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Name: Amazon.com: Being-Time: A Practitioner's Guide to Dogen's Shobogenzo Uji: 9781614291138: Roberts, Shinshu, Fischer, Norman: Books
Price: 16.38 USD
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Rating: 4.6 (111 reviews)

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Being-Time: A Practitioner's Guide to Dogen's Shobogenzo Uji Paperback – March 20, 2018

by Shinshu Roberts (Author), Norman Fischer (Foreword)

111 ratings

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A tour-de-force guide to Zen Master Dogen’s most subtle and sophisticated philosophical premises: that being and time are inseparable.

“Impermanence is time itself, being itself—yet time and being are not at all as we imagine them to be. To really understand and fully embrace this point is to live in a radically different world—a world of awakening, inclusion, and love. Zen Master Dogen frames the teaching on impermanence explicitly as a teaching about time—and all of Dogen’s profoundly poetic teachings flow from his seminal understanding of time, as expressed in Uji (Being-Time), the famous—and famously difficult—essay in his masterwork, Shobogenzo. In Uji, Dogen teaches that time itself, being itself, is luminous awakening. It is all-inclusive, all-elusive, ultimately healing, and eternal.

In this book, Shinshu Roberts does full justice, as does no other book I know of, to Dogen’s words. She offers interpretation of Uji only after careful consideration and marshaling of many sources—and offers simple everyday examples to illustrate points that seem at first abstruse. If this text causes you to doubt your most cherished concepts about your life, it will have done its work.”
—from the Foreword by Norman Fischer

Being-Time thoroughly explores Dogen’s teaching on how we practice as Buddhas by understanding the relationship between being and time as it is—and as we perceive it to be. Using Dogen’s Shobogenzo Uji (The True Dharma Eye, Being-Time), Shinshu Roberts offers a twofold analysis of this teaching: the meaning of the text and practice with the text, giving examples how we apply Dogen’s complex teaching to our daily lives.

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“This book is a great achievement. Articulate, nuanced, and wonderful.” -- Jan Chozen Bays, author of Mindfulness on the Go

"In Being-Time, Shinshu Roberts gives us a wise, kind and wonderfully patient guide to one of Dogen’s most important and enigmatic texts. Now, more than ever, these profound old teachings are relevant to our lives in the here and now. This is a book I will treasure and return to time and time again." -- Ruth Ozeki, author of A Tale for the Time Being

“A powerful and compelling reflection on one of the great Zen texts by Eihei Dogen, founder of Japanese Soto Zen, and one of the signal Mahayana Zen figures. Shinshu Roberts brings intelligence, grace, and a fully lived life to this book. Both scholarly and intimate, I recommend this book to anyone hoping to delve more deeply into the Zen Way.” -- James Ishmael Ford, author of Introduction to Zen Koans

“This book is one of the excellent fruits of American Zen. I deeply appreciate Shinshu’s work.” -- Shohaku Okumura, author of Realizing Genjokoan

About the Author

Shinshu Roberts is a Dharma Heir of Sojun Mel Weitsman, abbot of Berkeley Zen Center and in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. She received her priest training at San Francisco Zen Center and from the North American branch of the Japanese Soto School. She has been appointed Kokusaifukyoshi (International Dharma Teacher) by the Shumucho (Japanese Soto Administration). She co-founded Ocean Gate Zen Center in Capitola, CA with her spouse Jaku Kinst.

Norman Fischer has been a Zen Buddhist priest for nearly 30 years, serving as abbot for the San Francisco Zen Center from 1995-2000. Founder and teacher of the Everyday Zen Foundation, he is one of the most highly respected Zen teachers in America, regularly leading Zen Buddhist retreats and events. He has published seventeen books of poetry and six books on Zen.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wisdom Publications; 2nd prt. edition (March 20, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1614291136
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1614291138
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #138,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #57 in Buddhist Sacred Writings (Books)
- #110 in Buddhist Rituals & Practice (Books)
- #158 in Zen Spirituality

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Shinshu Roberts

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Shinshu Roberts, co-founder and teacher at Capitola’s Ocean Gate Zen Temple in California, was ordained as a Sōtō Zen priest in 1988, and received teacher certification in 2005 in the Suzuki Roshi lineage. She holds the appointment of Kokusaifukyoshi (International Teacher) with the Soto Zen School in Japan since 2005.

