Many readers find that arranging the Shōbōgenzō’s ninety-six (or so) fascicles into thematic clusters turns Dōgen’s sprawling masterpiece into a more navigable path:

1. Foundations of Practice
   • Bendōwa, Fukanzazengi, and Zazengi introduce zazen as the heart-and-soul of Zen training—no smoke and mirrors, just “practice-enlightenment” in action.
   • Genjōkōan then nails the key insight: practice itself is the great matter, not a stepping-stone to something else.

2. Realization and Expression
   • Fascicles like Shōji, Shushōgi, and Hōjōki explore how awakening ripples into daily life—housework, illness, even architecture.
   • This cluster shows that enlightenment isn’t confined to the cushion but blossoms in every sweeping gesture.

3. Metaphysics and Mind
   • In Uji (“Being-Time”), Bendōwa, and Shinji Shōbōgenzō, Dōgen maps the interplay of time, mind, and buddha-body.
   • For anyone ever tangled in “What is reality?” these chapters serve as both microscope and telescope.

4. Monastic Codes and Community Life
   • Gyōji, Tokudo, and Busshō offer down-to-earth guidance on rituals, precepts, and the rhythms of temple life.
   • They’re as vital today for sangha harmony as they were in 13th-century Eihei-ji.

5. Poetic and Ritual Dimensions
   • Esha Shōbōgenzō (“Matter and Ink”), Sōkushin Zebun, and the series on dhāraṇī unveil Dōgen’s flair for language, ceremony, and the arts.
   • These essays feel like secret doors into the sensory heart of Zen.

Organizing study around these clusters makes it easier to bounce from theoretical heights to the nitty-gritty of everyday life—just the kind of well-rounded approach that’s caught on in recent online Soto-Zen seminars and local meditation hubs. In effect, this thematic roadmap becomes a trusty companion, ensuring each reading session feels less like roaming a labyrinth and more like savoring a well-curated playlist of teachings.