Zen and Japanese Culture

I was perhaps, more or less, curious when I picked this book up at a used book store a few years ago. As I read it - this curiosity was very deeply rewarded - and I fell in love with Suzuki's style of writing - and his presentation of Zen - which for me (a westerner) pieced together a rather loose understanding I had at the time and gained something of a background into the great mysteries of Asian (esp. Japanese) culture and ways of life. This book enlightened new ideas of embracing simplicity and poverty - not usually seen in the west (where we long for belongings). Another thing Suzuki stresses is dicipline - something lacking in many western interpretations of Zen.

This enchanting book examines the deep influence of Zen Buddhism on the central aspects of Japanese culture and gracefully illustrates that the two are linked in profound ways. Suzuki has that mysterious ability as a writer to explain extremely abstract notions in elegant though simplistic language. Zen is a difficult subject to demonstrate because, by its very nature, it defies normative modes of rational thought.Suzuki manages to gently clear our rationally conditioned patterns of thought like a gentle spring rain, and astonishingly we come to discover that Zen is simpler than anything else we've encountered before. One comes away from the reading with a soothing, calm and certain understanding of the nature of Zen. And one is certain that the man behind the words is a master. He begins the narrative with insightful remarks on Japanese culture, touching on Zen's history and how the military classes, the Samurai, embraced the religion. The discussion moves onto Zen and its relation to Confucianism and the connection with the cultivation of a nationalistic spirit in Japan. The majority of the text is devoted to three central areas: Zen and Swordsmanship, Zen and Haiku, Zen and the Art of Tea, and lastly, the Japanese love of nature and its manifestations through art. Suzuki's argument is that Zen and its teachings have had such an enormous influence on the Japanese, that the culture as we know it would not exist without it. One needs to truly understand this influence in order to have any comprehension of the culture. He proposes that one does not exist without the other:"...without a full appreciation of it not a page of the history of Japanese poetry, Japanese arts, and Japanese handicrafts would have been written. Not only the history of the arts, but the history of the Japanese moral and spiritual life would lose its deeper significance, if detached from the Zen way of interpreting life and the world." (P.364)This is an extraordinary book because it opens the way towards a fundamental understanding of Zen Buddhism and the foundations of Japanese culture, illustrating that the two are inextricably interlinked. The text is also beautifully enhanced with poetry, paintings, calligraphy and examples of architecture. If one is interested in either of these subjects, this book is a masterpiece and an important and enlightening experience.

If you like me have turned corners with Zen as sign posts and have come away with less than satisfactory comprehension as to what "it is," you also may find this book helpful. In college years I read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle, etc." as well as "Zen and the Art of Archery." Both had me wanting to know more about Zen.That said, I do not know what Zen is. I have now read Suzuki's book and I cannot explain it to my friend who asked me what "it is." It is a concept very different from the Western Philosophical dialectic tradition. I cannot tell you, the reader, what it is.Suzuki does an exceptional job in presenting the idea framed in terms of Japanese culture. As we learn by comparison, this helps significantly. His scholarship is first rate. He addresses questions such as how Buddhism, a belief that embraces life, can be consistent with kendo, the art of swordsmanship, which obviously must deal with violent death and somehow connect with Zen and the Art of the Tea Ceremony. Moreover, he presents common allegorical tales from eastern texts to illustrate ideas about Zen. This helped me since I had read several of the same or similar tales in various books. (In fact, I suspect some of them may be the same tales, corrupted by time and telling.) One tale, about a Samurai posing as a monk to defeat a kidnapper, appears in one of the first scenes of the movie, "The Seven Samurai." I include this to answer one of the other reviewers who questioned the connection between Zen and Japanese Culture.How pervasive Zen is in the culture, I have no idea. I am not sophisticated enough in the matter to definitively respond, but I did find, in my limited experience, a connection of significance. Moreover, I do sense that I know more now after having read Suzuki's book than before.Finally, for those who want to know what Zen is, I would recommend they include this book in their travels. I believe--think is not the appropriate word--that understanding it is a long process. One learns techniques of thinking that inhibit knowing but are necessary. One distances oneself from the techniques for them to become natural. One appreciates the distance and the techniques and becomes entangled in pride. Finally, I believe, one loses all of oneself and is. Now that is what I do not know it is.Be sure to read the tale of "The Swordman and the Cat" beginning on page 429.

A towering book of scholarship from the mind of a Japanese Zen master with an almost mystical mastery of English prose. One neednt be a student of Buddhism or particularly interested in the history of Zen and its historical impact to benefit mightily from this book. It's beautiful literature. The passages (in two generous chapters) on Zen and Swordsmanship boast standing with the best in English literature. Suzuki's perspective is broad and inclusive, if entirely his own, and includes the historic relationship of Zen to nature, art, haiku, and more narrowly to the Japanese Tea Ceremony. He remains more bountiful writer than succint personal teacher. It's a great book that can be read again and again. Suzuki's plane is infinite depth and light; he takes us in, for the book of a lifetime. Unconditional recommendation that amounts to urging you.

As a fully equipped trip into spirituality, this book is a beautiful portrayal of Zen and the Japanese culture, written as a scholastic treatise on Zen Buddhism and it's greatest teachers. The author has an in-depth understanding of Western culture and this book is one of a few bridges between Eastern and Western experience that are built to traverse with a joy. From stories of swordless Samurais you will learn the secret of swordmanship art as well as interpretation of haiku poetry while tasting tranquillity of tea ceremonies, quietly accompanied by lovely nature images. Battle between intuition versus intellect in art of swordmanship demonstrates effortless power of the Unconscious while a blossomed cherry tree in haiku leaves you with an image of the truth. After 'experiencing' this book you won't escape the feeling that Zen is even if it is not.