Rinzai Zen Buddhist Studies Project. By Michael P. Garofalo.

Dogen Studies
Eihei Dogen (1200-1253 CE) Zen Master Abbot Author Teacher Poet Soto Zen Buddhist Japan

By Michael P. Garofalo
Indexing, Research, Quotations, Bibliography, Links, Sources, Commentary, Notes, Reports

Research, Indexing, Studies by Michael P. Garofalo

The Librarian of Gushen Grove
Valley Spirit Center, Fir Grove, Vancouver, Washington

Bibliography, Links, References, Resources, Comments

Are You Still Here: Zen Teachings of Kyogen Carlson. By Kyogen Carlson. Edited by Sallie Tisdale. Foreword by Jan Chozen Bays. Shambhala, 2021, 321 pages. Kyogen Carlson (1948-2014) was the Abbot and Roshi for the Dharma Rain Temple in Portland, Oregon. One of his Dharma heirs, Sallie Tisdale, edited his talks and writings. Kyogen Carlson first trained with Jiyu Kennett at Mount Shasta Abbey in Northern California. VSCL, Paperback.

Authority Documents, English Language Texts, Indexed in the Brief Spiritual Lessons Database Project

Best Koan Books: My Favorites. By Michael P. Garofalo.

Being-Time: A Practitioner's Guide to Dogen's Shobogenzo Uji. By SShinshu Roberts. Foreword by Norman Fischer. Wisdom, 2018, 288 pages. VSCL, Kindle E-Book.

The Book of Mu: Essential Writings on Zen's Most Important Koan. Edited by James Ishmael Ford and Melissa Myozen Blacker. Foreword by John Tarrant. Wisdom Publications, 2011. 352 pages. ISBN: 978-0861716432.

Blog: Cloud Hands Blog

Books : Zen Koan Books I Use in My Research and Study of Koan Collections

Buddhist Koans Subject Index: 1,001 Zen Buddhist Koans. Second Draft, May 8, 2023, 152 pages, PDF.

Buddhism: Bibliography, Resources, Links, Reading List, Home Library. By Mike Garofalo

Zen Buddhist Development in America - A Detailed Timeline

Buddhism Zen Index: The Compass of Zen by Zen Master Seung Sahn. Compiled and Edited by Hyon Gak Sunim. Preface by Maha Ghosananda. Forward by Stephen Mitchell. Index prepared by John Holland and Ty Koontz.

Cloud Hands Blog By Mike Garofalo.

Comments, notes, or reports about the Dogen Studies Project.

Cracking the Code of the Zen Koan: A Five Volume Zen Koan Anthology. Compiled by Stephen Wolinsky. E-Kindle Book, 2021, 676 pages. VSCL, Kindle E-Book.

Cloud Hands Blog Buddhism Paramitas Taoism Virtues Philosophy

Brief Spiritual Lessons, Stories, Sermons, Koans, Lectures, Meditations, Tales

The Fireplace Records
By Michael P. Garofalo

Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo Koans (DSMS)

Dogen, Eihei (1200-1253 CE) Japanese Soto Zen Master

Shinji Mana Shobogenzo 300 Koans Collection

Master Dogen's Shinji Shobogenzo: 301 Koan Stories. Translated with commentary by Gudo Nishijima; edited by Michael Luetchford. Kindle E-Book, 397 pages, 2020. VSCL, Kindle E Book.

The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dōgen's Three Hundred Koans. Translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi and John Daido Loori. Commentary and verse by John Daido Loori. Boston, Shambhala, 2009. Index of koans, glossary, biographical, lineage charts, notes, 540 pages. ISBN: 978-1590302427. "When the thirteenth century master Eihei Dogen, one of the most influential thinkers in Zen Buddhism and founder of the Japanese Soto school, returned to Japan after four years of study in China, the fruit of his pilgrimage was recorded in a collection of koans called the Chinese Shobogenzo, also known as Shinji or Mana Shobogenzo. This collection of three hundred main cases was first published in 1766 under the title Shobogenzo Sambyakusoku (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye: Three Hundred Cases)." VSCL, Paperback, VSCL.

The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Three Hundred Koans. Translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi and John Daido Loori. Free PDF Version.

Dogen and Koan: The Ultimate Truly Definitive Unquestionable Smoking Gun. By Dosho Port.

Dogen - Indexes, Bibliography, Links, Resources, Information

Koans in the Dogen Tradition: How and Why Dogen Does What He Does with Koans. By Steven Heine. PDF File.

Subject Index to 1,001 Zen Buddhist Koans. Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo.

