Message for the Dogen Zenji Symposium

Seeking Peace and Harmony

Rev. Koshu Itahashi
Sotoshu Kancho
Abbot, Daihonzan Sojiji

Humankind is facing many difficult problems going into the 21st century. At this important time in history, we will be holding the Dogen Zenji Symposium at Stanford University in California, as part of the commemorative events in celebration of the 800th anniversary of Dogen Zenji's birth. Because this is the first time in the history of Soto Zen that Dogen Zenji's birth is celebrated outside of Japan, this symposium is very significant for us as descendents of Dogen Zenji.
In the second half of the 20th century, thanks to diligent and continuous efforts of many Soto priests, scholars, lay practitioners from Japan and America as well, and from many other countries in their related fields such as missionary work, zazen practice, and academic study, many people have some understanding and practice Soto Zen today.
Buddha Dharma taught by Dogen Zenji urges us to study the true way of the self through zazen practice and to make an effort in seeking peace and harmony with all myriad dharmas including people in society and living beings in nature and our environment.
At this very auspicious occasion, I believe it is very meaningful and suitable to have a symposium in which scholars and practitioners get together and discuss Dogen Zenji's teachings and its relevance for our time as well as in the next century. This also promotes mutual understanding and friendship among people from Japan, America and other parts of the world.
I hope Japanese Sotoshu, Soto Zen temples, Zen centers and Dogen scholars outside Japan continue to cooperate and work in their respective fields to make efforts in the way that the Buddha Dharma was taught by Dogen Zenji. Together we can contribute as much as possible to the spiritual culture of humankind in the new millennium.

Yearning for the Ancient

Rev. Ekiho Miyazaki
Abbot, Daihonzan Eiheiji

As the 78th abbot of Daihonzan Eiheiji which was established by Dogen Zenji in 1244, I am truly happy to learn that the Dogen Zenji Symposium will be held as a part of the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Dogen Zenji's birth at Stanford University where wisdom of humankind from all over the world is concentrated. I (this old monk) am now ninety-nine years old. Though my life may perish at any time, I am delighted from the bottom of my heart, to have this precious opportunity to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Dogen Zenjiﾕs birth as the abbot of Eiheiji.
Dogen Zenji yearned to become like Shakyamuni Buddha and wished to live like the Buddha. He took the vow and made diligent efforts throughout his entire life. We also feel intimate with Dogen Zenji and spend our entire lives trying to follow him. Each and every day of our lives, we should follow Dogen Zenji's teachings which showed us the way toward Shakyamuni Buddha. We call this spirit moko (yearning for the ancient way). The heart of yearning for the ancient way is the aspiration to follow the way of life taught by Dogen Zenji. However, it is not simply longing for the past. Yearning for the ancient way allows us to find a significant insight to create our way of life right now in these modern times. The theme for the symposium, Dogen Zen and its relevance for our time, precisely shows this.
As you already know, Daihonzan Eiheiji is the largest Buddhist monastery in Japan. We always have approximately 200 monks in training. They continue to practice day after day following the forms prescribed by Dogen Zenji. I believe that it is my mission to walk Dogen Zenjiﾕs way together with those young training monks until the end of my life.
Therefore, I am very much interested in and at the same time pay heartfelt respect to the academic discussions at Stanford University about Dogen Zenji to whom we are yearning and trying to completely devote ourselves for our entire lives.
I hope this symposium will be fruitful and its fruit will be spread widely throughout the world. And by that I mean, not only to people who are engaged in Soto Zen but also to all people who are working hard in seeking the way and finding more courage and hope. This is my prayer and greeting for the symposium.

Human Rights, peace and Environment

Rev. Myogen Otake
President, Administrative Headquarters of Soto Zen Buddhism

As a part of the commemorative events for the celebration of the 800th anniversary of our founder, Dogen Zenji's birth, the Dogen Zenji Symposium sponsored by Sotoshu will be held at Stanford University in the U.S.A. This is an epoch-making occasion because this is the very first time to celebrate Dogen Zenji's birth outside Japan.
Daihonzan Eiheiji and Daihonzan Sojiji has given us great support and Stanford University has offered a fine place to hold this symposium. These co-sponsors and many more people have helped us to make this symposium happen. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those people on behalf of the Soto School in Japan.
Dogen Zenji transmitted the buddha dharma that has been correctly transmitted through Buddhas and Ancestors. This correctly transmitted buddha dharma is sometimes mistakenly interpreted as having to only practice shikantaza (just sitting) without caring for anything else.But, true buddha dharma is to practice each and every thing; walking, standing still, sitting, and lying down in our daily lives with the same spirit of zazen. This is clear when we study Dogen Zenji's teachings in Shobogenzo Washing the Face (Senmen), Cleaning the Body (Senjo) and also Instructions for the Cook, Dharma for Taking Food and so forth in the Rules of Purity for Eiheiji Monastery.
At this juncture when we are going into the twenty-first century, at Sotoshu, we have been working on the issues of "Human Rights, Peace, and Environment" as the main theme of our religious activities. The correctly transmitted buddha dharma urges us to make diligent efforts to resolve these issues through Zen practice.
When we think of the profound meaning of the theme of this symposium; "Dogen Zen and Its Relevance for Our Time", we understand that we need to look back and learn the ancient way taught by Dogen Zenji to work for creating a better future.
In the past fifty years, thanks to the diligent efforts of Kaikyoshi, Dendo-kyoshi, Dendoshi and many other people, in America as well as many other countries in the world, numerous people have been studying and practicing Soto Zen. I sincerely hope this symposium promotes Soto Zen further and helps people deepen their understanding and practice.