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What is Zen
From one of the most influential books ever written on Zen A fascinating study of this ancient discipline.
One of the leading twentieth-century works on Zen, D.T. Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture is an invaluable source for those wishing to understand Zen concepts in the context of Japanese life and art.
What is Zen offers a general introduction to the concepts and philosophy of Zen, including Mr. Suzuki's observations of its effects on Japanese art culture, and his explorations of Zen and the study of Confucianism.
In simple, often poetic language, enhanced by anecdotes and poetry, D.T. Suzuki describes what Zen is, how it evolved, and how its emphasis on primitive simplicity and self-effacement have helped to shape an aesthetics found throughout Japanese culture.
One of the leading twentieth-century works on Zen, D.T. Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture is an invaluable source for those wishing to understand Zen concepts in the context of Japanese life and art.
What is Zen offers a general introduction to the concepts and philosophy of Zen, including Mr. Suzuki's observations of its effects on Japanese art culture, and his explorations of Zen and the study of Confucianism.
In simple, often poetic language, enhanced by anecdotes and poetry, D.T. Suzuki describes what Zen is, how it evolved, and how its emphasis on primitive simplicity and self-effacement have helped to shape an aesthetics found throughout Japanese culture.
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First published January 1, 1972
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About the author
D.T. Suzuki
325 books454 followersDaisetsu Teitaro Suzuki (鈴木 大拙 貞太郎 Suzuki Daisetsu Teitarō; rendered "Daisetz" after 1893) was Professor of Buddhist philosophies at Ōtani University. As a translator and writer on Buddhism and Eastern philosophy, he greatly helped to popularize Japanese Zen in the West.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 7, 2020
Descripción de la filosofia del zen por parte de dt suzuki, de manera rigurosa y genial.
Un pensador que se gano el respeto de loa filosofos occidentales del siglo xx
Un pensador que se gano el respeto de loa filosofos occidentales del siglo xx
July 11, 2021
D.T. Suzuki’s ‘What is Zen’ offers a general introduction to the concepts and philosophy of Zen, including observations of its effects on Japanese art culture, and his explorations of Zen and the study of Confucianism. A central theme of the book is the Japanese aesthetic tradition of wabi-sabi. Suzuki emphasis on Zen’s primitive simplicity and self-effacement show how this practice helped to shape the aesthetics found throughout Japanese culture--“Despite the modern Western luxuries and comforts of life which have invaded us, there is still an ineradicable longing in us for the cult of wabi. Even in the intellectual life, not richness of ideas, not brilliancy or solemnity in marshaling thoughts and building up a philosophical system, is sought; but just to stay quietly content with the mystical contemplation of Nature and to feel at home with the world is more inspiring to us, at least to some of us.” Suzuki reminds the reader of a need to return, even if it be occasionally, to wabi-sabi; that nature provides a therapeutic quality of transient imperfection not found anywhere else.
December 3, 2019
Funnily enough this book does not exist unlike the reality it represents.
August 11, 2023
More about history than zen
December 2, 2025
THREE ESSAYS FOR VERY DIFFERENT "AUDIENCES"
Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki (1870-1966) was a Japanese author of books and essays on Buddhism, Zen and Shin that were instrumental in spreading interest in both Zen and Shin to the West. Suzuki spent several lengthy stretches teaching or lecturing at Western universities, and devoted many years to a professorship at Otani University, a Japanese Buddhist school.
In the Publisher's Preface by Christmas Humphreys (founder of the London Buddhist Society), he wrote, "this volume... contains three works written with three different types of reader in view: a small society in need of a brief introduction to Zen Buddhism, a determined enquirer needing help on a chosen theme, and for the Emperor of Japan an outline of the essence of Buddhism, which the author held to be Zen."