Dogen's Genjo Koan: Three Commentaries "Counterpoint, 2012. 240 pages. ISBN: 978-1582437439. "Our unique edition of Dogen’s Genjo Koan (Actualization of Reality) contains three separate translations and several commentaries by a wide variety of Zen masters. Nishiari Bokusan, Shohaku Okamura, Shunryu Suzuki, Kosho Uchiyama. Sojun Mel Weitsman, Kazuaki Tanahashi, and Dairyu Michael Wenger all have contributed to our presentation of this remarkable work. There can be no doubt that understanding and integrating this text will have a profound effect on anyone’s life and practice."

Dogen and the Koan Tradition: A Tale of Two Shobogenzo Texts. By Steven Heine. SUNY, 1993, 352 pages.

Dogen Study Group in Portland, Oregon. Dharma Rain Center, Soto Zen Buddhist Temple
I am a subscribing member of the Dharma Rain Center

Dogen - Wikipedia

Eihei Dogen: My Reading List and Other Research Tools

Japanese Zen Buddhist Philosophy - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Buddhism: The Essential Dogen ESS 40 Chapters
The Essential Dogen. Edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt,232 pages.

Dogen Zen Study Books.

Dogen Books at Amazon

Dogen - Wikipedia

Dogen: Japan's Original Zen Teacher. By Steven Heine. Shambhala, 2021, 360 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Master Dogen's Shinji Shobogenzo: 301 Koan Stories. Translated with commentary by Gudo Nishijima; edited by Michael Luetchford. Kindle E-Book, 397 pages, 2020. VSCL, Kindle E Book.

Zen Koans Subject Index: 1,001 Zen Buddhist Koans. Fifth Draft, May 8, 2023, 152 pages, PDF.

Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo Koan Collection DSMS 300 Cases

Buddhism: Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo Koan Collection DSMS 300 Koan Cases
Text Authority:The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dōgen's Three Hundred Koans.
Translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi and John Daido Loori, 2005, 472 pages.

Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo
Green Way Research, Vancouver, Washington
1st Draft, April 30, 2023

Alphabetical Order List of English Titles of Cases in Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo 300 Koan Collection. PDF, 11 pages.

Cases in Numerical Order of English Titles in Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo 300 Koan Collection. PDF, 11 pages.

Alphabetical Order List of the Teachers in Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo 300 Koan Collection. PDF, 11 pages.

Subject Index to All Cases in Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo 300 Koan Collection. PDF, 51 pages

Dogen's Shobogenzo Essays (DSE)

Dogen's Shobogenzo Essays Collection (DSE)
95 Fascicles/Chapters, Lectures, Essays, Sermons, Encouragements, Meditations
Written and published around 1240 CE.
By by Eihei Dogen, Zen Master Abbot Roshi Author Poet (1200-1253 CE)
Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo. First Draft on April 23, 2023.
Text Authority: Master Dogen's Shobogenzo. Translated with notes by Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross. 4 Volumes, 1999.

Japanese Alphabetical List of the Japanese Titles of the Fascicles/Chapters in Dogen's Shobogenzo (DSE) Essays, Lectures. PDF, 4 pages.

English Alphabetical List of the English Titles of the Fascicles/Chapters in Dogen's Shobogenzo (DSE) Essays, Lectures. PDF, 4 pages.

Numerical Order List of Japanese Titles of the Fascicles/Chapters in Dogen's Shobogenzo (DSE) Essays, Lectures. PDF, 4 pages.

Numerical Order List of English Titles of the Fascicles/Chapters in Dogen's Shobogenzo (DSE) Essays, Lectures. PDF, 4 pages.

Subject Index to Dogen's Shobogenzo Essays (DSE). PDF, 63 pages. First Draft, July 1, 2023.

Dogen's Genko Koan: Three Commentaries. By Eihei Dogen. Translation and commentaries by: Nishiari Bokusan, Shohaku Okamura, Shunryu Suzuki, Sojun Mel Weitsman. Counterpoint, 2013, 240 pages.

Dogen Indexes. Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo, 2023.

Dogen and the Koan Tradition: A Tale of Two Shobogenzo Texts. By Steven Heine. SUNY, 1993, 352 pages.

Dogen: Japan's Original Zen Teacher. By Steven Heine. Shambhala, 2021, 333 pages. Index pp. 313-333. Bibliography pp. 307-311. Notes. VSCL, Paperback.

Dogen Zenji's Genjo-Koan. By Shohaku Okumura.

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise and Respected Persons. Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo. Hundreds of quotes and advice.

Master Dogen's Shobogeenzo Zuimonki Essays. Translated with commentary and introduction by Shohaku Okumura. A New Annotated Translation.
Also including Dogen's Waka Poetry with Commentary. Author is Eihei Dogen. Compiled by Koun Ejo. Index, notes. Wisdom, 2022, 512 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Shobogenzo by Dogen. Free translation from the Shasta Abbey in Northern California. PDF

Shobogenzo: Zen Essays by Dogen. Translated by Thomas Cleary. University of Hawaii, 1986, 123 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Master Dogen's Shobogenzo, Book 1. By Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross. Windbell, 1994, 316 pages, notes, footnotes, Sanskrit glossary, bibliography, Lotus Sutra. VSCL. Paperback.

Master Dogen's Shobogenzo, Book 2. By Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross. Windbell, 2021, 353 pages, footnotes, Sanskrit glossary, bibliography. utra. VSCL, Paperback.

Master Dogen's Shobogenzo, Book 3. By Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross. Windbell, 2021, 279 pages, notes, footnotes, Sanskrit glossary, bibliography. VSCL, Paperback.

Master Dogen's Shobogenzo, Book 4. By Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross. Windbell, 1994, 265 pages, notes, footnotes, Sanskrit glossary, bibliography, Lotus Sutra. VSCL, Paperback.

Treasury of the True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo. Translated, edited, comments, notes by Kazuaki Tanahashi. Shambhala, 2013, 1280 pages. VSCL, Kindle E-Book.

Dogen's Shobogenzo Zuimonki Essays and Waka Poety (DSZE)

Dogen's Shobogenzo Zuimonki Essays (DSZE)
6 Books: Lectures, Essays, Sermons, Encouragements, Criticism, Meditations, Waka Poetry
Written and published around 1245 CE.
By Eihei Dogen Zen Master Abbot Roshi Author Poet (1200-1253)
Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo. First Draft on November 10, 2023.
Source for Research: Master Dogen's Shobogeenzo Zuimonki Essays. Translated with commentary by Shohaku Okumura.
Wisdom, 2022, 512 pages. Bilingual Edition. Includes all of Dogen's Waka Poetry. VSCL, Paperback.

Alphabetical List of Zuimonki Essays. November 10, 2023, PDF, 4 pages.

Numerical Chapter Order List. November 10, 2023, PDF, 4 pages.

Subject Index to Dogen's Shobogenzo Zuimonki Essays. November 10, 2023, PDF, 42 pages.

Dogen's Shobogenzo Zuimonki. The new annotated translation. Also, includes Dogen's Waka Poetry with commentary. Translated with commentary and notes by Shohaku Okumura. Wisdom, 2022, 512 pages.

Dogen's Extensive Records Eihei Koroku (KORO)

Dogen's Extensive Records Eihei Koroku (KORO)
6 Books: Lectures, Essays, Sermons, Adhorations, Meditations
Written and published around 1245 CE.
By Eihei Dogen Zen Master Abbot Roshi Author Essayist Teacher Poet (1200-1253)
Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo. First Draft on October 15, 2023.

Text Authority: Dogen's Extensive Record: A Translation of th Eihei Koroku. By Eihei Dogen.
Translated by Shohaku Okumura. Edited by Dan Leighton. Foreword by Tenshin Reb Anderson.
Contributions by John Daido Loori and Steven Heine. Wisdom Pubs., 2010, 824 pages, VSCL, Paperback.

Alphabetical List of Eihei Koroku Essays. October 15, 2023, PDF, 4 pages.

Numerical Chapter Order List of Eihei Koroku Essays. October 15, 2023, PDF, 4 pages.

Subject Index to Dogen's Eihei Koroku Essays. October 15, 2023, PDF, 42 pages.

Dogen's Extensive Record: A Translation of th Eihei Koroku. By Eihei Dogen. Translated by Shohaku Okumura. Edited by Dan Leighton. Foreword by Tenshin Reb Anderson. Contributions by John Daido Loori and Steven Heine. Wisdom Pubs., 2010, 824 pages, VSCL, Paperback.

Dogen's Sushogi & Fukanzazengi (SHU)

Engaging Dogen's Zen: The Philosophy of Practice as Awakening. Edited by Jason M. Wirth. Wisdom, 2017, 296 pages, index, notes. Considerable discussion (pp. 65-194) of Dogen's Soto Kyokai Sushogi, meaning 'The Meaning of Practive and Verification.' Also, text and commentary on the Fukanzazengi (The Universally Recommended Instructions for Zazen. Essays by over a dozen Zen Masters, scholars, or experts. Includes an excellent index (pp. 261-274. Biographies of contributors. VSCL, Paperback.

