Zen Questions: Zazen, Dogen, and the Spirit of Creative Inquiry

Taigen Dan Leighton's latest book is, in many ways, unlike most of his other books. It's personal; it's his writing, not his translations. And in doing so, he illustrates some seminal aspects of Zen, both Soto and otherwise. A little self disclosure first: I'm an old friend of Taigen's, and have been practicing in a Koan School of zen for 15 years now, after spending 10 years also studying and practicing, along side of Taigen, in Suzuki Roshi's lineage.One of the things that is a theme in this book that comes through over and over again is the need and place of questioning in zen. Not for answers, but as the central practice. Answers and insights do come, as Taigen says, but the sustaining of the questioning is vital. Whether on the cushion or off the cushion, raising a question is central to the heart and practice of zen inquiry. Taigen underscores this throughout his fine book. Creative Inquiry. " Settling in to the dynamic quality of zazen as question and inquiry requires a willingness to be present for this question." (Pg 8). Can we live in the middle of this life that is a question? His explication of Dogen as `how do I live this life?' cuts through the often difficult time in getting to exactly what Dogen is talking about in terms of practice and life.This book is based on Taigen's articles and Dharma Talks given from 1994 through 2010.Taigen's use of the term Upright Sitting, or being upright throughout this practice, is taken from his own Lineage Teacher, Tenshin Reb Anderson. It is another central notion that Taigen comes back to over and over again. What does it mean to be Upright, in the midst of it all?Although Taigen relies on some of his favorite contemporary expressions of Zen in our culture, from Bob Dylan (whom Taigen refers to as his `favorite American Dharma Bard'), to Mary Oliver, to Rumi, to the more political expressions of his vision, his explication of Dogen and Soto Zen is clear, penetrating and filled with his own practice and life experience and this book is filled with his soft touch, his gentle touch. His delving into Dylan's Visions of Johanna as being an expression of what it's like to do a sesshin, a weeklong intensive meditation experience which is a central practice in zen, is just one of many examples of how this practice has touched Taigen's ongoing life of practice right here ,right now.In his section on Gary Snyder, Taigen again finds resonance with this ancient practice: "Snyder clarifies that spiritual training or cultivation is not a matter of fighting or overcoming nature and the wild." (pg 213).In one of his more penetrating sections, for me as a practitioner and reader, Taigen states, "...freedom is not escape. We cannot escape from our situation....We have to acknowledge our karma and our Dharma position, which is to say that we have to accept who and where we are, and what we are doing." (pg227/228). I would add that it is through this very life we already have, warts and all, that freedom is found, through form, to vastness.This book speaks to both 'just sitting' practice as well as the spirit of koan study.This is a fascinating book that I recommend to you for your consideration. As Creative Inquiry is central to both koan practice and `just sitting' practice as practiced in Soto Zen, the arbitrary distinctions between the two `schools' of zen starts to disappear as we find the true expression of Buddha's Way in our lives, through form, to fully not knowing.

Like much literature in the Zen tradition Taigen Dan Leighton's new book is primarily based on some of his Dharma talks. The originals are mostly available in audio form on the web and are well worth the listen. A Dharma talk, however, is a unique event between speaker and audience and loses something in the recorded form. In adapting the talks into a book Taigen establishes a dialog with his new audience, the readers. The written form allows us to stop, contemplate, reread, and allow the material to sink in.The chapters cover a range of topics including zazen, commentaries on Dogen, Zen interpretations of current poets,and dealing with our dysfunctional society in a manner that's both accessible to the casual reader and yet full of new insights for the long-time practitioner.Taigen tells us, "The job of a Zen teacher is simply to show people how to sit zazen, to find their way to just sit uprightly, facing the wall and themselves, to not run away from this body and mind, here and now." And whether commenting on a difficult passage from Dogen, discussing Dylan's "Visions of Johanna" or reflecting on how Zen practice can be applied to the current problems of society, Taigen always brings us back to sitting upright on our cushion or chair, enjoying our breath, facing what comes up, and then carrying this practice back out into the world.

The author is a Dogen scholar so much of the first part of the books consist of Dharma talks that relate passages of Dogen's writing to modern issues facing Zen students. You must read his Dogen translations-for me reading Dogen is like a Christian reading the bible-you are never finished. These writings can be down loaded on you Kindle and you can study a little at a time. But Taigen Dan Leighten in the modern Dogen expert so his commentaries can't be missed.The second part of his book he considers Bob Dylan and other modern creative people and how their works are actually Dharma which goes with my belief that dharma can be found every where. The other thing he does is introduce me to a couple of writers on Zen, I wasn't even familiar with such as David Loy and Gary Snyder. So now thanks to this book I have new resources to explore. More books for my Kindle!!But lastly I appreciate this Zen teacher brining Dogen's teaching to the modern world.

Taigen Dan Leighton's book, Zen Questions, is fresh and contemporary, but does not disregard the many centuries of zen literature. While focusing on the great ancestor Eihei Dōgen's teachings, he places those teachings in the present, and references Mary Oliver, Bob Dylan, and others, in order to give us a familiar platform from which we can relate to, and understand, the depth of Dogen's life and works. Highly recommended. This is a very special book.

Lovely, lucid, touching, and profound, this book is a deep expression of Taigen's practice-realization. The author's decades of practice/teaching within the Suzuki Roshi lineage and study/translation of the works of Eihei Dōgen shine forth on every page. This book is a wonderful friend to keep alongside your zafu or bedside. Highly recommended, whether you are a beginner or a long-term practitioner.

This is almost a perfect book in every respect; any more mere words from mere me would be a slap to the void. Here is a true scholar, translator, teacher, and - may I say - buddha who has written on the greatest master of Soto Zen, Dogen, and compiled a series of lectures that are perfect for beginners, but do not talk down to them.

I really loved the first three sections. Taigen's appreciation for zazen and Dogen are superb and provided a great read and sparked a lot of interesting conversation for our reading group.

This one is for people who love Buddhism and want to understand more.

Taigen Dan Lieghton has impeccable credentials as a Zen "priest" (though that word always sounds a bit odd to me in conjunction with Zen), and as a translator, editor and scholar of Eihei Dogen, the 13th-century founder of the Soto lineage. He is also a lucid writer who is well attuned to those currents of contemporary American culture which find a deep connection between nature and spirituality. This collection of talks and essays on Dogen, other writers and related subjects is a very good read, especially for those who practice zazen or are thinking of taking it up, and for those seeking entry points into the complex works of Dogen himself.Although Leighton is careful to document his sources, this is not a scholarly work so much as a personal testimony to the profound effect of living the Zen life in the current cultural milieu of North America. The first chapter on "zazen as inquiry" is excellent and clarifies what Leighton means by "the spirit of creative inquiry", which is central to the whole book (and to Dogen's style of Zen). From there i skipped to one of the later pieces where Leighton gives a detailed commentary on Bob Dylan's song "Visions of Johanna" as an expression of "Zen mind". He is not claiming that this was Dylan's intention, just pointing out how the imagery of the song resonates with the experience of "sesshin" (an extended period of zazen practice). It certainly showed me some new ways to hear that song, although (not having experienced sesshin myself) i don't follow all that Leighton says about it. Anyway, i hope this gives some idea of what's in this stimulating book -- you can "look inside" for the rest.

Ótimo livro, e está sendo relido. Atual, prático, questionador. Transita entre temas diversos e mostra sua conexão. Poema, música folk, zen. Mais um ótimo livro desse monge zen.