Sounds of Valley Streams

Enlightenment in Dōgen's Zen Translation of Nine Essays from Shōbōgenzō

By Francis H. Cook

Subjects: Buddhism
Series: SUNY series in Buddhist Studies
Paperback : 9780887069246, 180 pages, December 1988
Hardcover : 9780887069222, 180 pages, December 1988

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Table of contents

Preface

1. Being Awakened
2. The Buddha Right Before Us
3. The Enlightened Life
4. A Few Words on "Genjo Koan"

Translations

Genjo Koan
Manifesting Absolute Reality

Ikka Myoju
One Bright Pearl

Gabyo
A Painting of a Rice Cake

Ganzei
Eye-Pupil

Kannon

Ryugin
Dragon Song

Dotoku
Expression

Bukkojo-ji
Beyond Buddha

Daigo
Great Awakening

Notes
Bibliography
Index

Description

Sounds of Valley Streams is a study of Zen Buddhist enlightenment in nine chapters of Shōbōgenzō Dōgen. Francis H. Cook has translated the nine chapters and has preceded them with four chapters of discussion. These essays show Dōgen bringing his religious intensity, philosophical depth, and poetic power to bear on a number of different facets of enlightenment. Using striking images and poetical expressions such as "one bright pearl," "dragon song," "beyond Buddha," and "a painting of a rice cake,"Dōgen explores such fundamental matters as the relationship between enlightenment and compassion, the dynamic nature of the enlightened life, the need to go beyond enlightenment, the nature of illusion and enlighten-ment, and what it is like to live the awakened life.

The centerpiece of the translation is Genjōkōan ("Manifesting Absolute Reality"). It is a manifesto of the Zen life in which Dōgen proclaims the religious insight that stands at the core of everything he wrote subsequently. Cook's translation of Genjōkōan is as accurate as possible, faithful to the original, and readable.

Francis H. Cook is Associate Professor at the University of California, Riverside.