Workshop by Dr. Steven Heine – To Write or Not to Write – Part 1

To Write or Not to Write–Workshop offered by Dr. Steven Heine at the Village Zendo’s online zendo on October 10, 2020 – Part 1
Although it is “a special transmission outside the scriptures,” Zen is well known for its voluminous writings, and especially poetry composed during the 11th to the 14th centuries in China and Japan. According to a Zen maxim, “The unenlightened seek meaning, not words; but the enlightened seek words, not meaning.”
Led by the renowned scholar and author Dr. Steven Heine, this fascinating workshop focuses on the poetic writings of Eihei Dogen (1200-1253) and such related figures as Xuedou Zhongxian, Hongzhi Zhengjue and Muso Soseki.  The poets selected and discussed by Dr. Heine skillfully navigated the imperative for Zen masters to choose words skillfully in order to teach their disciples while avoiding any attachment to letters and phrases.  Dr. Heine also brings up the lyrics of Bob Dylan as a complement to his discussion of ancient Zen poetry and Zen literary forms.
This highly interactive workshop will be of great interest to anyone who wants to learn more about Zen poetry, or about the social, historical and religious background that influenced Zen poetic expression NOTE: In order to follow this workshop’s conversation, please download the PDF of selected poems that is accessible on this page of the Village Zendo’s website: https://villagezendo.org/events/to-write-or-not-to-write/
Dr. Steven Heine, professor and director of Asian Studies at Florida International University, is the author of more than thirty monographs and edited books covering the life and thought of Dogen, the relation between Chinese Chan and Japanese Zen, and connections between Zen and contemporary culture.  He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, and you can read more about his background and accomplishments at the page linked here: https://asian.fiu.edu/about/director
The workshop in its entirety is recorded here in two parts. Access part 2 here.

Audio only podcast of part 1 here (1 hour 54 minutes).

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