Suzuki wrote, "When you ask what Zen is, I say that Zen is you and you are Zen. Before you ask somebody outside what Zen is, you turn inwardly and ask, who am I? ... What is this 'I'? This inner 'I' that resents all these oppressions from without, revolting, complaining, irritated, upset, despondent, wavering, unable to be decisive---what is this inner 'I'? This 'I' is the real questioner." (Pg. 19)
He recounts of Butsugen Shoyen [1067-1120], "it does not necessarily take a man of great intelligence to become conscious of the stupidity of seeking for the donkey when you are right on it. The more serious one is not to dare come down from the donkey even after realising that you are on it, for this induces a state of self-complacency that makes you go on riding." (Pg. 29)
He states, "The Unattainable must be preserved undisturbed by our intellectual agitation. It must be left to itself until it is ready to give an answer to the question which comes apparently from the intellect but which in fact is the outcome of the intellect being instigated by the Unattainable itself." (Pg. 58-59)
He explains, "I am, for example, born, I may become ill, I shall grow old, and die. I cannot ignore this wheel of causation, but the fact that I am conscious of its revolutions and yet at the same time conscious that there is something that is never touched by the causal revolutions, enables me to 'escape' from it." (Pg. 89-90)
He observes, "We are apt to consider the waves apart from the ocean, and forget the ocean, or to take the ocean alone as reality and ignore the waves, and this logical confusion ends in a tragedy of misunderstanding. In a similar way, the doctrine of interpenetration upholds the individual's actuality, and at the same time acknowledges the realm of the Absolute." (Pg. 95-96)
He notes, "...there is suffering for all sentient beings, and Gods and Bodhisattvas are found to be shedding tears of compassion for mankind. One the one hand purposelessness and on other eternal striving; this problem will never be solved on the plane of intellectual distinction, but when it ceases to be a contradiction we see the dawn of the spiritual life." (Pg. 106)
Suzuki's books are 'must reading' for anyone studying Zen.
Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki (1870-1966) was a Japanese author of books and essays on Buddhism, Zen and Shin that were instrumental in spreading interest in both Zen and Shin to the West. Suzuki spent several lengthy stretches teaching or lecturing at Western universities, and devoted many years to a professorship at Otani University, a Japanese Buddhist school.
In the Publisher's Preface by Christmas Humphreys (founder of the London Buddhist Society), he wrote, "this volume... contains three works written with three different types of reader in view: a small society in need of a brief introduction to Zen Buddhism, a determined enquirer needing help on a chosen theme, and for the Emperor of Japan an outline of the essence of Buddhism, which the author held to be Zen."
Suzuki wrote, "When you ask what Zen is, I say that Zen is you and you are Zen. Before you ask somebody outside what Zen is, you turn inwardly and ask, who am I? ... What is this 'I'? This inner 'I' that resents all these oppressions from without, revolting, complaining, irritated, upset, despondent, wavering, unable to be decisive---what is this inner 'I'? This 'I' is the real questioner." (Pg. 19)
He recounts of Butsugen Shoyen [1067-1120], "it does not necessarily take a man of great intelligence to become conscious of the stupidity of seeking for the donkey when you are right on it. The more serious one is not to dare come down from the donkey even after realising that you are on it, for this induces a state of self-complacency that makes you go on riding." (Pg. 29)
He states, "The Unattainable must be preserved undisturbed by our intellectual agitation. It must be left to itself until it is ready to give an answer to the question which comes apparently from the intellect but which in fact is the outcome of the intellect being instigated by the Unattainable itself." (Pg. 58-59)
He explains, "I am, for example, born, I may become ill, I shall grow old, and die. I cannot ignore this wheel of causation, but the fact that I am conscious of its revolutions and yet at the same time conscious that there is something that is never touched by the causal revolutions, enables me to 'escape' from it." (Pg. 89-90)
He observes, "We are apt to consider the waves apart from the ocean, and forget the ocean, or to take the ocean alone as reality and ignore the waves, and this logical confusion ends in a tragedy of misunderstanding. In a similar way, the doctrine of interpenetration upholds the individual's actuality, and at the same time acknowledges the realm of the Absolute." (Pg. 95-96)
He notes, "...there is suffering for all sentient beings, and Gods and Bodhisattvas are found to be shedding tears of compassion for mankind. One the one hand purposelessness and on other eternal striving; this problem will never be solved on the plane of intellectual distinction, but when it ceases to be a contradiction we see the dawn of the spiritual life." (Pg. 106)
Suzuki's books are 'must reading' for anyone studying Zen.
May 30, 2012
The one book you should read on zen.
July 21, 2015
Truly superb.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews