{"id":2512,"date":"2014-08-04T09:53:56","date_gmt":"2014-08-04T15:53:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/?p=2512"},"modified":"2014-08-04T09:53:56","modified_gmt":"2014-08-04T15:53:56","slug":"guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html","title":{"rendered":"Guidelines for Studying the Way – Why?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"guidelines\"\u00a0\u201c<\/em>\u2026The code is more what you\u2019d call \u2018guidelines\u2019 than actual rules.\u201d
\n\u2013 Barbossa comment on\u00a0the \u201cPirates Code\u201d in Pirates of the Caribbean<\/em><\/p>\n

This fall Great Tides Zen will offer the first practice period here in Portland, ME, and for our study focus we\u2019ll dig into Dogen\u2019s \u201cGuidelines for Studying the Way\u201d (Gakudo Yojinshu<\/em>). This follows the curriculum I\u2019ve been developing for the Vine of Obstacles: Online Support for Zen Training, where the \u201cGuidelines\u201d is the first course I walk through with students (more about that here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

One practitioner with lots of experience in Dogen studies comments, \u201cFukanzazengi<\/em>\u00a0(\u201cUniversal Recommendation for Zazen\u201d) is totally in the middle way and I revere it wholeheartedly, not only for its meaning but also for its sound. For example: KON SAN MAZU BOKU RAKU SURO KOTO O. Like a drum. BOM BOM BOMBOM BOMBOM BOMBOM BOMBOM BOMBOM BOM. [\u201cGuidelines\u201d]<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0is not on the same level. You can keep it. To put it in the same category as Fukanzazengi<\/em> as \u2018introductions\u2019 is a kind of insult to Fukanzazengi<\/em><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/span>(emphasis added).<\/em>\u201c<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Well!<\/p>\n

Setting aside the issue of its sound, BOM BOM and all, and also, I suppose, the assertion that Fukanzazengi<\/em> could be insulted by another Dogen text (might make a good cartoon, though), let\u2019s look a little at the issue of the meaning of\u00a0\u201cGuidelines for Studying the Way.\u201d<\/p>\n

First, some background may be in order.<\/p>\n

Both \u201cUniversal Recommendations\u201d\u00a0and \u201cGuidelines for Studying the Way\u201d began in the\u00a0early years of Dogen\u2019s teaching career and there\u2019s evidence that he reworked them as time went on. In the case of the \u201cGuidelines,\u201d Dogen began compiling the sections for the text known now as \u201cGuidelines for Studying the Way\u201d in the early months of 1234, just as a group of practitioners was beginning to grow around him. He completed the ten sections of the text sometime later but we don\u2019t know exactly when because the last four sections bear no date. It is generally assumed that he wrote the whole text in about 1234 but from the quality and tone of the writing in the last three sections, particularly, it seems possible that these might have been written some years later.<\/p>\n

In the case of the short \u201cUniversal Recommendations,\u201d Dogen continued to edit the text and a few versions of it have survived (see Dogen\u2019s Manuals of Zen Meditation<\/em><\/a> by Bielefeldt). In the case of the \u201cGuidelines,\u201d it seems that Dogen simply added a new section from time to time, a new guideline, providing us with a different kind of perspective into his development as a teacher.<\/p>\n

Yokoi and Victoria mention in their introduction to \u201cGuidelines,\u201d \u201cWhereas in [\u2018Universal Recommendations\u2019] the primary emphasis is on a practical explanation of how to do zazen, in this later work, Dogen gives a more thorough explanation of the spirit in which not only zazen but all of one\u2019s actions are to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuidelines\u201d was published in 1357 by Donki, the sixth abbot of Eiheiji. Shohaku Okumura says, \u201cThis was the first printing of a Soto Zen text and shows how much the [\u201cGuidelines\u201d] was appreciated among Dogen Zenji\u2019s disciples.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet, the commentator mentioned above compares\u00a0Fukanzazengi<\/em>\u00a0to \u201cGuidelines for Studying the Way\u201d and finds our text wanting.<\/span><\/p>\n

