SO TO ZEN - Shasta Abbey

Zen Buddhism and the West 91Zen indeed can only flourish on a foundation of Buddhistculture. Therefore, to understand Zen, it is necessary to knowBuddhism and Buddhist culture first.In America, interest in Buddhism is highly developed. AnOriental approach to life is sought to offset the mechanicalcivilization. The Second World War brought East and West intocloser contact with each other. Furthermore, authorities in allfields of culture and science under pressure of the war took upresidence in the United States. Lectures on Buddhism are givenin many theological schools. In addition Yale, Columbia,Harvard, Chicago, Stanford, California and other universitieshave lectures on Indian Philosophy, Buddhism and Zen.Professor Hamilton of Union Theological Seminary has donemuch research in Yuishiki Buddhist Philosophy. Professor A.K. ReischauerÕs Studies in Japanese Buddhism is a well-knownwork. His son, Edwin Reischauer, is Professor of Japaneselanguage and culture at Harvard and recently finished a translationof EnninÕs Travels in China. Professor Elisseeff of Harvardstudied for many years in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese.(He together with Dr. Warner deserve great praise for havingsaved Ky‡to from air raids during the War.) Professor Rahderof Yale University, a veritable genius in language, formerlytaught at Leyden University in the Netherlands. He publishedthe Sanskrit text of the Da±abh‰mi S‰tra (J. J‰ji Ky‡) withtranslations in other languages. At present he is engaged in