Shinshu is the author of the commentaries Being-Time: A Practitioner’s Guide to Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō, Wisdom, 2018 and Meeting the Myriad Things: A Zen Practitioner’s Guide to Dōgen’s Genjōkōan, Shambhala, 2025.

She is a member of these organizations: American Zen Teachers Association, Soto Zen Buddhist Association, Soto Zen North America and Association of Soto Zen Buddhists.

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Customers find the book's clarity impressive, with one noting how it explains difficult concepts through word pictures. Moreover, the pacing receives positive feedback, with customers describing it as fascinating, and one highlighting how the references and footnotes bring out new ideas. Additionally, the book's readability is praised, with one customer noting it's particularly valuable for those engaged in the Zen path.

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Clarity Pacing Readability

16 customers mention "Clarity"12 positive4 negative

Customers praise the book's clarity, with one noting how it explains difficult concepts through word pictures, while another appreciates how it makes Dogen's ideas accessible.

"...She illustrates with a clear and personal style (and with confident experience incorporating Dōgen’s way into her own life) ways to approach “the..." Read more

"...This book explains well (and clearly) how to put into practice ideas about responding with skill to our surroundings...." Read more

"...Shinshu Roberts comments are very helpful and practical, and she is very detailed in her commentary and sources. (She even has an index!)" Read more

"...but it is well worth the effort to listen and put into action the wisdom that unfolds on every page. I recommend this book wholeheartedly." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book engaging, with one noting how the references and footnotes bring out new ideas.

"...His vision of life is vast, poetic, and concrete all at the same time...." Read more

"...What is reality? What is enlightenment? When? Profound expository. The best I've seen. Very slow reading...." Read more

"...can be confusing, contradictory, and inaccessible -- but also immensely rewarding...." Read more

"...The references and footnotes have brought out new ideas and given me food for future reading on Dogen...." Read more

8 customers mention "Readability"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fantastic to read, with one noting it's particularly valuable for those engaged in the Zen path.

"...This is a great book for anyone engaged in the Zen path, no matter how long you’ve travelled with Dōgen as your companion...." Read more

"...What is enlightenment? When? Profound expository. The best I've seen. Very slow reading...." Read more

"...Not so with this extraordinary book. Shinshu Roberts brings an understanding and precision to the study of Dogen rarely found...." Read more

"...It's not an easy read, but it is well worth the effort to listen and put into action the wisdom that unfolds on every page...." Read more

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Tom H.
You'll treasure this for many "times" on your everyday path
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2018
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For the Zen student who feels that Dōgen is “too difficult,” or too lofty to be of use in their everyday practice, this book will engage you in a new, more intimate relationship with Dōgen’s teaching. Rev. Shinshu’s presentation is like having tea with a wise and generous friend and listening as they share the words of their teacher, confident those words will bring you joy and ease on your spiritual path. With “Being Time: A Practitioner’s Guide to Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō Uji” Rev. Shinshu expresses the essence and vital practicality of one of Dōgen’s most profound teachings. She illustrates with a clear and personal style (and with confident experience incorporating Dōgen’s way into her own life) ways to approach “the big questions”: how do we fully engage our life in this world at this very moment? What is our karmic responsibility to our ancestors in the future? How do we transform our relationship to a perhaps difficult past so that it doesn’t hinder our life now? And what might be the most important question: how can we greet with openness and compassion that clerk at the grocery store who always has an attitude?

This is a great book for anyone engaged in the Zen path, no matter how long you’ve travelled with Dōgen as your companion. I would absolutely recommend it to someone who is just beginning to explore Dōgen’s teaching. And I am confident that I will turn to Shinshu’s generous book over and over again, and look forward to renewing tea and conversation with her about her understanding of “Uji” and being-time many “times” in the future.

Rev. Shinshu expresses it beautifully:
“Even if we cannot completely understand Dōgen’s teaching, it will still impact our practice. His vision of life is vast, poetic, and concrete all at the same time. Sometimes it feels as if we are hanging on to a dragon’s tail, like a prayer flag flapping in the wind. We don’t know what or how, yet we just hang on, making our effort. This is just the nature of being a prayer flag waving from a dragon’s tail. No problem.”

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Gentle Geezer
Profound and clearly written.
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024
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What is time? What is space? What is self? What is reality? What is enlightenment? When?
Profound expository. The best I've seen. Very slow reading. As often as I had to reread a sentence, a paragraph, a page, a chapter - I can't see how it could be deeply gasped by listening to an audiobook.

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2 people found this helpful

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DAVID J BROWN
A must read for Zen students
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2024
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Dogen can be confusing, contradictory, and inaccessible -- but also immensely rewarding. Sadly, many commentators add to the confusion, with imprecise and challenging interpretations. Not so with this extraordinary book. Shinshu Roberts brings an understanding and precision to the study of Dogen rarely found. This book should be in every Zen practitioner's library.

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J. Sleutel-Robinson
Great help for the practice
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2018
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I knew this would be a mind opener after reading the forward which suggested it may challenge how I view things. This book explains well (and clearly) how to put into practice ideas about responding with skill to our surroundings. The references and footnotes have brought out new ideas and given me food for future reading on Dogen. Thanks to the author for using clear language and explaining ideas in word pictures that sink in. Her ideas cause insightful questions/problems on how I view things/time in a linear way. These problems could make my head explode, but most likely will only make me grow my compassion as a human. I will read this over for sure, and gift it to those who care to expand their practice.

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7 people found this helpful

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Zen Elder
Being-Time (Uji)
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2018
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Being-Time (Uji): Dogen's writings aren't easy to read or understand. Like other writings by Dogen, Being-Time (Uji) is a slow, soak-it-in-as-you-go reading. I've always been time oriented and down-to-earth, so this particular section of Dogen's teachings appealed to me. Shinshu Roberts comments are very helpful and practical, and she is very detailed in her commentary and sources. (She even has an index!)

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11 people found this helpful

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Eido Frances Carney
A rare gem
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2018
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This is a beautiful book, a tribute to Dogen Zenji, and a guide for deepening the daily life of practice. It's not an easy read, but it is well worth the effort to listen and put into action the wisdom that unfolds on every page. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

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Eido Frances Carney

A rare gem

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2018
This is a beautiful book, a tribute to Dogen Zenji, and a guide for deepening the daily life of practice. It's not an easy read, but it is well worth the effort to listen and put into action the wisdom that unfolds on every page. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

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12 people found this helpful

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kokosdad
Very interesting, personally groundbreaking
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2021
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This is a new land, conceptually for me. It’s definitely a “twice through” read for me !
Very enjoyable!

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Amazon Customer
Dogen would be pleased
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2020
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Thank you for this wonderful text on a difficult fascicle. Dogen’s Shobogenzo and United in particular has been a great fascination for me and I was happy to be able to read this book.

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Osaka
Helpful but feels a little unsure of what it wants to be.
Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2018
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Uji is probably Dogen's most difficult text and getting a good commentary on it is a bit tricky. Shinshu Roberts mainly does a pretty good job here overall given how hard the task at hand really is. Where the book really shines is when Roberts links Uji with examples of how to apply the teaching to daily practice and the timeless art of being mindful in the present moment. Some fascinating prospects on the nature of time and being's relationship to it are also pretty well explained and can help expend one's understanding Buddhism's praxis. At the same time, the author often writes in a style that is almost as inscrutable as Dogen's, making the book feel a little unsure as weither it wants to be a practice guide aimed at the average practionner or rather a scholarly discussion for Dogen experts. On the other hand Roberts does a great job at explaining Uji in the context of the other fascicles of Shobogenzo in order to try and elucidate it's meaning. Newcomers to Zen will probably want to favor more user-friendly Dogen exegesis such as Shohaku Okumura's Realizing Genjokoan or Kosho Uchiyama's Deepest Practice, Deepest Wisdom (which also includes a commentary on Uji), but more advanced practitioners will surely benefit from Robert's contribution as well.

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Felipe
Ótimo livro
Reviewed in Brazil on January 24, 2019
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Um texto de Dogen complicado, como a maioria. Porém o comentário de Shinshu Roberts é bem claro e prático. Ajuda a compreender melhor o texto original. Recomendo.

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T. Atkins
Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2023
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This is an amazing commentary on Dogen’s essay “Uji”. It’s accessible and profound. I’d recommend it to everyone with a serious interest in Dogen, Buddhism, and ideas about our relationship with life, death, and our experience of time. There is no better book on (one aspect of) Dogen’s Buddhism.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful but feels a little unsure of what it wants to be.

5.0 out of 5 stars Ótimo livro

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Helpful but feels a little unsure of what it wants to be.

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