Eihei Dōgen’s legacy can be felt most clearly in the way modern Sōtō Zen understands and embodies meditation. His articulation of *shikantaza*—“just sitting”—established a form of zazen without object, goal, or expectation of special attainment. This non-instrumental sitting, where practice is not a means to an end but a complete expression in itself, has become the hallmark of Sōtō Zen and has shaped many contemporary meditation communities. Closely related is his teaching on the unity of practice and enlightenment (*shushō-ittō*), which undermines any tendency to chase dramatic experiences and instead affirms steady, sincere practice as already the manifestation of Buddha-nature.

Dōgen’s writings also grounded a vision of Zen in which everyday life is not separate from the path. Instructions on cooking, cleaning, and communal work present these activities as full spiritual practice when carried out with awareness and care. This perspective informs modern Zen training, where ritual, chores, and shared responsibilities are treated as extensions of zazen rather than distractions from it. Ethical conduct and mindfulness in ordinary situations thus become indispensable, not optional, dimensions of realization.

At the same time, Dōgen gave detailed guidance on the concrete form of practice and community. His careful descriptions of posture, breathing, and attitude in zazen helped standardize meditation methods that are still followed in many Zen centers. The monastic structures, training systems, and teacher–student relationships he established provided a framework that continues to shape institutional Sōtō Zen and its retreat formats. Through these forms, his insistence on authentic transmission has supported the spread of Sōtō Zen beyond its original cultural setting while preserving its core orientation.

Finally, Dōgen’s major work, the *Shōbōgenzō*, remains a doctrinal and practical touchstone. It offers philosophical depth to the lived emphasis on “just sitting,” the unity of practice and enlightenment, and the sacrality of daily life. Modern Sōtō lineages trace their authority through him, and many contemporary interpretations of Zen draw upon his language and insights. In this way, his thought does not merely inform abstract doctrine; it quietly shapes how countless practitioners understand what it means to sit, to act, and to live as the expression of Buddha-nature.