Dogen Studies Project

Dogen Studies Project 2023-2026
By Michael P. Garofalo

Eihei Dogen (1200-1253 CE) Zen Master, Essayist, Poet, Abbot, Teacher in Japan

Dogen's Shobogenzo 95 Essays Collection (DSE)

Dogen's Shobogenzo Zuimonki 30 Essays (DSZE)

Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo 300 Koan Collection (DSMS)

Dogen's Extensive Records Eihei Koroku 30 Essays (KORO)

Dogen's 68 Waka Poems (KORO)

Mystical Realist: Dogen. By Hee-Jin Kim. 50 Commentaries (MRK)

Dogen: Japan's Original Teacher. By Steven Heine. 50 Commentaries (DJOT)

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. By Shunryu Suzuki. 37 Chapters (ZMBM)

Indexing, Research, and Studies by Michael P. Garofalo
Green Way Research, Vancouver, Washington
First Draft, July 18, 2023

Subject Index to Dogen's Writing. PDF, July 18, 2023, 75 pages.

Brief Buddhist Spiritual Lessons, Koans, Essays, Chapters, Dialogues
Eihei Dogen Studies Project
https://www.egreenway.com/buddhism/koans.htm

Dharma Rain Temple, Portland, Oregon

Dogen Study Group in Portland, Oregon. Dharma Rain Center, Soto Zen Buddhist Temple

I am a subscribing member of the Dharma Rain Temple in Portland, Oregon. They adhere to the Soto Zen Tradition.

Zen Master Eihei Dogen is one of the founders of the Japanese Soto Zen Tradition. Soto Zen and Rinzai Zen in Japan and the United States have some similiar beliefs and practices.

I first read and studied Eihei Dogen's writings in the 1980's. I earned a B.A. in Philosophy in 1967 from California State University at Los Angeles, and did graduate studies in philosophy. Basically, I have a philosopher's orientation with a keen interest in comparative religion with an emphasis on Daoism, Buddhism, Yoga, and Mind-Body Practices.

Subject Index to the Dharma Rain Temple. By Michael P. Garofalo. Information, Notes, Comments, Experiences
Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo, May 12, 2013, 25 pages, PDF.

Here are some notes, comments, reports about my studies at Dharma Rain.

Dogen's Genko Koan: Three Commentaries. By Eihei Dogen. Translation and commentaries by: Nishiari Bokusan, Shohaku Okamura, Shunryu Suzuki, Sojun Mel Weitsman. Counterpoint, 2013, 240 pages.

Dogen and the Koan Tradition: A Tale of Two Shobogenzo Texts. By Steven Heine. SUNY, 1993, 352 pages.

Dogen Indexes. Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo, 2023.

Dogen: Japan's Original Zen Teacher. By Steven Heine. Shambhala, 2021, 360 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Enlightenment Unfolds: The Essential Teachings of Zen Master Dogen. Edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi. Shambhala, 1999, 311 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Master Dogen's Shinji Shobogenzo: 301 Koan Stories. Translated with commentary by Gudo Nishijima; edited by Michael Luetchford. Kindle E-Book, 397 pages, 2020. VSCL, Kindle E Book.

Dogen's Shobogenzo Zuimonki. The new annotated translation. Also, includes Dogen's Waka Poetry with commentary. Translated with commentary and notes by Shohaku Okumura. Wisdom, 2022, 512 pages.

Master Dogen's Shobogenzo, Book 1. By Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross. Windbell, 1994, 316 pages, notes, footnotes, Sanskrit glossary, bibliography, Lotus Sutra. VSCL. Paperback.

Master Dogen's Shobogenzo, Book 2. By Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross. Windbell, 2021, 353 pages, footnotes, Sanskrit glossary, bibliography. utra. VSCL, Paperback.

Master Dogen's Shobogenzo, Book 3. By Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross. Windbell, 2021, 279 pages, notes, footnotes, Sanskrit glossary, bibliography. VSCL, Paperback.

Master Dogen's Shobogenzo, Book 4. By Gudo Nishijima and Chodo Cross. Windbell, 1994, 265 pages, notes, footnotes, Sanskrit glossary, bibliography, Lotus Sutra. VSCL, Paperback.

Each Moment is the Universe: Zen and the Way of Being Time. By Dainin Katagiri. Shambhala, 2008, 256 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Eihei Dogen: Mystical Realist. By Hee-Jin Kim. Wisdom, 1975, 2004, index, bibliography, notes, 334 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Engaging Dogen's Zen: The Philosophy of Practice as Awakening. Edited by Jason M. Wirth. Wisdom, 2017, 296 pages. VSCL, Paperback. Considerable discussion of Dogen's Sushogi Essay or The Meaning of Practive and Verification.

The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Zen Master. Edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt. Shambhala, 2013, 272 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment: Refining Your Life. By Eihei Dogen, Kosho Uchiyama, Thomas Wright. Weatherhill, 1983, 136 pages.

Japanese Zen Buddhist Philosophy - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Moon in a Dewdrop: Writings of Zen Master Dogen. Translated and edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi. North Point Press, 1995, 368 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Selling Water by the River: A Manual of Zen Training. By Jiyu Kennett. Vintage Books, 1972, glossary, 317 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Shobogenzo: Zen Essays by Dogen. Translated by Thomas Cleary. University of Hawaii, 1986, 123 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Treasury of the True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo. Translated, edited, comments, notes by Kazuaki Tanahashi. Shambhala, 2013, 1280 pages. VSCL, Kindle E-Book.

Rational Zen: The Mind of Dogen Zenji. Translated and edited by Thomas Cleary. Shambhala, 1992, 223 pages. VSCL, Hardback. Includes one of the first translations of Dogen's Eihei Koroku or Universal Book of Eternal Peace (pp. 41-82).

Zen Master Dogen. An introduction with selected writings. Translation and commentary by Yuho Yokoi. Wkth Daizen Victoria. Weatherhill, 1976, 1084, 217 pages, glossary, notes. VSCL, Paperback.

Zen Poetry of Dogen. Verses from the Mountain of Eternal Peace. By Steven Heine. Tuttle, 1997, 183 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Each Moment is the Universe: Zen and the Way of Being Time. By Dainin Katagiri. Shambhala, 2008, 256 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness: Walking the Buddha's Path By Bhante Henepola Gunaratana. Boston, Wisdom Publications, 2001. Index, reading list, 268 pages. ISBN: 0861711769. VSCL, 6/2005. A thorough explanation of Right or Skillful Understanding, Thinking, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration.

Eihei Dogen: Mystical Realist. By Hee-Jin Kim. Wisdom, 1975, 2004, index, bibliography, notes, 334 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Enlightenment Unfolds: The Essential Teachings of Zen Master Dogen. Edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi. Shambhala, 1999, 311 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Zen Master. Edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt. Shambhala, 2013, 272 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

The Fireplace Records
By Michael P. Garofalo

Fireplaces, Kitchens, Stoves, Campfires, Ovens, Pots, Kettles, Wood, BBQ
Literary reflections and flashes of insight around the fireplace
Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise and Respected Persons. Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo. Hundreds of quotes and advice.

Flock of Fools: Ancient Buddhist Tales of Wisdom and Laughter From the One Hundred Parable Sutra. Translated and retold by Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt. Grove Press, 2004, 208 pages.

The Flowing Bridge: Guidance on Beginning Zen Koans. By Elaine MacInnes. Edited by Patrick Gallagher. Foreword by Ruben L. F. Habito. Sommerville, Massachusetts, Wisdom Publications, 2007. 160 pages. ISBN: 9780861715459. "Elaine MacIness, a Catholic nun and a Zen teacher in the lineage of the renowned master Koun Yamada (author of Wisdom's The Gateless Gate), offers exceptionally valuable guidance to beginners on how to work with koans-and reveals an uncommon depth of insight and an easy technical mastery of Zen's most misunderstood and most powerful tools.

From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment: Refining Your Life. By Eihei Dogen, Kosho Uchiyama, Thomas Wright. Weatherhill, 1983, 136 pages.

Michael P. Garofalo
Cloud Hands Blog
Biography

A Good Life: Virtues, Ethics, Happiness

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Indexing Resources, Tools, Techniques, References

Handbook of Indexing Techniques: A Guide for Beginning Indexers. By Linda K. Fetters. Information Today, 2013, 176 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Indexing - Reference Texts for Brief Spiritual Lessons Database Project

Indexing Books. By Nancy C. Mulvany. Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing. University of Chicago, 2005, 320 pages.

Introduction to Indexing and Abstracting. By Ana D. Cleveland and Donald B. Cleveland. 4th Edition. Libraries Unlimited, 2013, 408 pages.

Michael P. Garofalo received a Master of Science in Library and Information Science (M.S.L.S.) in 1968 from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He worked for the City of Commerce Public Library from 1962-1969, and for the County of Los Angeles Public Library System from 1973-1998. He retired in 1998 from the County of Los Angeles Public Library System as the Regional Administrator for 22 libraries in the East Region in the San Gabriel Valley, and moved to Red Bluff, in Northern California. He became a web publisher in 1998. Mike worked part-time during the academic year for the Corning Union Elementary School District as District Librarian and grant writer/manager, from 1998-2016 in Northern California. He and his wife, Karen (a Special Education Teacher), both retired in 2016 and moved to Vancouver, Washington. In 2023, he is studying, researching, and indexing Taoist and Buddhist texts from Classical, Medieval, and Contemporary periods; as well as other web publishing projects: Cloud Hands Blog.

Japanese Zen Buddhist Philosophy - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Koan Database Project: Indexes to Koan Collections

Koans Subject Index: 1,001 Koans Indexed. Fifth Draft, May 8, 2023, 152 pages, PDF.

Koans: Information, Bibliography, Quotations, Notes, Index. By Mike Garofalo.

