Unexamined Zen: Challenges from Dōgen’s Zen Buddhism

The traditional narrative of Zen Buddhism focuses on a religious experience that goes beyond words and concepts. I argue that Dōgen’s understanding of enlightenment is not limited to a religious experience, as it involves a creative process of Buddha-making that demands the flexibility to present a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Chinese philosophy
Main Author: Dunlap, Rika (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2023
In: Journal of Chinese philosophy
Further subjects:B Dōgen
B Concepts
B Experience
B dao
B Zen Buddhism
B Language
B Enlightenment
B Practice
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Summary:The traditional narrative of Zen Buddhism focuses on a religious experience that goes beyond words and concepts. I argue that Dōgen’s understanding of enlightenment is not limited to a religious experience, as it involves a creative process of Buddha-making that demands the flexibility to present a novel expression of the Buddha way with the transiency of the impermanent world. In arguing for the processual understanding of the Buddha way and enlightenment, I refer to the fluidity of dao in Chinese philosophy to shed light upon the significance of creativity in authentic practice. By doing so, I explain why an unexamined Zen is problematic for Dōgen.
ISSN:1540-6253
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of Chinese philosophy
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15406253-12340121