Follows the life of Zen Buddhist monk Dogen Kigen during the turbulent Kamakura period. Dogen's parents died when he was very young, and his devout mother's final wish was that he go on to become a monk and work for the welfare of all beings. The experience of having his parents die gave Dogen a special insight into the fleeting nature of life and sparked his search for enlightenment. With this insight, he eventually succeeded in spreading his method of seated meditation throughout Japan, and managed to bring salvation to the hearts and minds of many people along the way.