The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Zen Master

Eihei Dogen (1200-1253) is the most renowned of all the Japanese Zen masters, and he is also one of the greatest writers and philosophers Japan has ever produced. His vast body of work is beloved by all Zen students, but its sheer size and scope can be intimidating to the neophyte--which is a shame, as so much he wrote is wonderfully accessible and quite practical for living one's daily life. The problem is knowing where to look. Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt have solved the problem by finding more than a hundred accessible selections from among Dogen's voluminous works--passages that instruct, inspire, and go straight to the heart. It's a wonderful source of inspiration for all who resonate with the spirit of Zen. It's also a perfect introduction to Dogen's teaching for anyone who's wanted to get to know him but who's been baffled about where to start.