Zen

I was very much appreciative of the work of the filmmakers in presenting a reverential biography of Dogen that focuses on the founding of the Soto school of Zen in Japan. I was most struck by its allegorical and metaphorical nature. Though some have seen little or no value in the Orin subplot, it seems to me a largely parallel story to that of Jesus' ministry and the conversion (at least in terms of church history which was apparently mistaken) of Mary Magdalene who was styled as a prostitute but ultimately became very important in the founding of Christianity. The truth of the film lies in the struggle of faith against adversity and the elevation of the purity of the basic tenets of Zen, meditation--in Dogen's case, shikantaza, as inseparable from enlightenment, the awakening to the Original Self and the falling away of the illusive structures of mind. The shadow of the Jesus story reinforces the universal longing for, and attainability of, redemption.The cinematography is beautifully done, with images of landscape, sky, moon, water and other symbols that serve to underscore the teachings of Dogen and serve as metaphors. The acting is heartfelt and reverential. As with most films of Jesus, Dogen is portrayed as a dauntless leader who perseveres and is loved by his followers who, in this film, give a number of strong performances. Dogen, himself, is played by a kabuki actor who handles the role with great care and investment.Any telling of a man's story, his accomplishments, his process, is an allegory of the abstract notion of the human condition. This film points the finger at Zen and it's place in the experience of each individual, and it persuades us to forget the finger and just do the sitting. I feel refreshed by the honesty of it, and I would highly recommend this film .

A beautiful and inspirational film for those (like myself) who are relatively new to buddhist zen practice and thought. The film is a celebration of the long lineage of teachers and practitioners of sitting meditation (zazen) as a path to the relief of suffering for all beings ("To study the self is to forget the self"). The film focuses on the life of Dogen, a 13th century monk whose search for authentic zen teachings and practice moves him to bring the practice of sitting meditation to all people. The fundamental elements of zen buddhism teachings....that the essence of enlightenment is accepting what is rather than grasping for what we want or pushing away what we don't want... is beautifully illustrated in this film. Even a cursory reading about Dogen via Wikipedia or some similar source will enhance the meaning of the movie by giving the events portrayed some historic context.

Contrary to my expectations, this is an often very moving account of Zen Master Eihei Dogen's life and practice of the Buddha Way. It is true to historical evidence and accounts of the period (13th-century feudal China and Japan) as well as to biographical and autobiographical information about Master Dogen. The film is well conceived, beautifully and movingly acted, and generally understated. For me, the one glaring exception to the film's understatement is the brief scene supposedly depicting Dogen's experience of awakening under the Chinese Master T'ien-t'ung Ju-ching (pron. Tyen-toong Roo-jing). The scene is hokey beyond words and really quite unnecessary, especially in light of Ju-ching's teaching of realization as the "casting off of the body and mind of self and others." It's really hard to fathom why a knowledgeable film director would indulge in such a Disney-like scene. Still, there are many scenes which ring true to the record and to the boundless and truly inspiring spirit of Zen Master Dogen.Dharman (formerly Robert) Rice

Portrays the Tendai priest who considered that his sect had gotten away from its founder's intentions of quiet contemplation, and instead developed into a worldly (with an army of guards for protection) practice full of ritual with many practitioners not really sincere. He went to China as had most priests searching for Dharma instruction and found a practice which he developed into one of simple meditation and contemplation. He is considered one of the great Buddhist philosophers of Japan. I am not an historian, and am not sure of the details, but for someone who is interested in foundations of Japanese culture or particularly in Buddhism, I would recommend this movie as an enjoyable way to get an historical introduction. It will not teach anyone how to practice, but it does present history and some of the spirituality.

This was quite good and has high production values... except for the special effects in some scenes supposedly depicting spiritual experiences. Those scenes were a problem for me, not so much because of the almost laughable special effects, but because of the way they were attempting to depict such experiences. There are various other visual metaphors which would have been greatly preferable. Other than that, it was well done and well acted, and I'm glad I got it.

This biography of Dzoghen, the father of Japanese Zen Buddhism is clearly based on fact and is a good way to learn about the origins of Zen. But, beyond that, it is a darn good story told by a well made movie. I recommend this to anybody interested in Zen or religions of the world.

A well made film about Dogen Zenji, the man who brought Zen Buddhism from China to Japan. As a Zen practitioner, I find this film to be inspiring and motivational. I think anyone with serious religious or spiritual aspirations would find this film moving. Those without Zen understanding and Japanese cultural understanding may not understand what sometimes seems like Dogen's lack of compassion - which, would actually be far from the truth.