Quote by Eihei Dogen: “To study the Buddha Way is to study the self.”

This central teaching of Dogen emphasizes that spiritual inquiry is fundamentally a journey of self-discovery. It suggests that understanding the deeper truths of existence is inseparable from understanding one's own mind and true nature, making introspection paramount.

After returning from China, Dogen established monasteries like Eihei-ji, where he taught that genuine spiritual pursuit began with direct self-inquiry, rejecting external doctrines that did not foster internal realization. This formed the bedrock of his *Shobogenzo*.

Thirteenth-century Japanese Buddhist monk who founded the Soto school of Zen in Japan and is considered one of Japan's greatest philosophers. After studying in China, he returned to Japan and composed the Shobogenzo, a vast philosophical and meditative work written in Japanese rather than Chinese, an unprecedented choice for serious Buddhist writing. His teaching on the unity of practice and enlightenment transformed Japanese Zen.