The Swans Come to the Lake

Daisetsu Suzuki – “The most culturally significant Japanese person, in international terms, that has ever existed”

- Gary Snyder, American Beat Poet

The Development of Buddhism is Asia

Buddha born in north India/Nepal (563-483 BCE)Theravada & Mahayana – Syncretism w/ other culturesBuddhism spreads to China around 100 CEBuddhism in Japan 6th cent., Zen emerges 13th cent.Zen focus is on Meditation and Insight into RealityExperiential practice emphasized more than theoryOriginated w/ Buddha’s silent sermon holding a flowerDirect Transmission from Teacher to Student2 Schools of Zen: Soto (zazen) and Renzai (koans)

D.T. Suzuki: author of “Satori” article

1870 – 1965 Zen Teacher, Translator, PopularizerBuddhist Modernist who focused on the practical application of Buddhism to everyday life in the world.

Born in isolated feudal Japanese Samurai cultureDies in Post Modern World – East and West ExchangeTeaches at Columbia University, NYC 1952-57Teaches at other elite schools in US, Japan, and Europe

Comes to Chicago in 1893 to World Parliament of Rels.Removes Zen from its Historical Context for Westerners

Suzuki in AmericaThe Zen Life Documentary

Well-known people associated w/ DT Suzuki

Alan Watts - beat writer, philosopherAllen Ginsberg – poet, iconJohn Cage – music composerGary Snyder – poet, teacherThomas Merton – Trappist monkJoseph Campbell – Myths

Houston Smith – Rels. Studies teacherErich Fromm - psychoanalystCarl Jung – German psychotherapistJack Kerouac – Beat writerChristmas Humphreys– Brit. writerRobert Aiken – Amer. Zen teacher

Zen and Buddhist Terms: Satori = Wu = Enlightenment = Unified Consciousness =

Prajna = Supreme Perfect Knowledge – noetic quality

Mystical Experience – 4 Qualities by William James

An inner state of Cons. w/o reference to objects - PCE

Satori ≠ Conversion or Salvation, = Freedom (236)

Intuitive looking into nature of things, Eureka moment!

A supreme act of Will uniting Knower and Known

Descriptions of Satori – sort of !

Supreme Perfect Knowledge, Intuitive, Immediate, Direct Experience

Absolute state of mind, Absolute Freedom, Non Dual

Whole “in one thought” -- Thatness, Suchness, Being

Transcending Dualism, Beyond Rationality and Conceptuality of Mind

Cataclysmic, Revolutionary Transformation, “fiery baptism”

No Abiding Place: (not Conversion to Faith or Salvation by personal God)

Most intimate individual experience of: “self”, “true being” “reality”

“A Zen Life” Video Clips

Suzuki’s own experience ◦ See video - 8:42-9:37The General Experience of Satori◦ See video - 16:30 – 19:28Understanding and Expressing this Experience◦ See video - 27:52 – 29:53Freedom and Form◦ See video - 32:45 – 36:00Negative, Via Negativa◦ See video - 46:08 – 46:56