Zen Philosophy of Mindfulness: Nen 念 according to Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō
Masaki Nomura
Religions August 24, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/rel13090775 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation Philosophy of mind |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | Argues that Dōgen considers study, reflection, and practice essential on the Buddhist path, and that nen represents the self beyond body-mind or time, attainable through long cultivation. |
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to holistically comprehend the concept of nen 念in the Zen philosophy of Dōgen (道元 1200–1253), which is one of the origins of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, in relation to his principal concepts. This article specifically investigates its usages in his masterpiece, Treasury of the True Dharma Eye (Shōbōgenzō 正法眼蔵), according to each step of the threefold wisdom (san-e 三慧); for mindfulness is a common thread among them and he presents the concept of “monshishū-shō 聞思修證”, of which shō 證 stands for “awakening”. It is revealed that Dōgen considers “study” (mon 聞) and “reflection” (shi 思) to be essential on the Buddhist path, as well as “practice” (shū 修), and that nen 念 in Dōgen’s philosophy is the self beyond the sense of body-mind or time, which can be attained after long cultivation. Also, the connections among nen 念 and his critical concepts such as “just sitting” (shikan taza 祇管打坐), “dropping off body-mind” (shinjin datsuraku 身心脱落), and “oneness of practice and awakening” (shūshō ittō 修證一等) are elucidated.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental balance and well-being: Building bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology. | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist Modernism and the Rhetoric of Meditative Experience | 1995 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Too Early to Tell: The Potential Impact and Challenges—Ethical and Otherwise—Inherent in the Mainstreaming of Dharma in an Increasingly Dystopian World | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From self to nonself: The Nonself Theory | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |