A Study of Dogen: His Philosophy and Religion

Rating:
Summary: Useful for Understanding Dogen
Review: I found this book to be a useful presentation of some of Dogen's core ideas. All-too-often teachers emphasize the ineffability of Dogen's thought to the exclusion of his ideas. Dogen had important ideas about time, space, and how things exist, which he repeatedly emphasized in his writing as critical for understanding the Buddha way. This book deals explicitly with the philosophical basis of Dogen's thought, as expressed in his core writings such as Shobogenzo Genjokoan, Uji, and Bussho.

I myself found Abe's use of Heidegger to be appropriate. There are clear parallels that Abe explains and motivates well. He does not overstate the case as many authors do. Furthermore, for the most part this book is lucid and clear and does not resemble Heidegger's tortured prose.

I find this book to be an excellent corrective to the misbelief that Dogen did not write in order to be understood, but rather was entirely attempting to convey a meditative state of mind through contradictory images and bewilderment. Abe's book is one of the first in English to tackle Dogen as a philosopher. It is not the final word but it is a good starting place.

Rating:
Summary: Useful for Understanding Dogen
Review: I found this book to be a useful presentation of some of Dogen's core ideas. All-too-often teachers emphasize the ineffability of Dogen's thought to the exclusion of his ideas. Dogen had important ideas about time, space, and how things exist, which he repeatedly emphasized in his writing as critical for understanding the Buddha way. This book deals explicitly with the philosophical basis of Dogen's thought, as expressed in his core writings such as Shobogenzo Genjokoan, Uji, and Bussho.

I myself found Abe's use of Heidegger to be appropriate. There are clear parallels that Abe explains and motivates well. He does not overstate the case as many authors do. Furthermore, for the most part this book is lucid and clear and does not resemble Heidegger's tortured prose.

I find this book to be an excellent corrective to the misbelief that Dogen did not write in order to be understood, but rather was entirely attempting to convey a meditative state of mind through contradictory images and bewilderment. Abe's book is one of the first in English to tackle Dogen as a philosopher. It is not the final word but it is a good starting place.

Rating:
Summary: Heidegger rots zen minds too!
Review: This book is definitely something of a disappointment. Dogen can be a difficult author, but this is not the book we need to clarify Dogen's thought. Abe's primary influence seems to be Heidegger, and he has contracted some of that philosopher's worst tendencies. He announces conclusions, but instead of motivating them with reasons, he tends to just repeat the same thing in three or four different ways. He also seems to think that abstruse terminology serves as insight and explanation. Another noticeable defect in this book is Abe's apparent lack of knowledge concerning Dogen's Tendai background. He accepts without reservation the hagiographical legend of Dogen's doubt concerning the need for practice in the context of Tendai original enlightenment doctrine, as if no one had ever thought of this before and no answers had been proposed. He also frequently presents views Dogen inherited from medieval Tendai as original and new insights. Overall, a disappointing effort.