Koans: The New World Encyclopedia

The Fireplace Records
By Michael P. Garofalo

Moon in a Dewdrop: Writings of Zen Master Dogen. Translated and edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi. North Point Press, 1995, 368 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Notes, comments, or reports about the Dogen Studies Project.

Odes to a Classic Hundred Standards by Xuedou Zhongxian

Pulling Onions: Over 1,000 Sayings, Quips, Aphorisms, and Reflections by Mike Garofalo

Recommend Reading List for the English Language Texts Indexed in the Brief Spiritual Lessons Database Project

"Recarving the Dragon: History and Dogma in the Study of Dogen," by Carl Bielefeldt, included in: "Dogen Studies," edited by William R. LaFleur. The Kuroda Institute for the Study of Buddhism and Human Values, (Honolulu, University of Hawaii Press, 1985).

Reference Texts for Brief Spiritual Lessons Database Project

Reports, comments, or notes about the Dogen Studies Project.

Rinzai (Linji) Zen

Senses, Impressions, Sights-Sounds, Sensory Manifold, Human Sensory Reality
Perceptions, Experiences in the Present, Doing rather than Thinking, Being Present

A Natural History of the Senses. By Diane Ackerman.

Five Senses. By Michael P. Garofalo

Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World. By Gretchen Rubin. Crown, 2023, 272 pages.

See What I'm Saying: The Extraordinary Powers of Our Five Senses. By Lawrence D. Rosenblum. Norton, 2010, 368 pages.

When Awareness Becomes Natural. By Sayadaw U. Tejaniya and Robert French. Shambhala, 2016.

Body-Mind, Embodied Cognition, Somaesthetics, Somatic Psychology and Philosophy

Touch, Fingers, Hands, Skin, Feeling, Proprioperception

Vision, Seeing, Sight, Perspective, Watching, Observing

Hearing, Sounds, Silence, Speech, Music, Noise

Smell, Scents, Fragrance, Odors, Perfume

Selling Water by the River: A Manual of Zen Training. By Jiyu Kennett. Vintage Books, 1972, glossary, 317 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Shifu Miao Zhang Points the Way By Mike Garofalo.

Sparks: Brief Spiritual Stories, Dialogues, and Encounters
Matches to Start the Kindling of Insight
May the Light Your Inner Fireplace Help All Beings
Zen Buddhist Koan Collections
Catching Phrases, Inspiring Verses, Hard Questions
Bibliography, Quotations, Notes, Resources
Research by Michael P. Garofalo

Zen Staff, Zen Stick in Koans, Stick Used by Zen Masters as a symbol of their qualifications and authorization to teach Zen students.

Sutras for Daily Recitation/Chanting

Zen Koans Subject Index: 1,001 Zen Buddhist Koans. Firth Draft, May 8, 2023, 152 pages, PDF.

Subject Index to 281 Taoist Chapters

Subject Index to 1,001 Zen Buddhist Koans

Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo
Fifth Draft, May 8, 2023, PDF
Green Way Research, Vancouver, Washington

PDF, 5/8/2023, 152 Pages

Blue Cliff Record 100 Koans (BCR)
Book of Serenity/Equanimity 100 Koans (BOS)
Dogen's Shinji Mana Shobogenzo 300 Koans (DSMS)
Entangling Vines 272 Koans (ENT)
Fireplace Records 25 Koans (TFR)
Flock of Fools: Parable Sutra 98 Koans (OHPS)
Gateless Gate 48 Koans (GB)
Iron Flute 100 Koans (IF)
Opening A Mountain 60 Koans (OM)
Record of Empty Hall 100 Koans (REH)
Record of Linji 40 Koans (LIN)
Samurai Zen 100 Koans (SAM)
Transmission of Light: Keizan 53 Biographies (TOL)
Zen Echoes 43 Koans (ZE)

Brief Zen Buddhist Spiritual Stories, Koans, Dialogues
https://www.egreenway.com/buddhism/koans.htm

Koans Database Project Expected Completion 12/20/2023

Subject Index to 1,001 Zen Buddhist Koans

Timeline of Zen Buddhist Development in America

Taoism: Tao Te Ching, Bibliography, Resources, Indexes, Commentary. By Mike Garofalo.

Toward a Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Path of Personal and Spiritual Transformation. By John Welwood, Pd.D. Boston, Shambhala, 2002. Index, bibliography, glossary, notes, 352 pages. ISBN: 1570628238.

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise and Respected Persons. Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo. Hundreds of quotes and advice.

VSCL Valley Spirit Center Library. The personal library of Michael P. Garofalo.

Books I Use in My Research and Study of Zen Koan Collections

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise and Respected Persons. Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo. Hundreds of quotes and advice.

