Zen was popularized in the West largely through the writings of Dr. D.T. Suzuki, who followed the school of Rinzai Zen. Although it remains relatively unknown in the West, Soto Zen eventually attracted the greatest number of followers in Japan. With its gentle, more intellectual approach, Soto Zen relies on deep meditation (zazen) rather than the sudden, direct method (using koan) of Rinzai Zen, in striving for enlightenment.
The Shobogenzo Zuimonki consists largely of brief talks, horatatory remarks, and instructional and cautionary comments by the Soto Zen Master Dogen (1200-1253). Translated, shobogenzo means the eye of the true law. Roughly translated, zuimonki means easy for the ears to understand, or simplified.

The translation is uniformly clear, with footnotes explaining historical references to the people and places both in China and Japan. A good introductory text to main Zen themes and ideas."" --Philosophy East & West