Dogen on Meditation And Thinking: A Reflection on His View of Zen
by Hee-Jin Kim

5 out of 5 stars Hee-Jin Kim is THE MASTER when it comes to Eihei Dogen, February 10, 2008

Hee-Jin Kim’s first book, “Eihei Dogen: Mystical Realist,” is still THE BOOK on Eihei Dogen and his teachings, but with his publication of “Dogen on Meditation and Thinking: A Reflection on His View of Zen,” it is no longer the ONLY book. This may be the most important work on the Zen teachings of the founder of Soto Zen in Japan in more than a decade.

This latest book by Kim is a masterly work. He not only clarifies, and amplifies many of the major points of “Mystical Realist,” he adds a wealth of new and often astonishing insight.

Thirty years after his landmark book on Dogen, Kim shares the wisdom of a lifetime of study and meditation on Dogen’s Zen. He provides the reader with a lucid, detailed, and understandable guide to some of the most powerful Zen teachings of Dogen, including explications on:

The nondual unity of delusion and enlightenment

Dogen’s view (and mastery) of words, letters, language and expression

Dogen’s view on “the human condition”

The dynamics of realization

The important differences between “duality” and “dualism”

Dogen’s masterful use of Zen koans

Dogen’s view of “the essential practice”

Dogen on “original” vs. “acquired” enlightenment

And much more…

Hee-Jin Kim uses Dogen’s extraordinary studies of Zen koans, recent scholarship, and his own lifetime experience of studying Dogen’s writings, to bring us into the very heart and mind of this amazing Zen master. Every sentence is packed with insight, from his powerful explication on the nondual nature of practice and enlightenment, to his comments on the current state of Dogen studies.

In this work, Kim is even more straightforward than he was in “Mystical Realist.” When he points out some of the things that “have been grossly overlooked by pratitioners and scholars alike,” he does not pull any punches. With gentle, but firm and exacting language, Kim points out some of the glaring defects of much of the “Zen practice” being carried out in the name of Eihei Dogen at present. With no less precision, Kim dismantles some of the flawed presumptions at work in the scholarly communities, especially some of those offered by the proponents of “Critical Buddhism” within the Soto Zen academia.

While the book remains focused on Zen master Eihei Dogen’s teachings concerning meditation, thinking, not-thinking and nonthinking, the reader will be rewarded with information not found elsewhere in English.

If I could give it 10 stars, I would. It is an essential book for any serious student of Zen. In fact, you should get at least two copies because, like “Mystical Realist,” it is a book you will find yourself returning to so often you are bound to wear it out.

Thank you Dr. Kim for sharing your profound knowledge and wisdom on this great Zen master! (Also, please re-print your other great book, Flowers of Emptiness. It is a goldmine of insights!)

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