January 19

Born into a noble family in Kyoto, Dōgen traveled to China at age 24 to study Chan Buddhism. After his return to Japan, he established the Eihei-ji temple as the headquarters of Sōtō Zen. His magnum opus, the Shōbōgenzō, explores the nature of practice and enlightenment with poetic insight. Dōgen emphasized shikantaza, or wholehearted sitting meditation, as the true expression of Buddha-nature. His teachings stressed the unity of practice and awakening rather than treating enlightenment as a distant goal. Dōgen's influence spread through his disciples and continues to shape Zen practice worldwide.

Born in 1933, George Coyne joined the Society of Jesus and pursued advanced studies in astronomy. He became director of the Vatican Observatory in 1978, championing research on galaxy formation and dark matter. Coyne advocated for harmony between scientific discovery and theological understanding, writing extensively on both subjects. He taught astrophysics at several universities and initiated programs to engage young scientists worldwide. A respected voice in the science-faith community, he received numerous honors for his contributions. Coyne passed away in 2020, leaving a legacy of bridge-building between faith and empirical inquiry.