Editing Dōgen (section)

==Miraculous events and auspicious signs==
Several "miraculous experiences"{{sfn|Bodiford|2008|p=32}} and "auspicious signs"{{sfn|Faure|2000|p=92}} have been recorded in Dōgen's life,<ref>{{harvp|Bodiford|2008|p=32}}, {{harvp|Faure|2000}},{{pages needed|date=January 2025}} {{harvp|Williams|2005}},{{pages needed|date=January 2025}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|See also {{harvp|MacPhillamy|Roberson|Benson|Nearman|1997}},{{verify source|date=December 2018}} {{harvp|Kato|1994}},{{verify source|date=December 2018}} {{harvp|DeVisser|1923}},{{verify source|date=December 2018}} {{harvp|Eihei-ji Temple Staff|1994}},{{verify source|date=December 2018}} {{harvp|Dōshū|1969–70}}.{{verify source|date=December 2018}}}} some of them quite famous.{{sfn|Kato|1994}}{{sfn|Williams|2005}} According to Bodiford, "Monks and laymen recorded these events as testaments to his great mystical power," which "helped confirm the legacy of Dōgen's teachings against competing claims made by members of the Buddhist establishment and other outcast groups." Bodiford further notes that the "magical events at Eiheiji helped identify the temple as a cultic center," putting it at a par with other temples where supernatural events occurred.{{sfn|Bodiford|2008|p=32}} According to Faure, for Dōgen these auspicious signs were proof that "Eiheiji was the only place in Japan where the Buddhist Dharma was transmitted correctly and that this monastery was thus rivaled by no other."{{sfn|Faure|2000|p=93}}

In Menzan Zuihō's well-known 1753 edition of Dōgen's biography, it records that while traveling in China with his companion Dōshō, Dōgen became very ill, and a deity appeared before him who gave him medicine which instantly healed him:{{sfn|Williams|2005}}

{{blockquote|Dōgen fell gravely ill on his way back from China but had no medicines that could be of use. Suddenly, an immortal appeared and gave Dōgen a herbal pill, after which he immediately became better. The master asked this deity to reveal its identity. The mysterious figure replied, “I am the Japanese kami Inari” and disappeared. The medicine became known as Gedokugan, which has been ever since been part of the Dōshō family heritage &#91;...&#93; Dōgen then told Dōshō that this rare and wondrous medicine had been bestowed on him by a true kami for the protection of the great Dharma,  &#91;and that&#93; this medicine of many benefits should be distributed to temples so that they might spread the Dharma heritage.{{sfn|Williams|2005}}}}

This medicine, which later became known as Gedokuen or "Poison-Dispelling Pill" was then produced by the Sōtō church until the Meiji Era, and was commonly sold nationwide as an herbal medicine,{{sfn|Williams|1998}} and became a source of income for the Sōtō church.{{sfn|Williams|2005}}{{sfn|Williams|1998}}

[[File:Statue of Dogen's Sea Vision of Avalokiteshvara while Returning from China, at a pond at Eihei-ji Temple.png|thumb|The statue memorializing Dōgen's vision of Avalokiteshvara at a pond in Eihei-ji, Japan.]]
Another famous incident happened when he was returning to Japan from China. The ship he was on was caught in a storm. In this instance, the storm became so severe, that the crew feared the ship would sink and kill them all. Dōgen then began leading the crew in recitation of chants to Kannon (Avalokiteshwara),  during which, the Bodhisattva appeared before him, and several of the crew saw her as well.{{sfn|MacPhillamy|Roberson|Benson|Nearman|1997}} After the vision appeared, the storm began to calm down, and consensus of those aboard was that they had been saved due to the intervention of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshwara.{{sfn|MacPhillamy|Roberson|Benson|Nearman|1997}} This story is repeated in official works sponsored by the Sōtō Shū Head Office{{sfn|Kato|1994}}{{sfn|MacPhillamy|Roberson|Benson|Nearman|1997}} and there is even a sculpture of the event in a water treatment pond in Eihei-ji Temple.{{sfn|MacPhillamy|Roberson|Benson|Nearman|1997}}{{sfn|Eihei-ji Temple Staff|1994}} Additionally, there is a 14th-century copy of a painting of the same Kannon, that was supposedly commissioned by Dōgen, that includes a piece of calligraphy that is possibly an original in Dōgen's own hand, recording his gratitude to Avalokiteshwara:

{{blockquote|From the single blossom five leaves uncurled: Upon one single leaf a Tathagata stood alone. Her vow to harmonize our lives is ocean deep, As we spin on and on, shouldering our deeds of right and wrong. –written by the mendicant monk Dōgen, September 26, 1242.<ref>{{harvp|Ishida|1964}}{{pages needed|date=January 2025}}</ref>{{sfn|MacPhillamy|Roberson|Benson|Nearman|1997}}}}

Another miraculous event occurred, while Dōgen was at Eihei-ji. During a ceremony of gratitude for the 16 Celestial Arahants (called Rakan in Japanese), a vision of 16 Arahants appeared before Dōgen descending upon a multi-colored cloud,{{sfn|MacPhillamy|Roberson|Benson|Nearman|1997}} and the statues of the Arahants that were present at the event began to emanate rays of light,{{sfn|Bodiford|2008}} to which Dōgen then exclaimed:

{{blockquote |The Rakans caused to appear felicitous flowers, exceedingly wonderful and beautiful{{sfn|DeVisser|1923}}}}

Dōgen was profoundly moved by the entire experience, and took it as an auspicious sign that the offerings of the ceremony had been accepted.{{sfn|Faure|2000}} In his writings he wrote:

{{blockquote|As for other examples of the appearance of auspicious signs, apart from &#91;the case of&#93; the rock bridge of Mount Tiantai, &#91;in the province&#93: of Taizhou, in the great kingdom of the Song, nowhere else to my knowledge has there been one to compare with this one. But on this mountain &#91;Kichijōsan, the location of Eiheiji&#93; many apparitions have already happened. This is truly a very auspicious sign showing that, in their deep compassion, &#91;the Arahats&#93; are protecting the men and the Dharma of this mountain. This is why it appeared to me.” {{sfn|Faure|2000|p=92}}{{sfn|Dōshū|1969–70}}}}

Dōgen is also recorded to have had multiple encounters with non-human beings.{{sfn|Williams|2005}}{{sfn|Faure|2000}} Aside from his encounter with the kami Inari in China, in the Denkōrou it is recorded that while at Kōshō-ji, he was also visited by a deva who came to observe during certain ceremonies, as well as a dragon who visited him at Eihei-Ji and requested to be given the eight abstinence Precepts:{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

{{blockquote|When he was at Kōshō-ji a deva used to come to hear the Precepts and join in as an observer at the twice-monthly renewal of Bodhisattva vows. At Eihei-ji a divine dragon showed up requesting the eight Precepts of abstinence and asking to be included among the daily transfers of merit. Because of this Dōgen wrote out the eight Precepts every day and offered the merit thereof to the dragon. Up to this very day this practice has not been neglected.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}}}