A Sufi–Zen Comparative Analysis of the 'Self' in the Writings of al-Ghazālī and Dōgen by Dr Saeko Yazaki

Dr Saeko Yazaki presents comparative research on the concept of the 'self' in Sufism and Zen Buddhism. The seminar, which drew scholars from multiple disciplines, examined striking parallels between these geographically and culturally distant traditions. Dr. Yazaki's presentation centered on a textual analysis of two foundational works: "The Revival of the Religious Sciences" by the Sufi scholar Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī (d. 1111) and "The Treasury of the True Dharma-Eye" by Zen master Dōgen (d. 1253). The seminar highlighted how both traditions, despite their separation, share important theoretical and practical concerns, particularly regarding lived experience and the transformation of the self. Dr. Yazaki explained that al-Ghazālī emphasises disciplining the self (nafs) to purify the heart for divine remembrance, while Dōgen stresses the importance of learning and ultimately forgetting the self (jiko) in Buddhist practice. While previous scholarship has compared these influential figures to Jewish and Christian theologians or European philosophers, Dr. Yazaki's innovative approach places them in direct conversation with each other for the first time. Her analysis revealed not only remarkable similarities but also fundamental differences at both doctrinal and practical levels. A key insight from the seminar was the importance of faith in both traditions, balancing the widely recognised philosophical sophistication of these texts with their spiritual foundations.