Suzuki, suzuki zen, and the american reception of zen. The highly influential book that helped bring eastern spiritual principles to the western world. Second, this suzuki is not the same one as one who wrote zen mind, beginners mind. An introduction to zen buddhism is a 1934 book about zen buddhism by daisetz teitaro suzuki. A history japan treasures of the worlds religions volume 2 zen buddhism. Nevertheless he was a significant contributor perhaps the single most significant modern contributor to zen buddhism and to western buddhism generally. Decisive influences suzuki was born in kanazawa, ishikawa prefecture, japan, the son of a physician. Suzukis communication of zen to the west the buddhist centre. Erich fromm as far as zen is concerned suzuki was the apostle of the west. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. At a time when suzukis vision of zen remains influential.
Essays in zen buddhism by daisetz teitaro suzuki, 1961. Suzuki found in world wisdoms books are notable in that they include much of his work on shin buddhism. The manual of zen buddhism, written by author and essayist daisetz teitaro suzuki, is a work that was instrumental and spreading far eastern philosophy to the west. This distinction goes on throughout all branches of the buddhist teaching. From the audio renaissance tapes, zen and the love of nature. This book is in the public domain in the united states of america. Suzuki s own words on zen, with their combination of erudition, intellectual brilliance, and spiritual profundity, impressed me deeply, and i have returned to them for inspiration throughout my buddhist life.
Suzuki, suzuki zen, and the american reception of zen buddhism carl t. Suzuki 18701966, credited with introducing zen buddhism to the west. The companion book, manual of zen buddhism, is recommended to be used with this introduction. Zen meditation much less still learn japanese or sit on cushions of a particular size and shape. Suzuki was born teitaro suzuki in hondamachi, kanazawa, ishikawa prefecture, the fourth son of physician ryojun suzuki. First, suzuki is attacking meditation here, not me. He is attacking in through a careful scholarly study of how the sixth patriarch attacked meditation. At once a critical explication of the facets of zen and a meditation on the meaning of existence, essays in zen buddhism is an indispensable document to the student of eastern religion. Buy manual of zen buddhism by suzuki, daisetz teitaro isbn. Daisetz teitaro suzukis works on zen buddhism are among the best contributions to the knowledge of living buddhism, and zen itself is the most important fruit. Suzuki, whose essays in zen buddhism 1927, 1933, 1934. His introduction to zen buddhism, published in 1956. I was struck by the sheer age of most of the talking heads in a zen life. Suzuki is available at in several formats for your ereader.
One of the worlds leading authorities on zen buddhism, d. Can be found in suzuki s book zen and japanese culture. Suzuki was also a prolific translator of chinese, japanese. Suzuki by buddhism now on 31 july 2010 3 anjin, peaceful awareness in zen and shin by d. No claim is made here for a scholarly treatment of the subjectmatter. This post is the first in a series looking at distinctly buddhist words in zen texts. It was at the beginning of the tang dynasty that zen first flourished in china. Dt suzuki is one of the most influential writersphilosophers on zen and buddhist teachings in the. The fact that zen has now become a household word in the englishspeaking world is almost entirely due to him. The book has come to be regarded as one of the most influential books on zen in the west. An introduction to zen buddhism quotes showing of 67 the idea of zen is to catch life as it flows. One of the worlds leading authorities on zen buddhism, and a nobel peace prize nominee, d. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. As a translator and writer on buddhism and eastern philosophy, he greatly helped to popularize japanese zen in the west.
The companion volume to suzukis introduction to zen buddhism, this is mostly of collection of source materials and quotations from great zen masters like dogen or hakuin. A practitioner of rinzai zen buddhism, suzuki, in his writings about the ultimate experience of satori and the meditative use of koans, made zen terms almost household words in. Essays in zen buddhism, first series 9780802151186. Buy a cheap copy of manual of zen buddhism book by d. Golden elixir press, 2015 pdf, free download use the link on the right side of this page. Suzuki is considered to be the foremost authority on zen buddhism. On your behalf i have already bestowed on you peaceful awareness without this special element in religion, shinjin or satori would not be possible.
