Abstract

Why many intellectuals and celebrities including Steve Jobs were attracted to Zen? The first-ever cartoon book depicting the life of vanguard Zen monk Soyen Shaku, who lived in the era of modern Japan!

Soyen Shaku is the first global-minded monk who introduced Zen Buddhism to the world. In 1893, he participated in the first World’s Parliament of Religions held in Chicago, which led the teachings of Zen to be practiced by people around the world for seeking spiritual enlightenment. His perspective rode the waves of globalism and indicated us a way.

He became a Zen master at an unprecedentedly young age of 26, studied English and Western cultures at Keio University despite the opposition from his grand master, and also pursued his studies in Sri Lanka. He witnessed the actual situations of Asia and strived to tackle the issues of “modernization” throughout his life. His books were translated into English and he also energetically visited Europe, the US and South East Asia to provide many lectures on Zen even in his later years.

The Part 1 narrates the first half of the life of Soyen Shaku who lived as exceptional cosmopolitan.

* Part 2 published on November 5, 2018

Author’s Information

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