Introduction to Zen Buddhism

I felt it was really heavy reading for an introduction to Zen Buddhism. I'm afraid I couldn't wrap my head around the material. I need the Cliffs Notes version. It could just be I'm old and don't like minutia.

Amazingly my volume of this book was published in 1964 and looking at the preface, the book was created from articles written in Japan in 1914 ... The author states if he can lead the reader to study more of his work he has achieved his goal. This volume will serve to quench the thirst and hunger of any reader who is interested in Zen and it will lead one to try to understand more of the concepts associated with this experience.The introduction is written by Dr. Carl Gustav Jung, who tells us, that the oriental concepts of Tao, satori, and the Buddhist concept of kamma are so different from Western ideas that it is difficult to translate. Yet he gives his highest recommendations to this volume -- no small matter, from one such as he is... a world famous psychiatrist and psychologist. The Zen texts say "enlightenment" is a natural occurence, and that it is a state of insight into the nature of self. Jung tells us it is a state of "spiritual reality", that 'satori' is a psychic occurence. It is a state of 'seeing things differently', a state of "consciousness of the consciousness" ... It is associated with "becoming whole" ... a spiritual experience that is part of consciousness ... but more expansive. Jung considers it is duty to tell Westerners -- it is "the longest of roads" -- "difficulties strew the path" -- "trodden by only a few of our great men" -- it remains for most -- "a beacon on a high mountain, shining out in a haze future". [p.27]D.T. Suzuki in his "Preliminary" describes the two paths of Buddhism, the Lesser Vehicle and Higher Vehicle. "Personal experience is everything in Zen." [p.33]"No amount of meditation will keep Zen in one place." [p.41] He provides chapters on "nihilistic zen", "illogical zen", and "zen a higher affirmation". Practical zen, koans, and acquiring '"satori" or a new viewpoint' are well documented with fine examples. For a book of *only* 132 pages the breadth, width and depth of detail is astonishing. The author proves to be a master of his subject, indeed, no one else can whet the appetite of a beginner and have them searching to know more. This is the best gift a writer can provide -- this author provides us his *very* *best*. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

D.T.Suzuki is an excellent author and philosopher. This book certainly conveys that fact. Suzuki has a style of treating his readers as intellectuals. As a result, eventhough some of the chapers contain very difficult Zen (especially related to eastern philosophy) ideas and concepts, you can follow them easily. Suzuki is an excellent teacher and this book is worth buying if you are into Zen or Buddhism in general.One quick note, the print is bad and ugly. Didn't make a pleasant reading experience, I thought.

The one criticism that Zen practitioners offer in the world of Zen in the Western culture is that it has been intellectualized into absurdity. That is to say, in the Taoist tradition, by understanding Zen is not to understand it. Modern Zen in the West has taken on a psychological approach where one thinks in order to "get it", one must break it down in terms of how the mind responds while in practice. When one does not "get it" then it is written off as silly, irrational or impratical. From the writings of D. T. Suzuki, this irrationality is the root from which the practice begins. To put the student into a state of paradox because, "simply the human tongue is not an adequate organ for expressing the deepest truths". When there is no verbal expression, or thought connected with words in which to speak, then a paradox is set up. A crux that forfits the tongue and makes room for action. Suzuki who is known as the introducer of Zen as well as the foremost authority on the subject in the West writes clearly and accurately, which is impressive knowing that English is not his native language. Throughout the book Suzuki sites many examples of ancient literature of Zen Masters, monks and students who have experienced satori or enlightenment through the use of stories, anecdotes and parables. These "stories" are told as if they are historical, yet are designed to further the student into irrationality. In Western terms, it means to break the yes/no logic of the rational mind. While the book reads easily, Suzuki writes intellectually. Although it is intellectual, there is not a sense he is talking down to the reader or intellectualizing the subject. To epitomize the paradox, Suzuki is describing what is not Zen more so than what is Zen by the sheer fact that Zen is not a thing to grasp or see. By his descriptions, the only way it can be exposed most accurately is through the description of what is not Zen. The reader, after trying to pick sides of what Zen may in fact be will struggle with this. Is this Zen? Or is this not Zen? Upon giving up on the struggle, the last section of the book is reprinted in-part, Suzuki's book, 'The Training of the Zen Monk' and may come to some conclusion that Zen is not a thing or idea or philosophy, but a life to live by. Decribing the techniques and practices of various Zen disciplines, Suzuki emphasizes the strict lifestyle and loyalty to their work. I feel the word "work" best describes this lifestyle. I do not mean a job by any sense of the word, by work as in "doing with conscious intent". But because I dont practice Zen, I can intellectualize a little bit, which is why I practice yoga.

D.T. Suzuki (1870 - 1966) is usually credited with introducing Zen Buddhism to America, and in AN INTRODUCTION TO ZEN BUDDHISM he covers Zen in a scholastic and erudite fashion. Suzuki's use of English is extremely complex, but his style gets information across very well.While expounding on the basics of Zen, Suzuki is always quick to respond to questions the reader might have. He dedicates an entire chapter to countering the oft-heard argument that Zen is nihilistic. The final chapter covers daily life for Zen monks, giving Westerners a glimpse of what is common knowledge for Japanese (or was several generations ago).The book is not perfect, however. Suzuki covers only the Rinzai school of Japanese Buddhism, leaving the Soto school out in the cold. Also, like any Japanese Zen scholar, he tends to do a little Theravada bashing, claiming that it is "primitive" and unrefined.D.T. Suzuki was a professor of Buddhist studies, and not a Zen adept himself, so it is important to also read an account of Zen from a personal and practical angle, to complement Suzuki's scholarly approach. For that, I recommend QUESTIONS TO A ZEN MASTER with Taisen Deshimaru.

Picasso said, "People don't realize what they have when they own a picture by me. Each picture is a phial with my blood. That is what has gone into it." When I read this book, I get the similar sense. The life jumps around. Creative energy flows as he indicates that Zen is the most important thing in life.I read this book perhaps twenty years ago, and when I reread this now, it is as fresh if not much fresher than before. As we grow, our perspective in life changes. But because of that, I recommend any reader to "try" to get the essense of this book, keep this, and revisit this book later in his life. Perhaps, the light of awakening may strike us to reveal life's secret. As Daisetz knows that it is like committing a crime to use words to write about Zen, we, readers, may well miss the mark to get the point for the first few readings. Yet, his compassion made him to spend his whole life dedicated to do this difficult job - to communicate the message. Personally, I have read more than thousands of pages of Daisetz both in Japanese and in English. Not just his writing, but his personality is revealed and attracted me as I talked with a person like Ms. Mihoko Okamura, Daisetz's personal secretary/companion in his later years. I hope that the essense of Zen, or for that matter, the essence of life is communicated throught this book for us to benefit from and for us to live the life as it is meant to be.To help capture the point, here are few quotes collected from the book: - Zen is the spirit of a man. - The discipline of Zen consists in opening the mental eye..into the very reason of existence. - Zen wants to rise above logic. - Zen defies all concept-making. - When Zen is throughly understood, absolute peace of mind is attained, and a man lives as he ought to live. - here is ..a pure experience, the very foundation of our being and thought. - Zen is a living fact...To come into contact with this living fact...is the aim of all Zen discipline.Best wishes! Good day, good life!! Kio Suzaki