Of those who have made the effort to explain zen buddhism, few have been more successful than the japanese philosopher and professor, d. A monk once went to gensha, and wanted to learn where the entrance to the path of truth was. Suzuki was also a prolific translator of chinese, japanese, and sanskrit literature. Although his birthplace no longer exists, a humble monument marks its location a tree with a rock at its. Many in the west encountered buddhism for the very first time through his writings and teaching, and for nearly a century his work and legacy have contributed to the ongoing religious and cultural interchange between japan and the rest of the world, particularly the united states and europe. Zen, therefore, is more than meditation and dhyana in its ordinary sense. Pdf sufism and suzuki shozans japanese zen teachings. T suzuki and others was politically relevant in both. Here are the famous sutras, or sermons, of the buddha, the gathas, or hymns, the intriguing philosophical puzzles known.
In simple, often poetic, language, daisetz suzuki describes what zen is, how it evolved, and how its emphasis on primitive simplicity and selfeffacement have helped to shape an aesthetics found throughout japanese culture. In essays in zen buddhism dr suzuki outlines the origins of zen as a unique chinese interpretation of the doctrine of enlightenment and the aim of the specifically zen tradition was to attain satori sudden enlightenment. Suzuki was the author of more than a hundred works on the subject in both japanese and english, and was most instrumental in bringing the teachings of zen buddhism. Torture to read ive learned nothing of value from this book and thats the opposite of buddhism. Zen as a cult of death in the wartime writings of d.
As stated by the author, the object of this book, is to inform the reader of the various literary materials relating to the monastery life. Christian and buddhist in meeting him one seemed to meet that true man of no title that chuang tzu and the zen masters speak of. If the book really serves as a sort of introduction to zen buddhism, and leads the reader up to the study of my other works, the object is attained. Essays in zen buddhism isbn 9780285638679 pdf epub d. An introduction to zen buddhism, by daisetz teitaro d. In the following pages i attempt to call the readers attention to the closeness of meister eckharts way of thinking to that of mahayana buddhism, especially of zen buddhism. He describes how satori can be achieved and the methods that can bring it about, but always stressed that zen had to be a. First published in kyoto by the eastern buddhist society, it was soon published in other nations and languages, with an added preface by carl jung.
The clarity of dr suzuki s writing helps the reader to an understanding of zen, in giving the reader the ability to understand zen rather than dictating what zen is. This getting into the real nature of ones own mind or soul is the fundamental object of zen buddhism. Manual of zen buddhism paperback january 1, 1974 by d. Preface to first edition in my introduction to zen buddhism published 1934, an outline of zen teaching is sketched, and in the training of the zen monk 1934 a description. Daisetz teitaro suzuki suzuki daisetsu, october 18, 1870 july 12, 1966 was a famous japanese author of books and essays on buddhism, zen and shin that were instrumental in spreading interest in both zen and shin and far eastern philosophy in general to the west. One of this centurys leading works on zen, this book is a valuable source for those wishing to understand its concepts in the context of japanese life and art. The buddhist name daisetsu, meaning great humility, the kanji of which can also mean greatly clumsy, was given to him by his zen master soen or soyen shaku. His major works in english on the subject of buddhism number a dozen or more, and of his works in. Third, suzuki has been charged with presenting zen in an overintellectual manner without recognising the importance of spiritual practices, such as meditation. Suzuki was a leading authority on buddhism and is known for his introduction of zen buddhism to the west. This suzuki is a zen master, a zen scholar, quite a sharp guy. However, had that been all, had my connection with zen been limited to my experience of the diamond sutra and the sutra of weilang, my reading of suzukis works, and my general understanding of buddhism, it is very. The discipline of zen consists in opening the mental eye in order to look into the very reason of existence. Foreword to suzukis introduction to zen buddhism 1 psychology.
