Zen: The Role of Intellectual Concepts According to Dogen

Dogen on the role of “intellectual concepts” in the authentic Dharma:

The underlying principle of momentarily opening the Gate of Skillful Means involves opening It by opening the whole universe. At the very moment when you catch sight of the opening of the whole universe, it will be something that you have never encountered before. By our grasping once or twice at an intellectual concept of what opening of whole universe is and then grasping at it for a third or fourth time as something real, we cause the Gate of Skillful Means to open.

Shobogenzo, Shoho-Jisso, Hubert Nearman


Peace,
Ted