If you’re interested in Zen Buddhism, D.T. Suzuki’s An Introduction to Zen Buddhism is one of the best works to read. The copy I have is only 132 pages, but it is one of the densest philosophical books I’ve ever read. Of that 132, about 30 pages of this are from Dr. C.G. Jung’s foreword.
While Jungian philosophy might have fallen out of favor, the foreword still holds from a philosophical perspective in the context of this work. Even if you skip it, the 100 remaining pages are still denser than a book 3 times the length. The content is great, the explanations are excellent, and the author could definitely pack layers into his sentences. You aren’t getting cryptic writing, you’re getting a sentence which is rich with thought and can take a few readings to unpack all the way.
Let’s go over the content in this book, then cover how it interprets the philosophy behind Zen. We’ll go over how the book introduces some of the most fundamental structures in Zen Buddhism (koans, zazen, and the concept of satori). We’ll also go over what to be aware of when getting a copy.
Content
The 1964 edition is split into 9 chapters (there is a reprint of the 1934 edition floating around which we’ll touch on later). The preliminary chapter goes over what goes into the difference between the vehicles of Buddhism (Mahayana versus Theravada) and the defining characteristics of different schools of thought. It quickly delves into what defines Zen from the others.
As you dig into the book, you quickly encounter some of the deeper aspects of Zen. These are expounded on, but the exposition is not automatic. It takes some digging, some rereading, and some careful consideration to really digest the content in this work. The book is written to make you work for it, but it’s not written to be needlessly obtuse.
Each subsequent chapter either delves into the philosophy behind Zen Buddhism, the application of said philosophy, or examples of the philosophy being applied. Zen is treated as a philosophical stance which transcends metaphysics rather than a mystic path. The content is extremely well written, but make sure to dedicate some time to read it properly: slowly, and thoroughly.
Zen as a Philosophy
One of the chapters addresses rather Zen is a form of Nihilism or not. While the two appear to have a lot in common on the surface, the inner workings have basically nothing to do with one another. This isn’t just an opinion or a new interpretation, as it is backed by Buddhist scripture in general and Zen scripture too.
Zen is known for its koans which appear to be either paradoxes or illogical, mindless sayings. What do they actually mean? The whole reasoning between why a koan exists and how it functions is addressed in this work. Koans are catalysts for understanding rather than some pointless riddle to try and solve. I would not do the concept justice to expound much further, but suffice it to say, this book explains well what a Koan is and what it does.
The philosophical side of Zen is addressed in terms of what everything means as well as what it means in the context of the greater Buddhist corpus of works. Why is Zen different from any other form of Buddhism? This book will make it crystal clear, but also make it clear that the question is a pointless one to ask.
Satori and Koans
The most definitive features of Zen Buddhism consist of the idea of satori, koans, and the practice of zazen. Satori is like Nirvana, but without the permanence. Zen Buddhism lacks in permanence, it doesn’t need it or want it.
Koans are often misunderstood as mentioned before. This book addresses the heart and soul of a koan and how they function in the journey to attaining satori (even if it is fleeting). Koans are paradoxical because it is the only way to cut through the noise of the self clouding the truth. The enlightenment is not in the answer, but in the process of answering.
Zazen is also touched on in this book as well, though not the focus (like most contemporary works). The original edition of this work is from the 1930’s, so monks spent a lot more time working and begging from my understanding. It could also be that D. T. Suzuki did not expect meditation to occur before the understanding which would make it possible to understand why to bother with meditation. This book focuses heavily on the underlying philosophy behind Zen.
Getting a Copy
One thing I’ve heard is that some merchants are reselling prints of the 1934 edition. The 1934 edition is roughly 50 pages, and has 3 main chapters. I haven’t personally dealt with a copy of it though.
The 1964 edition adds a lot of content which is important. I can’t tell you what 50 pages are in the original, but I don’t think you could afford to cut much of anything out of the 1964 edition and make it stay as good. Each word, each thought, and each sentence all contribute to the greater work.
Make sure to check the edition you get. Even the Amazon link for the 1964 edition has issues with people getting the older 1934 edition. If you can get a copy, you’ll definitely not regret it. This book is essential reference to anyone curious about Zen Buddhism, or even Buddhism in general. If you like eastern philosophy, this book is a great read which won’t disappoint.