Tetsugen Doko

Tetsugen Dōkō (鉄眼道光 1630 – 22.3.1682) was a Japanese Zen Master, and an important early leader of the Ōbaku school of Buddhism.

Quotes

• Full of great changes
  My three and fifty years have been.
  I commented on the holy writ - a heavy sin
  That echoes to the skies.
  Now I will sail on the lake of lotus blooms
  And break into the skies within the water.
  • Japanese Death Poems. Compiled by Yoel Hoffmann. ISBN 978-0-8048-3179-6)

• Those who practice without keeping the precepts set out by the Buddha all represent the False Dharma. The reason for this [is as follows:] Although practices such as chanting the nembutsu, seated meditation, and reciting the sutras are each practiced differently depending on the abilities of the believer, the precepts against taking life, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and the like are absolute, regardless of the sect. Not to keep them is unacceptable. Therefore these precepts are called “absolutes.”
  • An Affidavit Concerning the Dharma Debate in Mori,; as quoted in: Helen J. Baroni. Iron Eyes: The Life And Teachings of Obaku Zen Master Tetsugen Doko. 2006. p. 29.

Quotes about Tetsugen Doko

• Although [Tetsugen] was already married, he was dissatisfied that in the [True Pure Land] sect, people without talent or merit held high rank in the temple hierarchy. Therefore, he went up to Mount Ōbaku and followed [the instruction] of Muan.

His wife came to [Mount Ōbaku Mampukuji] to find him, but he did not wish to meet her. So she camped outside the temple gate and watched for him to emerge. Finally, one day when he had no choice but to go out, she asked him to accompany her to their home province and return to their village. He escaped up the street and returned to the temple.

• Ban Kōkei (1733–1806), Kinsei kijin den; as quoted in: Helen J. Baroni. Iron Eyes: The Life And Teachings of Obaku Zen Master Tetsugen Doko. 2006. p. 11-12.