Zen Buddhism: A Bibliography. By Mike Garofalo.

Zen Buddhism Koan Study Pages

Zen Buddhism Index: The Compass of Zen by Zen Master Seung Sahn. Compiled and Edited by Hyon Gak Sunim. Preface by Maha Ghosananda. Forward by Stephen Mitchell. Index prepared by John Holland and Ty Koontz.

Zen Flesh Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings. By Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki. Tuttle Publishing, Flaps edition, 1957, 1985, and 1998. First published in 1957. 211 pages. ISBN: 9780804831864. In 1961, this was the first book about Zen that I had ever read, and it greatly impressed and influenced me. The Gateless Gate (Mumonkan) was transcribed by Nyogen Senzaki (1876–1958) and Paul Reps (1895–1990) in 1934, and appeared in in "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, 1958" pp. 109-161. VSCL, hardbound and paperback.

The Zen Koan: Its History and Use in Rinzai Zen. By Isshu Miura and Ruth Fuller Sasaki. Harper Perennial, 1966, 176 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Zen Master Dogen. An introduction with selected writings. Translation and commentary by Yuho Yokoi. Wkth Daizen Victoria. Weatherhill, 1976, 1084, 217 pages, glossary, notes. VSCL, Paperback.

Zen Poetry of Dogen. Verses from the Mountain of Eternal Peace. By Steven Heine. Tuttle, 1997, 183 pages. VSCL, Paperback.

Zen Staff, Zen Stick in Koans, Stick Used by Zen Masters as a symbol of their qualifications and authorization to teach Zen students.

The Fireplace Records
By Michael P. Garofalo

Dogen : Quotations, Poems, Verses, Insights, Comments

"The goal of the Zen koan is enlightenment, which is a profound change of heart. This change of heart makes the world seem like a different place; with it comes a freedom of mind and an awareness of the joy and kindness underlying daily life."
- John Tarrant, Bring Me the Rhinoceros: And Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life, 2008, p. 1

"There are seven things to notice about koans:
1. Koans show you that you can depend on creative moves.
2. Koans encourage doubt and curosity.
3. Koans rely on uncertainty as a path to happiness.
4. Koans will undermine your reasons and your explanations.
5. Koans lead you to see life as funny rather than tragic.
6. Koans will change your idea of who you are, and this will require courage.
7. Koans uncover a hidden kindness in life."
- John Tarrant, Bring Me the Rhinoceros: And Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life, 2008, pp. 2-3.

"The Zen tradition sometimes loads a word with positive, negative, concrete and transcendental meanings, thus making its semantics ambiguous or enigmatic. ...Over thirty books of Dogen translations and studies have been published in English, which makes Dogen by far the most extensively studies East Asian Buddhist in the Western World. ...Over seven hundred years after his time, Dogen's writings are still fresh and captivating for Buddhists and non-Buddhists. The paradoxes, absurd images, and ofter impenetrable language in his essay are not merely exotic or intriguing. They point to a part of human consciousness that goes unnoticed. Dogen's writing reveals a reality that is only experienced through a life-long investigation of nonduality. The Freeedom - including freedom from thinking itself and language itself - that we see in Dogen's writing us stunning.
- Kazuaki Tanahashi, Enlightenment Unfolds, 2000, Introduction.

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise and Respected Persons. Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo. Hundreds of quotes and advice.

"Firewood becomes ash, and does not become firewood again. Yet, do not suppose that the ash is after and the firewood before. Understand that firewood abides in its condition as firewood, which fully includes before and after, while it is independent of before and after. Ash abides in its condition as ash, which fully includes before and after. Just as firewood does not become firewood again after it is ash, you do not return to birth after death.

This being so, it is an established way in buddha dharma to deny that birth turns into death. Accordingly, birth is understood as beyond birth. It is an unshakable teaching in the Buddha’s discourse that death does not turn into birth. Accordingly, death is understood as beyond death.

Birth is a condition complete in this moment. Death is a condition complete in this moment. They are like winter and spring. You do not call winter the beginning of spring, nor summer the end of spring."
- Eihei Dogen, Genjo-Koan, Sec. 87, Translation by Tanahashi

The Fireplace Records
By Michael P. Garofalo

"It is often said that truth is something that is universally valid. To put it simply, it is something which can be applied anytime, anywhere, and to anyone. For instance, fire is hot no matter what time it is. Fire was hot thousands of years ago as surely as fire will be hot hundreds of years from now. Of course, fire is hot today. Furthermore, fire is hot to you, to me, and ti will burn anyone who touches it. In this way it is true that fire is hot anytime, anywhere, and to anyone. Therefore, the fact that fire is hot is recognized as n indisputable truth.
Let us see just where that fire which is hot anytime, anywhere, and to anyone exists. Can you see that it is nowwhere except in theory and has nothing more than an abstract existence? It is not the real fire which will burn your hand if you touch it. Similarly, that which does not have universal validity anytime, anywhere, and for everyone is no more than a partial and arbitrary view of things: what is universally valid in itself is abstact and conceptual and cannot be real and concrete."
- Omori Sogen, Introduction to Zen Training, p. 5

