Dharma-Transmission in Dogen's Zen-Buddhism (Paperback)

Dharma-transmission describes the certification of enlightenment in an unbroken chain of Zen-masters, going all the way back to the historic Shakyamuni Buddha. This authentic lineage is said to insure that the Buddha's original teaching (Dharma) is preserved and transmitted in its original. By critically analyzing it, the author proposes a completely new way of looking at this concept, by arguing that its value lies not in the established - but as he reveals, questionable - traditional and historical linear lineage system of Dharma-transmission successors, but in inputting Buddha's teachings into new personalities and circumstances, one after another, so that Buddhism is able to creatively develop throughout all time, for the sake of progressive development into the future. Written in a clear style and assuming no prior knowledge, this book draws on a wide range of Buddhist writings, as well as the author's own experiences. It provides a fresh and fascinating insight into the theory and practice of Buddhist traditions. This book will be appreciated by newcomers, practitioners, and scholars alike. First, in order to "set the ground" for the book, brief descriptions of the historical developments of Buddhism in India, China, and Japan are given, as well as a definition of the term Dharma, followed by a short biography of Eihei Dogen Zenji and a description of the stages in his life in relation to the Dharma-transmission. Then, his Soto-Zen School of Buddhism and the shikantaza seated zazen-meditation is briefly described. Introductions of the terms Dharma-transmission and lineage are then followed by an analysis of the term authentic Dharma-transmission in the Buddhist tradition. Researchby the author results in a definition of the various lineages of the Dharma-transmissions in India, China, and Japan. To bring the findings into a practical context, the author's own three Dharma-transmission documents from Japan are given: the first document (the Boodline from Buddha to the author in its translation from Japanese into English), the second document: (The Past Seven Buddhas in its translation), and the third Document: (Bloodline). These documents are "secret" and have never been made available to the public before. The above findings are brought into a critical context by the author, who raises questions of doubt whether actual historical facts underlie the Dharma-succession lineages, and whether these lineages themselves are of any real use. This is followed by an integrative conclusion, which proposes a new way of interpreting of the concept of Dharma-transmission in Buddhism, by making particular reference to Dogen Zenji's work Shobogenzo of the Soto-Zen School of Buddhism.