The Encyclopedia of World Religions

Dominicans S 121

attain enlightenment. Sitting in meditation was itself enlightenment. Dogen’s teachings disagreed with Buddhist tra dition in important ways. He taught that all beings are Buddha-nature and that Buddha-nature is impermanence. Traditionally Buddhism had taught that all beings have, not are, Buddha-nature, and that Buddha-nature lies beyond impermanence. Dogen’s most important writing is the Sho¯bho¯genzo¯ or “The Treasury of the True DHARMA eye.” Today Soto Zen is one of the largest schools of Japanese Buddhism. Religions create unity in many ways. Members of a given religion may see themselves united by shared behavior, which usually includes both par ticipation in religious RITUAL and living according to prescribed ways of life. A good example is tradi tional orthodox J UDAISM . Other religions stress cor rectness of belief. Members are united by shared adherence to dogma (what the group officially believes) and doctrine (what it officially teaches). These terms appear often in discussions of C HRISTI ANITY , since Christianity grew by attracting people to a set of new beliefs rather than as a shared way of life. Christians have recognized several sources of dogma and doctrine. Protestants derive Christian truth from the B IBLE ( see P ROTESTANTISM .) Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians derive Christian truth also from tradition ( see R OMAN C ATHOLICISM and E ASTERN O RTHODOX C HRISTIANITY ). Most, but not all, Christians recognize the ancient CREEDS and the decrees of the ancient church councils as defining their dogma and doctrines. Individual churches often have their own special statements as well. Examples include the Pope’s pronouncements in the Catholic Church and the “confessions” of vari ous Protestant churches. dogma and doctrine A religion’s official beliefs and teachings.

people all over the world moved into modern, plu ralistic cities. When they left their traditional com munities behind, many of them gave up their tradi tional dietary practices. But group identity explains only when people observe dietary laws. It does not explain the particular laws that they observe. It is important to note what the religions themselves say about these laws. Buddhists say that it takes a clear, crisp mind to pursue enlight enment, or understanding. Someone who is intoxi cated does not have such a mind. Therefore, they refrain from alcohol. Jains do not eat meat because of their devotion to the principle of AHIMSA . Many observant Jews say that there is only one good rea son for practicing the dietary laws. G OD instructed them to do so. Who are human beings, that they should second-guess God? Further reading: K. C. Chang, ed., Food in Chinese Culture (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1977); Isaac Klein, A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice (New York: Ktav, 1979); Frederick Simoons, Eat Not This Flesh: Food Avoidances from Prehistory to the Present 2d ed. (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1994); Reay Tannahill, Food in History (New York: Stein & Day, 1973).

disciples See APOSTLES .

disciples of Christ See R ESTORATION MOVEMENT .

Dogen (1200–1253) a Buddhist monk who in the late 1220s founded the Soto school of Z EN B UDDHISM in Japan In 1223 Dogen left Kyoto for China. He had already studied two schools of B UDDHISM : Tiendai Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. In China he attained enlightenment, or a deep understanding of nature and the causes of sorrow. In 1227 he returned to Japan to teach the path that he had followed. Dogen emphasized the practice of sitting in MEDITATION ( ZAZEN ) without any purpose. From his point of view, one did not sit in meditation to

Dominicans An order of Roman Catholic MONKS AND NUNS properly known as the Order of Preachers.