In this podcast, Professor Heine and I discuss the mystical elements of Chan and Zen, including the Soto Zen Angels that have visited him during difficult times to encourage him to continue studying Eihei Dogen’s life and translating his teachings. We also discuss several of Dogen’s teachings, such as “casting off body-mind” and his fascicle “Thusness” and its connection to Hui-neng’s “Your Mind Moves” koan.
Toward the end of the podcast Professor Heine refers to a poem by the Chinese poet and artist Su Shi. You can read Professor Heine’s translation of this poem “Getting Up at Night in a Boat” on SparkZen.
Steven Heine’s published numerous books on Dogen, koans, and Chan/Zen poems:
Professor Steven Heine is a leading scholar in the field of Zen Buddhist history and thought, particularly the life and teachings of Dogen. He has authored and edited nearly three dozen books, including Dogen and the Koan Tradition, Did Dogen Go to China?, Dogen: Textual and Historical Studies, and Readings of Dogen’s Treasury of the True Dharma Eye. Professor Heine has also taught and published extensively on Japanese and East Asian religion and society in worldwide perspectives. He is the Director of Florida International University’s Asian Studies Program. His most recent book is Dogen: Japan’s Original Zen Teacher.
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