“General Idea of Buddha’s Teaching” by Dōgen and his Contemporaries

Abstract

The article deals with the “General idea” of Buddha’s teaching differently interpreted in basic traditions of Japanese Buddhism in 13th Century. The issue of discussion is the famous saying: Not to commit evils, but to do all that is good, and to keep one’s thought pure – this is the teaching of all the Buddhas. This Verse of the Shared Morality of the Seven Buddhas is a matter of consequence for Kamakura Old Buddhist teachers as well as for radical Amidists, Zen masters, Lotus Sūtra adherents, and Precept’s revival followers. Their expositions give various responses to the question: Whether evil deeds prohibit liberation or not. Dōgen (1200–1253) takes the standpoint on Evil and Good as to be realized here and now in practice. The article presents Dōgen’s treatise Shoaku makusa (1240) translated into Russian.