Description of the book an introduction to zen buddhism. Among his more notable works are essays in zen buddhism and an introduction to zen buddhism. Suzuki was the author of more than a hundred works on the subject in both japanese and english. Zen is not a religion, it is a way of acting and being and these essays provide a foundation for living a, isbn 9780285638679 buy the essays in zen buddhism ebook. Professor of buddhist philosophy in the otani university, kyoto 1935 set in pdf by m. Suzuki was never an ordained monk, and he was not a historian of buddhism in an academic sense. Through his books and lectures, suzuki became zen s leading voice in america during the mid20th century. Suzuki had an excellent grasp of written and spoken english, combined with an exhaustive knowledge of eastern and. Satori was focal for daisetz, and it was in large part the fascination of this extraordinary state that made his writings so compelling. In meeting dr suzuki and drinking a cup of tea with him i felt i had met this one man. Daisetsu teitaro suzuki suzuki daisetsu teitaro, october 18, 1870 july 12, 1966 was a japanese author of books and essays on buddhism, zen and shin that were. Suzuki daisetz 18701966, the wellknown japanese zen philosopher who helped spread interest in zen buddhism to the w est, was also interested in the apparent similarity between dhikr and. And of course this is the man one really wants to meet. However, there is a 1964 book by suzuki of the same name that contains 9 chaptersincluding the 3 chapters from the 1934 versionand in my edition about 124 content pages.
A visionary post pop comic guide to buddhism and zen zen buddhism. Ive been studying chinese for about 8 years first modern while living for 4 years in the greater china area, and then classical chinese for the last couple years which are two different, though related, language systems, and while my chinese is far from perfect, i can find my way around these texts and. Jul 31, 2010 home buddhism peaceful awareness by d. Suzuki was the author of more than a hundred works on the subject in both japanese and english, and.
In this collection of his most important essays, suzuki explores a variety of topics, including the history of buddhism, the daily life of a zen monk, and the path to enlightenment. Suzuki was the author of more than a hundred works on the subject in both japanese and english, and was most instrumental in bringing the teachings of zen buddhism to the attention of the western world. His major works in english on the subject of buddhism number a. In this collection of his most important essays dr suzuki explores the history of buddhism, the daily life of a zen monk and the path to enlightenment.
He is probably now the greatest living authority on buddhist philosophy, and is certainly the greatest authority on zen buddhism. Buy a cheap copy of an introduction to zen buddhism book by d. Suzuki s first books in english were a translation of ashvaghoshas discourse on the awakening of faith in the mahayana 1900 and outlines of mahayana buddhism 1907. Finally, section four seeks to characterise suzuki s presentation of zen by identifying some of its distinctive emphases. The buddha is an enlightened one who has seen into the reason of existence, while sentient beings are. Whereas daisetz suzuki s zen was dramatic, shunryu suzuki s is ordinary. In doing so, i aim to show that his reading of zen was both highly sectarian and fatally flawed. Buddhism, nihilism, nothingness, taoism, the unknown, zurich dada. Jan 28, 20 this book appears to be a reprint of a 1934 book of this name by d. Approximately one third of this book is a long discussion by suzuki that gives a buddhist analysis of the mind, its levels, and the methodology of extending awareness beyond the merely discursive level of thought. Daisetsu teitaro suzuki was a japanese author of books and essays on buddhism, zen chan and shin that were instrumental in spreading interest in both. Zen purposes to discipline the mind itself, to make it its own master, through an insight into its proper nature.
Finally, section four seeks to characterise suzukis presentation of zen by identifying some of its distinctive emphases. The attempt is only a tentative and sketchy one, far from being systematic and exhaustive. Reading this poem reminds me of bodhidharmas declaration to eka. For other parts of the world, please consult local. Suzuki is a 77minute documentary about daisetz teitaro suzuki 18701966, credited with introducing zen buddhism to the west. For more than twenty years, mainly in the east, i studied and practised forms of buddhism other than zen. Jackson perhaps no single individual has had greater in. Daisetsu teitaro suzuki is considered a key figure in the introduction of buddhism to the nonasian world.