Discovering the True Self

Kodo Sawaki was one of the most respected Zen masters of 20th century Japan. He had a profound understanding Dogen Zenji's teaching and also knew how to express Dogen's philosophy in clear and simple language-language that average folk could comprehend.Dogen's philosophy was deep, but Sawaki's principle concern was to bring people to an awareness of the Self, which he believed came through Zen meditation. Having come of age as an orphan in the slums of Tsui City, Sawaki had to fight his way to adulthood. A strict, no-nonsense teacher, Sawaki demonstrated a real concern for the development of his students. Though he remained financially poor by choice, he was rich in spirit. Sawaki traveled throughout Japan giving talks and running retreats most of his adult life. He never charged for his teaching and lived on a government stipend as a result of being wounded in the Russian/Japanese war. His humor and straightforward talk attracted people from all walks of life. Sawaki had many followers as a result of his easy accessibility during his travels through Japan. Two of his disciples who became known in America as well as Japan were Kosho Uchiyama, abbot of Antaiji Temple and author of Opening The Hand of Thought" and Gudo Nishijima, Zen teacher and translator of Dogen's Shobogenzo"--