What Is Zen

What Is Zen is the quintessential beginner's guide to achieving enlightenment. In simple, often poetic language, the author offers a general introduction to the concepts and philosophy of Zen Buddhism. He describes what it is, how it began and evolved, and how its emphasis on simplicity and self-effacement have helped shape an aesthetic found throughout Japanese culture. D.T. Suzuki lived to the age of 95 and was Japan's foremost authority on Zen Buddhism. What Is Zen is the first in a series of programs taken from Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture.