Gudo Wafu Nishijima

Gudo Wafu Nishijima was a Soto Zen master who made significant contributions to the understanding of Dogen's thought in the modern world. He translated the entire Shobogenzo into English (with his student Chodo Cross), making Dogen's masterwork accessible to a global audience. He taught that Dogen's philosophy could be understood through the lens of the autonomic nervous system, offering a naturalistic interpretation of zazen.

Nishijima's approach was distinctive for its integration of Dogen's teaching with modern scientific and philosophical thought. He trained students from around the world, including Brad Warner, who brought Nishijima's practical, no-nonsense approach to Zen to a wide popular audience. His translations and commentaries represent one of the most important modern contributions to Dogen scholarship.