And I agree. <\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d go further and say that much the same argument could be made for about 80 or so other pieces by Dogen \u2013 Genjokoan<\/em>, Bussho<\/em>, Zazenshin<\/em> to name three \u2013 namely, that the quality of the argument and the power of the discourse in\u00a0\u201cGuidelines for Studying the Way\u201d is rather \u2026 well, uneven. For one thing, in most of the 80 texts including the three mentioned, we hear a strikingly modern Dogen voice. There is very little of the medieval voice that we hear strongly in \u201cGuidelines.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So why use the \u201cGuidelines\u201d as an introduction to Zen study?<\/span><\/p>\n

Just because it is so humanly uneven and even shows some development in old Dogen\u2019s Zen. It puts us back on our heels, pulls the old boy down off his pedestal, and encourages us to sit up and take notice, enter the text and struggle with it to cull out the gems \u2013 and there are many gems, indeed.<\/p>\n

Thus, I\u2019ll take an uneven text any day as an introductory source text \u2013 something to wrestle with rather than revere. Such a text encourages\u00a0us to sift and sort the essential dharma<\/a> from our cultural and\/or personal biases. Further, we learn a bit about who the medieval guy Dogen was \u2013 and more importantly about who we are now \u2013 by what in the text we want to uphold, what we want to push away, and what leaves us cold.<\/p>\n

Let me give just a couple quick examples of what I\u2019m talking about and end with a quick note on translation.<\/p>\n

First, regarding the issue of how to work with discriminating mind. Throughout much of the early sections of \u201cGuidelines,\u201d Dogen admonishes us to just shut up \u2013 to cut off the root of discriminating mind. Suddenly in \u201cGuidelines\u00a010,\u201d what Katagiri Roshi translates (jikige joto<\/em>) as \u201cDirect Assimilating and Actualizing It,\u201d we\u2019re encouraged to allow consciousness to play freely.<\/p>\n

Shut up or play freely \u2013 which is it?<\/p>\n

On the second issue, how to work with a teacher, Dogen\u2019s guideline is much the same \u2013 shut up and do what you\u2019re told. Then again in \u201cGuidelines 10,\u201d there is\u00a0a\u00a0softening, an opening, and an encouragement for the student to play freely in the field of dharma. \u201cDo not try to change your body and mind,\u201d says the more mature teacher.<\/p>\n

Finally, a point about\u00a0translations. It\u2019s always a good idea to use more than one, so that we can see the text from different perspectives. Sometimes, though, different translations will find quite different meaning in a passage. Without in-depth knowledge of medieval Japanese, \u00a0how do we know which one is more accurate?<\/p>\n

One particularly knotty problem comes up in \u201cGuidelines 9.\u201d Tanahashi has \u201cImmersed<\/span> in the way, clearly understand right on the spot.\u201d Okumura has \u201cBeing obstructed<\/span> by the Way, you clarify the Way right here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Immersed or obstructed \u2013 which is it?<\/p>\n

One astute Vine of Obstacles student suggests a resolution \u2013 an English phrase that captures both immersed and obstructed \u2013 \u201cCaught up in<\/span> the Way, clarify the Way right here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dharma study then isn\u2019t about being perfect \u2013 that goes for the text and ourselves. Instead, we play freely and creatively in the text, like we play freely with earnest vivid sitting, presenting the koan of the moment. Like we play freely and creatively in this very life.<\/p>\n

Like\u00a0Katagiri Roshi said, \u201cWe are it<\/em> so we have to digest it<\/em> and then we can actualize what we are. It<\/em> does not come from outside. Jikige joto<\/em> is direct assimilating and actualizing it<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u201c\u2026The code is more what you\u2019d call \u2018guidelines\u2019 than actual rules.\u201d \u2013 Barbossa comment on\u00a0the \u201cPirates Code\u201d in Pirates of the Caribbean This fall Great Tides Zen will offer the first practice period here in Portland, ME, and for our study focus we\u2019ll dig into Dogen\u2019s \u201cGuidelines for Studying the Way\u201d (Gakudo Yojinshu). This follows […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[11,84],"class_list":["post-2512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-dogen","tag-gakudo-yojinshu"],"yoast_head":"\nGuidelines for Studying the Way - Why?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u00a0"...The code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules." - Barbossa comment on\u00a0the "Pirates Code" in Pirates of the Caribbean This fall\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Guidelines for Studying the Way - Why?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u00a0"...The code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules." - Barbossa comment on\u00a0the "Pirates Code" in Pirates of the Caribbean This fall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wild Fox Zen\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dosho.port\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-08-04T15:53:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/wp.production.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/files\/2014\/08\/guidelines.jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dosho Port\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dosho Port\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html\",\"name\":\"Guidelines for Studying the Way - Why?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2014-08-04T15:53:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2014-08-04T15:53:56+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#\/schema\/person\/45224391b7690e99673782337bd0eabd\"},\"description\":\"\u00a0\\\"...The code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules.\\\" - Barbossa comment on\u00a0the \\\"Pirates Code\\\" in Pirates of the Caribbean This fall\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Guidelines for Studying the Way – Why?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/\",\"name\":\"Wild Fox Zen\",\"description\":\"Living the Dream\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#\/schema\/person\/45224391b7690e99673782337bd0eabd\",\"name\":\"Dosho Port\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7b9712e98924dea6c08d55890403352f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7b9712e98924dea6c08d55890403352f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Dosho Port\"},\"description\":\"Dosho Port began practicing Zen in 1977 and now co-teachers with his wife, Tetsugan Zummach, with the Vine of Obstacles Zen. Dosho received dharma transmission from Dainin Katagiri Roshi and inka shomei from James Myoun Ford Roshi in the Harada-Yasutani lineage. He is the author of \\\"Keep Me In Your Heart Awhile: The Haunting Zen of Dainin Katagiri,\\\" \\\"The Record of Empty Hall: One Hundred Classic Koans,\\\" and \\\"Going Through the Mystery's One Hundred Questions.\\\"\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.vineobstacleszen.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dosho.port\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/author\/doshoport\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Guidelines for Studying the Way - Why?","description":"\u00a0\"...The code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules.\" - Barbossa comment on\u00a0the \"Pirates Code\" in Pirates of the Caribbean This fall","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Guidelines for Studying the Way - Why?","og_description":"\u00a0\"...The code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules.\" - Barbossa comment on\u00a0the \"Pirates Code\" in Pirates of the Caribbean This fall","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html","og_site_name":"Wild Fox Zen","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dosho.port","article_published_time":"2014-08-04T15:53:56+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/wp.production.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/files\/2014\/08\/guidelines.jpeg"}],"author":"Dosho Port","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dosho Port","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html","name":"Guidelines for Studying the Way - Why?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#website"},"datePublished":"2014-08-04T15:53:56+00:00","dateModified":"2014-08-04T15:53:56+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#\/schema\/person\/45224391b7690e99673782337bd0eabd"},"description":"\u00a0\"...The code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules.\" - Barbossa comment on\u00a0the \"Pirates Code\" in Pirates of the Caribbean This fall","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2014\/08\/guidelines-for-studying-the-way-why.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Guidelines for Studying the Way – Why?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/","name":"Wild Fox Zen","description":"Living the Dream","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#\/schema\/person\/45224391b7690e99673782337bd0eabd","name":"Dosho Port","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7b9712e98924dea6c08d55890403352f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7b9712e98924dea6c08d55890403352f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Dosho Port"},"description":"Dosho Port began practicing Zen in 1977 and now co-teachers with his wife, Tetsugan Zummach, with the Vine of Obstacles Zen. Dosho received dharma transmission from Dainin Katagiri Roshi and inka shomei from James Myoun Ford Roshi in the Harada-Yasutani lineage. He is the author of \"Keep Me In Your Heart Awhile: The Haunting Zen of Dainin Katagiri,\" \"The Record of Empty Hall: One Hundred Classic Koans,\" and \"Going Through the Mystery's One Hundred Questions.\"","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.vineobstacleszen.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dosho.port"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/author\/doshoport"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/182"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}