DOGEN’S INTERCULTURAL PHILOSOPHY AND ITS ROLE IN CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY

This article examines the intercultural philosophy of the Japanese Zen monk Eihei Dōgen (1200–1253), who wrote in colloquial Japanese while drawing on Chinese and Indian Buddhist sources. Dōgen's Shōbōgenzō is presented as a masterpiece, and his practice of zazen (seated meditation) is described as a unity of practice, enlightenment, and expression. He defines philosophy as self-knowledge, the analysis of viewpoints (the "Way of the Buddha"), and the overthrow of conceptual language. The authors contend that Dōgen creatively interprets Indian texts for a Japanese audience, using a heuristic from Chinese Buddhist scriptures to generate new meanings for traditional worldviews.

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Abstract

This article explores the intercultural philosophy of the Japanese monk Eihei Dōgen (1200–1253), who founded the Zen school during the Kamakura period (1192–1333). While developing Chan/Zen Buddhism in China, he wrote in colloquial Japanese, fully utilizing the resources of both Chinese and Japanese. As a philosopher, he distinguished himself with contributions to culture, religion, philosophy, and linguistics. His Shōbōgenzō (Treasuries of the True Eye of Dharma) is recognized as a masterpiece, and zazen – seated meditation – is a creative means of self-expression, a unity of practice, enlightenment, and expression. He defines philosophy as self-knowledge (the exploration of life and understanding of our place and destiny in the world), the analysis of viewpoints (the «Way of the Buddha»), and the overthrow of conceptual language. The intercultural philosopher Dōgen is an author who creatively interprets Indian texts for a Japanese audience, using a heuristic borrowed from Chinese Buddhist scriptures, creating new meanings for traditional worldviews.