another lecture 12/6/67? copied (The audio is the very end of 67-12-06-A only) Dogen, Desire, Happiness	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 06 1967 Tassajara
Nature of Our Practice Serial: SF-05141B Tuesday, December 5, 1967, Lecture B Evening Sesshin Lecture Tassajara Sesshin, Dogen, Fukanzazengi, Dragons, Daily Life, Observe, Freedom, training,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 05 1967 B Tassajara
The More We Study Our Way, The More Difficult It Is To Explain It Serial: SF-05142 SR018 - Track 1 - Roshi's Lecture sesshin #4 12/4/67 Evening - copied Sesshin, Dogen, Observe, Ceremony	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 04 1967 Evening Tassajara
Putting Power In Your Hara Serial: SF-05133A Afternoon Sesshin Lecture Friday, December 1, 1967, Lecture A Zen Mountain Center Sesshin, Dogen, Fukanzazengi, Buddha Mind, Big Mind, Separation, New Year,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 01 1967 A Tassajara
Genjo Koan no 4 Serial: SF-05136 Track 1 17/8 - Suzuki lectures - beginning missed, one or two sentences; beginning: This is the last lecture of sesshin. We have talked of emptiness and form, but have not... Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Time, Faith, Emptiness, Continuous Practice, Dragons...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 24 1967 A Tassajara
Buddhism Is Not a Special Teaching; Enlightenment Is Not a Particular Stage Serial: SF-05134D ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #17, by Shundo David Haye ===== About half way through this sesshin talk, you can start to hear crickets in the background, getting... Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Enemies, Continuous Practice, Doubt, Religion, Peace...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 23 1967 Tassajara
Genjo Koan no 2 Serial: SF-05134C ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #16, by Shundo David Haye ===== This third talk from the historic inaugural sesshin at Tassajara in 1967, given the day after the... Sesshin, Dogen, Priest, Emptiness, Dragons, confusion, Hate	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 21 1967 Tassajara
Genjo Koan Serial: SF-05134A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #14, by Shundo David Haye ===== The acquisition of Tassajara in 1967 was a huge leap for Zen Center. Suzuki Roshi had long been... Genjokoan, Dogen, Sesshin, Emptiness, New Year, Interview, Freedom	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 20 1967 Morning Tassajara
The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking Mind Serial: SF-05121B Original recording Sesshin, Dogen, training, Buddha Nature, Hate, Observe, Instruction, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji
In the first instruction of ten instructions in Gakudō-yōjin-shū Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Sixth Patriarch, Platform Sutra, training, Instruction,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 17 1966 A Sokoji
This Fascicle of Shobogenzo Serial: SF-05097F Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 2: Suzuki 1pm lecture Friday Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Blue Cliff Record, Attachment, Instruction, Freedom,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 19 1966 C Sokoji
Shobogenzo Serial: SF-05097D Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 1 contd: Most of Suzuki's 6pm Lecture, Thursday evening continued on track 4 Track 4 continuation and finish of 6pm lecture of... Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Subject-and-Object, Attachment, Buddha Nature,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 18 1966 C Sokoji
Genjo-Koan: Paragraphs 7-9 Serial: SF-05098A Sunday morning lecture by Suzuki Roshi June 19 1966 (19 added later?) Other notes on box: Incomplete (muddled) late on then ends. "Other side"... Dogen, Genjokoan, Composure, Liberation, Faith	Suzuki Roshi	Jun 19 1966 B Sokoji
Genjo-Koan: Paragraphs 11-13 Serial: SF-05098C Sunday morning lecture by Suzuki Roshi June 19 1966 (19 added later?) Other notes on box: Incomplete (muddled) late on then ends. "Other side"... Genjokoan, Dogen, Continuous Practice, Peace, Evil	Suzuki Roshi	Jun 19 1966 D Sokoji
Genjo-Koan: Paragraphs 1–11 Serial: SF-05098D Sunday morning lecture by Suzuki Roshi June 19 1966 (19 added later?) Other notes on box: Incomplete (muddled) late on then ends. "Other side"... Dogen, Genjokoan, Family Practice, Observe, Doubt, Discrimination, Attachment, Hate,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jun 19 1966 A Sokoji
Sesshin Lecture: Genjo-Koan, Paragraphs 1–2 Serial: SF-05096B May Sesshin (25 26 added later) 1 or 6pm lecture plus lecture the following morning. SR 009 Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Precepts, Mahayana, Freedom, Observe, Balance, Attachment...	Suzuki Roshi	May 26 1966 Sokoji
Genjō Kōan, 5-13 Serial: SF-05096A May Sesshin (25 26 added later) 1 or 6pm lecture plus lecture the following morning. SR 009 Dogen, Genjokoan, Enemies, Faith, realization, Addiction, Peace	Suzuki Roshi	May 25 1966 Sokoji
The Way-Seeking Mind Serial: SF-05116C March sesshin, only 1pm lecture. Evening lecture goofed up during recording. SR 007 Dogen, Forgiveness, Addiction, Greed, Interview, Attachment, Conversation, Lay...	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 26 1966 A Sokoji
Shushōgi, Section 1 Serial: SF-05095B Sesshin Lecture: SHUSHOGI, Section 1 Sunday, March 13, 1966, Lecture B Sokoji, San Francisco Tape operator's comments and bells at beginning of tape, left... Sesshin, Dogen, Shushogi, Attachment, Balance	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 13 1966 B Sokoji
Genjō Kōan, 1–3 Serial: SF-05095C Sesshin Lecture: Genjo-Koan, Paragraphs 1–3 Sunday Morning, March 13, 1966, Lecture A Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Duality, Faith, Buddha Nature, Attachment, Discrimination...	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 13 1966 A Sokoji
Genjo Koan continued Serial: SF-05095A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #11, by Shundo David Haye ===== In the spring of 1966, having previously spent a number of years primarily lecturing on the Blue... Dogen, Genjokoan, Sangha, Happiness	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 13 1966 Sokoji
To Study The Self Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Bell, training, Faith	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 19 1966 pm Sokoji
Where There is Some Limitation, There is Universality Serial: SF-05114B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #9, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk is found on the same reel as the one previously discussed (https://suzukiroshi.engagewisdom.... Sesshin, Dogen, Buddha Nature, Faith, Evil, confusion, Freedom, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 18 1966 Sokoji
In the Prajnaparamita Sutra Serial: SF-05113B 5pm lecture begins this side Heart Sutra, Sengai, Dogen, Emptiness, Family Practice, Beginners, Transmission,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jan 21 1966 5:00PM Sokoji
Most Of You Are Beginners Serial: SF-05124D One-Day Sesshin Afternoon Lecture Saturday, December 11, 1965, Lecture A Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Precepts, Precepts, Observe, Beginners, Enemies,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 11 1965 A Sokoji
Beginner's Mind Serial: SF-05122 ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #1, by Shundo David Haye ===== When this particular, otherwise unremarkable, reel was photographed as part of Engage Wisdom’s... Beginner’s Mind, Dogen, Precepts, Beginners, Precepts, Enemies, Posture	Suzuki Roshi	Nov 11 1965 Los Altos
Study Yourself Serial: SF-05123B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #4, by Shundo David Haye ===== "I always felt his best Zen talks were the ones he gave on Thursday mornings in my home. They were... Dogen, Genjokoan, Rinzai, Monastic Practice, Instruction, Hate, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Sep 09 1965 Los Altos
Calmness Serial: SF-05123A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #3, by Shundo David Haye ===== In this talk, which became the Calmness chapter of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (p121), Suzuki Roshi... Dogen, Zazen, Composure	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 26 1965 Los Altos
Forgotten the Value of Religion Serial: SF-05101A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #5, by Shundo David Haye ===== The oldest recordings of Suzuki Roshi made at Sokoji, the home of the San Francisco Zen Center at the... Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Inmost Nature, Religion, Don't Know Mind, Buddha...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 27 1965 1:00pm Sokoji
Religious Problems Concerning Such As Psychology Or LSD Serial: SF-05112A Tape 1 Summer sesshin 1965, Monday 1st day of sesshin (?) July 26th 1965 Tape 1 Side 1: 1pm lecture Sesshin, Dogen, Time, Continuous Practice, Precepts, Peace, Beginners, Balance,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 26 1965 1:00pm Sokoji
Wisdom and Compassion in Zen Serial: SF-05077B Tatsugami Roshi eko tape Dogen	Tatsugami Roshi	Unknown