Steven Heine
Encyclopedia
Steven Heine, Ph.D., is a Professor of Religion and History as well as Director of the Institute for Asian Studies at Florida International University
(FIU). He specializes in East Asian and comparative religions, Japanese Buddhism
and medieval intellectual history, Buddhist studies, and religion and social sciences. His research interests include Zen Buddhism
and Japanese culture
. Heine teaches a variety of courses including Japanese Religion and Culture, Zen Buddhism, Asian Values in Business, and Religions of the Silk Road.
He has published 20 books and dozens of articles in refereed journals and collections such as Journal of Asian Studies
, Philosophy East and West, The Eastern Buddhist, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Journal of Chinese Philosophy, and Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies
, among others.
Heine has received numerous grants to develop Asian Studies at FIU and has overseen well over $1.5 million in external funding, including projects awarded by the U.S. Department of Education
, the Japan Foundation
, and National Endowment for the Humanities
.
In spring 2004, Heine received the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Award. This was bestowed for lifetime achievement in service to the exchanges between Japan and America and contributing to the benefit of Japan-U.S. relations. He was the only non-Japanese or Japanese-American among the recipients of the award in the Florida state district.
In 2006, Heine was awarded the Kauffman Entrepreneurship Professors Award by the Florida International University’s Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center housed in the College of Business Administration that has led to research and a seminar on Asian cultural values in business. The project is based on Heine’s book White Collar Zen: Using Zen Principles to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Your Goal
(Oxford University Press
, 2005).
In 2007 the government of Japan conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
, which represents the fourth highest of eight classes associated with the award. This award is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the advancement of the study of Japanese culture and the promotion of understanding of Japan.
in 1971. He then went on to study at Temple University
where he received an M.A. (1976) and PhD (1980) in Religion
. After obtaining his degrees, Heine received the Fulbright Fellowship
for the study of Dogen’s
collected Japanese poetry
at Tokyo University
and Komazawa University
.
Heine lectured at Villanova University
in Religious Studies
from 1982-1987. In 1987 he became an Assistant Professor of Religion at LaSalle University and taught there until 1991 when he moved to Penn State University
and became an Associate Professor of Religious Studies. He left Penn State University in 1997 to work as Director of Florida International University’s
Institute of Asian Studies. Since his arrival at FIU, Steven Heine has expanded Asian Studies and helped facilitate its growth at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The program also has an extensive outreach component. He is also editor of the Japan Studies Review and a review editor for Philosophy East and West.
In addition to his teaching career, Steven Heine is an accomplished author of various books and articles that discuss Japanese culture and religion, particularly Zen Buddhism
and the life and teachings of the Zen Buddhist Dogen. He is a leading scholar of Dogen and has incorporated the latest studies from Japan
into his research. His book Did Dogen Go to China? What He Wrote and When He Wrote It (Oxford University Press
, 2006) is a comprehensive textual biography and study of the full extent of Dogen’s works. Furthermore, he is an innovative interpreter of Zen in both a traditional and modern context and has translated and edited works by Masao Abe, the eminent modern Japanese thinker. Heine has also helped promote outstanding scholarship on Japanese religion and society and has won two National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships
.
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
(FIU). He specializes in East Asian and comparative religions, Japanese Buddhism
Buddhism in Japan
The history of Buddhism in Japan can be roughly divided into three periods, namely the Nara period , the Heian period and the post-Heian period . Each period saw the introduction of new doctrines and upheavals in existing schools...
and medieval intellectual history, Buddhist studies, and religion and social sciences. His research interests include Zen Buddhism
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
and Japanese culture
Culture of Japan
The culture of Japan has evolved greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jōmon period to its contemporary hybrid culture, which combines influences from Asia, Europe and North America...
. Heine teaches a variety of courses including Japanese Religion and Culture, Zen Buddhism, Asian Values in Business, and Religions of the Silk Road.
He has published 20 books and dozens of articles in refereed journals and collections such as Journal of Asian Studies
Journal of Asian Studies
The Journal of Asian Studies is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Association for Asian Studies, covering Asian studies. The journal was first established in 1941 as The Far Eastern Quarterly, obtaining its new title in September 1956...
, Philosophy East and West, The Eastern Buddhist, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Journal of Chinese Philosophy, and Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies
Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies
The Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies is an English-language scholarly journal published by the Harvard-Yenching Institute. HJAS features articles and book reviews of current scholarship in East Asian Studies, focusing on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean history, literature and religion, with...
, among others.
Heine has received numerous grants to develop Asian Studies at FIU and has overseen well over $1.5 million in external funding, including projects awarded by the U.S. Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, the Japan Foundation
Japan Foundation
The was established in 1972 by an Act of the Japanese Diet as a special legal entity to undertake international dissemination of Japanese culture, and became an independent administrative institution under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Ministry of Japan on 1 October 2003 under the "Independent...
, and National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
.
In spring 2004, Heine received the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Award. This was bestowed for lifetime achievement in service to the exchanges between Japan and America and contributing to the benefit of Japan-U.S. relations. He was the only non-Japanese or Japanese-American among the recipients of the award in the Florida state district.