The word "Fire" can't burn your fingers.
- Pulling Onions, Over 1,000 One-Liners by Mike Garofalo

Notes, Comments, Reports by Michael P. Garofalo

May 9, 2023, 7-8:30 pm at Dharman Rain Zen Center. Sallie Jiko Tisdale led the discussion. She was informative, well organized, scholarly, and a repectful moderator. A lively group of over 25 Dogen students. We broke into small groups and discussed the challenges of translating between Medieval Japanese into modern Japanese and English. Our small work group discussed the 'Master's Fan' koan at the end of Genjo-Koan as a translation exercise. Beautiful spring day, so I walked around the 10 acre grounds, gardens, reclaimed land-fill areas. Impressive statue of Kwan Yin in the room where we met in the large Zen Temple building. I need to focus and remember the specific tasks or lessons set by the leader. Am I Doing It! This old man got quite tired after 8:15. Many teachers in attendance.
The literal/figurative functions of Zen rhetoric result in a high degree of ambiguity, vagueness, epistemological complexity, and category mistakes that create challenges to understanding clearly.
James Ford says, "A koan points to something of deep importance and invites us to stand in that place." It is like unraveling the "Language of Dragons" (Great Wisdom).
Dogen says, reads, is translated by Nishijima/Cross as writing: "Realization is the state of ambiguity." [Sec. 91]. Totally different in other translations.

May 2, 2023, 7-8:30 at Dharma Rain Center. The gentleman, I think was Tsuho, led our discussion quite well. We read the Fukanzazengi from the Dharma Rain Services Handbook. We shared our impressions of the line we read as pertains to now. I asked Tsuho about how to address people at the Temple - use their Dharma names (in Japanese). The speaker gave us an extensive handout on the Fukanzazengi. This was my first visit to the Dharma Rain Center property, residence rooms, library, and large central Temple building. Many teachers in attendance. Many cheerful and energetic Zen practitioners. Jiko, I believe, brought up the topic of Dragon metaphors; which led afterwards to my Fireplace Record 24.

I first read and studied Eihei Dogen's writings in the 1980's. I earned a B.A. in Philosophy in 1967 from California State University at Los Angeles, and did graduate studies at CSULA in the 1980's. Basically, I have a philosopher's orientation with a keen interest in comparative religions with an emphasis on Daoism, Buddhism, and Yoga. My Western Philosophy studies at college included Ethics, Aesthetics, Historical Development, Comparative Religions, Process Philosophy, Phenomenology, Logic, and Mind-Body "Somatic" Lifestyle Practices. Some philosophers thought philosophy's key purpose was to make us better, help us flourish, minimize pain and moderate pleasure, heal our mental and spiritual discomforts via Epicureanism or Stoicism. Even Aristotle viewed philosopy from a medical treatments perspective. Philosophy is supposed to heal us, make us well, keep us flourishing, overcome our problems, and help us get the right attitude.

I plan to attend this Dogen Study Group
to learn,
to get into contact with fellow readers/scholars/monks/students of Zen Master Dogen,
to do something at the Dharma Rain Center and Temple,
to improve myself,
to contribute,
to interact with more advanced Dharma teachers,
to share,
to warm myself with sparks of wisdom,
to learn the language of Dragons,
to listen to other Voices,
to do activities related to my Dogen Studies Database Project,
to get out of my house.

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise and Respected Persons. Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo. Hundreds of quotes and advice.

Biography of Michael P. Garofalo

Michael Peter Garofalo (1946-) grew up in East Los Angeles, was educated in Catholic Schools, graduated (B.A., M.S.) from local universities, married Karen, served in the US Air Force, worked in and managed many City and Los Angeles County Public Libraries, raised two children (Alicia and Michael), socialized, traveled, and learned. In 1998, we moved to a rural 5 acre property in Red Bluff, in the North Sacramento Valley, CA. A webmaster since 1999. Worked part-time for the Corning School District (Technolgy and Media Services Manager); and as a yoga, taijiquan, and fitness club instructor until 2016. Travelled extensively in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. We both retired, and we moved to Vancouver, Washington, in 2017. Currently in 2023: reading, Taoist/Buddhist/Zen research, playing Tai Chi Chuan, walking, writing, web publishing, monthly oceanside retreats, gardening, family events, poetry research, sports events, and photography.

Cloud Hands Blog by Michael P. Garofalo