No other figure in history has played a bigger part in opening the West
to Buddhism than the eminent Zen author, D.T. Suzuki, and in this
reissue of his best work readers are given the very heart of Zen
teaching. "Zen Buddhism," which sold more than 125,000 as an Anchor
paperback after its publication in 1956, includes a basic historical
background as well as a thorough overview of the techniques for Zen
practice. Concepts and terminology such as "satori, zazen, " and "koans,
" as well as the various elements of this philosophy are all given clear
explanations. But while Suzuki takes nothing for granted in the reader's
understanding of the fundamentals, he does not give a merely rudimentary
overview. Each of the essays included here, particularly those on the
unconscious mind and the relation of Zen to Western philosophy, go far
beyond other sources for their penetrating insights and timeless wisdom.
What is most important about D.T. Suzuki's work, however--and what comes
across so powerfully in these selections--is his unparalleled ability to
communicate the experiential aspect of Zen. The intensity here with
which Zen philosophy comes to life is without parallel in the canon of
Buddhist literature. Suzuki stands apart from all teachers before or
since because of his exceptional ability to eloquently capture in words
the seemingly inexpressible essence of Zen.