In 2006, Heine was awarded the Kauffman Entrepreneurship Professors Award by the Florida International University’s Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center housed in the College of Business Administration that has led to research and a seminar on Asian cultural values in business. The project is based on Heine’s book White Collar Zen: Using Zen Principles to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Your Goal
White Collar Zen
White Collar Zen is a project by Steven Heine, who is primarily known for his research on medieval Japanese religion and society. The project deals with the principles of Zen Buddhism in relation to the contemporary workplace and professional leadership issues...
(Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2005).
In 2007 the government of Japan conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
, which represents the fourth highest of eight classes associated with the award. This award is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the advancement of the study of Japanese culture and the promotion of understanding of Japan.
Education and career
Steven Heine received a B.A. in Religious Thought from the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1971. He then went on to study at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
where he received an M.A. (1976) and PhD (1980) in Religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
. After obtaining his degrees, Heine received the Fulbright Fellowship
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
for the study of Dogen’s
Dogen
Dōgen Zenji was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher born in Kyōto, and the founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan after travelling to China and training under the Chinese Caodong lineage there...
collected Japanese poetry
Japanese poetry
Japanese poets first encountered Chinese poetry during the Tang Dynasty. It took them several hundred years to digest the foreign impact, make it a part of their culture and merge it with their literary tradition in their mother tongue, and begin to develop the diversity of their native poetry. For...
at Tokyo University
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
and Komazawa University
Komazawa University
Komazawa University is one of the oldest universities in Japan. Its history starts in 1592, when a seminary was established to be a center of learning for the young monks of the Sōtō sect, one of the two main Zen Buddhist traditions in Japan.The university in Tokyo campus comprises eight faculties...
.
Heine lectured at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in Religious Studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
from 1982-1987. In 1987 he became an Assistant Professor of Religion at LaSalle University and taught there until 1991 when he moved to Penn State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
and became an Associate Professor of Religious Studies. He left Penn State University in 1997 to work as Director of Florida International University’s
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
Institute of Asian Studies. Since his arrival at FIU, Steven Heine has expanded Asian Studies and helped facilitate its growth at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The program also has an extensive outreach component. He is also editor of the Japan Studies Review and a review editor for Philosophy East and West.
In addition to his teaching career, Steven Heine is an accomplished author of various books and articles that discuss Japanese culture and religion, particularly Zen Buddhism
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
and the life and teachings of the Zen Buddhist Dogen. He is a leading scholar of Dogen and has incorporated the latest studies from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
into his research. His book Did Dogen Go to China? What He Wrote and When He Wrote It (Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2006) is a comprehensive textual biography and study of the full extent of Dogen’s works. Furthermore, he is an innovative interpreter of Zen in both a traditional and modern context and has translated and edited works by Masao Abe, the eminent modern Japanese thinker. Heine has also helped promote outstanding scholarship on Japanese religion and society and has won two National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
.
Selected publications
- Zen Skin, Zen Marrow: Will the Real Zen Buddhism Please Stand Up (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2007, ISBN 978-0195326772 ) - Co-Editor, Zen Ritual: Studies of Zen Buddhist Theory in Practice (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2007, ISBN 978-0195304688 ) - Did Dogen Go to China? What He Wrote and When He Wrote It (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2006, ISBN 978-0-19-530592-0) - The Zen Poetry of Dogen: Verses from the Mountain of Eternal Peace (Dharma Communication, 2005, ISBN 978-1-882795-20-8)
- White Collar Zen: Using Zen Principles to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Your Career GoalsWhite Collar ZenWhite Collar Zen is a project by Steven Heine, who is primarily known for his research on medieval Japanese religion and society. The project deals with the principles of Zen Buddhism in relation to the contemporary workplace and professional leadership issues...
(Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2005, ISBN 978-0-19-516003-1) - Co-Editor, Zen Classics: Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2005, ISBN 978-0-19-517525-7) - Co-Editor, The Zen Canon: Understanding the Classic Texts (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2004, ISBN 978-0-19-515068-1) - Opening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2004, ISBN 978-0-19-517434-2) - Editor, Zen and the Modern World: A Third Sequel to Zen and Western Thought, by Masao Abe (University of Hawaii Press, 2003, ISBN 978-0-8248-2665-9)
- Co-Editor, Buddhism in the Modern World: Adaptations of an Ancient Tradition (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2003, ISBN 978-0-19-514698-1) - Co-Editor, The Koan: Texts and Contexts in Zen Buddhism (Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 2000, ISBN 978-0-8248-2197-5) - Shifting Shape, Shaping Text: Philosophy and Folklore in Fox Koan (University of Hawaii Press, 2000, ISBN 978-0-8248-2197-5)
- Editor, Zen and Comparative Studies: Part Two of a Two-Volume Sequel to Zen and Western Thought, by Masao Abe (University of Hawaii Press, 1997, ISBN 978-0-8248-1832-6)
- Dogen and the Koan Tradition: A Tale of Two Shobogenzo Texts (SUNY Press, 1997, ISBN 978-0-7914-1773-7 )
- Editor, Buddhism and Interfaith Dialogue, Part One of a Two-Volume Sequel to Zen and Western Thought, by Masao Abe (University of Hawaii Press, 1995, ISBN 978-0-8248-1752-7)
- Co-Editor, Japan in Traditional and Postmodern Perspectives (SUNY Press, 1995, ISBN 978-0-7914-2469-8)
- A Dream Within a Dream: Studies in Japanese Thought (Peter Lang Publishing Group, 1991, ISBN 978-0-8204-1350-1)
- Editor, A Study of Dogen: His Philosophy and Religion, by Masao Abe (SUNY Press, 1991, ISBN 978-0-7914-0838-4)
- A Blade of Grass: Japanese Poetry and Aesthetics in Dogen Zen (Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 1989, ISBN 978-0-8204-0627-5)
- Existential and Ontological Dimensions in Heidegger and Dogen (SUNY Press, 1985, ISBN 978-0-88706-000-7)
Awards and Grants
- Freeman Foundation, "National Consortium for Teaching about Asia" professional development and teacher training, 2007-continuous.
- Department of EducationUnited States Department of EducationThe United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Bilingual Education through Mandarin Instruction (BETMI) language development program, 2006-2009. - National Endowment for the HumanitiesNational Endowment for the HumanitiesThe National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
for “Miami-China Connection,” 2006-2008. - Center for Global Entrepreneurship, “Asian Values in Business,” for graduate course and conference, 2006-2007.
- Japan FoundationJapan FoundationThe was established in 1972 by an Act of the Japanese Diet as a special legal entity to undertake international dissemination of Japanese culture, and became an independent administrative institution under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Ministry of Japan on 1 October 2003 under the "Independent...
, Center for Global Partnership for “JapaNet” professional development and teacher training, 2004-2007. - Japan FoundationJapan FoundationThe was established in 1972 by an Act of the Japanese Diet as a special legal entity to undertake international dissemination of Japanese culture, and became an independent administrative institution under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Ministry of Japan on 1 October 2003 under the "Independent...
, Salary Assistance for language instruction, 2003-2006. - Department of EducationUnited States Department of EducationThe United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, Title VI International Undergraduate Programs and Foreign Languages grant, 2001-2004. - National Endowment for the Humanities FellowshipNational Endowment for the HumanitiesThe National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
award for research on "Opening a Mountain," 2000-2001. - Association for Asian StudiesAssociation for Asian StudiesThe Association for Asian Studies is a U.S. society focused on facilitating contact and information exchange among scholars of Asian fields. It is the self-proclaimed largest society of its kind. The Association consists of eminent Asianists, and is a non-profit organization...
research award for “Opening a Mountain,” summer 2001. - Department of EducationUnited States Department of EducationThe United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
Title VI International Undergraduate Programs and Foreign Languages grant award for "Asian Globalization and Latin America" Project, 1999-2001. - Department of EducationUnited States Department of EducationThe United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
Title VI grant award for Asian Studies Initiative 1997-1999. - National Endowment for the HumanitiesNational Endowment for the HumanitiesThe National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
Fellowship award for research on the "Wild Fox Koan" project, 1996-97. - American Academy of ReligionAmerican Academy of ReligionThe American Academy of Religion is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,...
for research on the "Wild Fox Koan" project, 1996. - Center for Japanese Studies, University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, research on "Tragedy and Salvation in the Floating World," 1993. - Association for Asian StudiesAssociation for Asian StudiesThe Association for Asian Studies is a U.S. society focused on facilitating contact and information exchange among scholars of Asian fields. It is the self-proclaimed largest society of its kind. The Association consists of eminent Asianists, and is a non-profit organization...
on Dogen'sDogenDōgen Zenji was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher born in Kyōto, and the founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan after travelling to China and training under the Chinese Caodong lineage there...
koan collection at Komazawa UniversityKomazawa UniversityKomazawa University is one of the oldest universities in Japan. Its history starts in 1592, when a seminary was established to be a center of learning for the young monks of the Sōtō sect, one of the two main Zen Buddhist traditions in Japan.The university in Tokyo campus comprises eight faculties...
in TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Summer 1992. - Fulbright Senior FellowFulbright ProgramThe Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
for study of Dogen'sDogenDōgen Zenji was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher born in Kyōto, and the founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan after travelling to China and training under the Chinese Caodong lineage there...
collected Japanese poetryJapanese poetryJapanese poets first encountered Chinese poetry during the Tang Dynasty. It took them several hundred years to digest the foreign impact, make it a part of their culture and merge it with their literary tradition in their mother tongue, and begin to develop the diversity of their native poetry. For...
at Tokyo UniversityUniversity of Tokyo, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
and Komazawa UniversityKomazawa UniversityKomazawa University is one of the oldest universities in Japan. Its history starts in 1592, when a seminary was established to be a center of learning for the young monks of the Sōtō sect, one of the two main Zen Buddhist traditions in Japan.The university in Tokyo campus comprises eight faculties...
, 1981-1982.