Dōgen’s writings

Dōgen was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher whose writings emphasize the importance of direct experience and mindfulness in everyday life. He taught that enlightenment is not separate from our daily actions—washing dishes, walking, or sitting. His core idea is that true understanding arises when we fully engage with each moment without distraction or conceptual thinking. Dōgen also stressed that practice itself is enlightenment, encouraging us to see life as a continuous opportunity for awakening. His writings guide us to find depth and meaning in simple, ordinary activities through awareness and presence.