Tag: D.T. Suzuki

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D.T. Suzuki: From Awakening to Philosophy

Daisetz Suzuki

By Rev. Ken Yamada

Two of the most influential Buddhist thinkers in modern times led vastly different lives. Daisetz Teitarō Suzuki gained world-renown as a Zen expert, traveled widely, and lived to a ripe old age. Manshi Kiyozawa failed to reform institutional Jōdo Shinshū, died relatively young and unknown outside Japan. Yet, they have much in-common. Both clarified and explained Jōdo Shinshū in modern terms, albeit from different perspectives. Continue reading “D.T. Suzuki: From Awakening to Philosophy”

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Jodo Shinshu: Myth vs History

By Rev. Ken Yamada

With its mythical Buddha and otherworldly Pure Land, many people wonder how Jodo Shinshu could possibly represent the historical Buddha’s teaching.

By contrast, Shinshu followers feel Shinran’s teachings—the basis of Jodo Shinshu—reflect Buddhism’s true essence. The key to this conundrum lays precisely in how “myth” and symbolism may convey truth more effectively than “fact” and history. Continue reading “Jodo Shinshu: Myth vs History”

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DT Suzuki on Jodo Shinshu

Daisetsu Teitarō Suzuki gained renown as an authority of Zen Buddhism, but in his later years turned increasingly towards Jodo Shinshu.

Over the 96 years of his life, Suzuki (1870-1966) prodigiously produced more than 100 volumes on Buddhism in English and Japanese, and is credited with popularizing Zen in American culture, especially during the 1950s and 1960s. He exerted a strong influence over a generation of Buddhist scholars, Christian theologians, Zen disciples, psychoanalysts, artists, writers and others. Born and educated in Japan, he spoke and wrote fluently in English. His book, “Zen Buddhism and Japanese Culture” is a classic. As Suzuki grew older, he turned his focus on Shin Buddhism and Shinran Shonin’s teachings. Continue reading “DT Suzuki on Jodo Shinshu”

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The Eastern Buddhist: A Century of Shinshu Studies

By Rev. Ken Yamada

A century ago, Jodo Shinshu began transforming its image from beliefs in superstition and the supernatural towards teachings addressing modern day problems, bolstered by efforts of a new academic journal called The Eastern Buddhist. Today, the journal remains an active voice in English, clarifying Shinshu teachings, along with various other Buddhist traditions. Continue reading “The Eastern Buddhist: A Century of Shinshu Studies”