Shōsan Suzuki | |
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| Title | Samurai Zen monk |
| Personal life | |
| Born | February 5, 1579 |
| Died | July 28, 1655(1655-07-28) (aged 76) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Zen Buddhism |
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| Part ofa serieson |
| Zen Buddhism |
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Teachings The "essence" The way The "goal" Background |
Indian Mahayana texts
Chinese texts |
Traditions |
Persons Chán in China Classical
Post-classical Contemporary Zen in Japan Seon in Korea Thiền in Vietnam Western Zen Category: Zen Buddhists |
Suzuki Shōsan (鈴木正三, February 5, 1579 – July 28, 1655) was aJapanesesamurai who served under theshōgunTokugawa Ieyasu. Shōsan was born in modern-dayAichi Prefecture of Japan. He participated in theBattle of Sekigahara and theBattle of Osaka before renouncing life as a warrior and becoming aZen Buddhist monk in 1621.
Shōsan traveled throughout Japan seeking outZen masters and trained in severalhermitages andtemples, most notably atMyōshin-ji inKyoto training underGudō Toshoku (1577–1661). In 1636 Shōsan created a Zen booklet entitledFumoto no Kusawake (or,Parting the Grasses at the Foot of the Mountain).
Shōsan trained under a little-known Zen master,Daigu Sochiku, who allowed Shōsan to keep his original name. Shōsan never actually receivedinka but was one of many in the Tokugawa period to claimjigo-jishō or "self-enlightenment without a teacher". He was a Zen Master who amassed a large following. In 1642, Shōsan, along with his brother, built 32 Buddhist temples in Japan. One was aPure Land Buddhist temple in which he honoured theshōguns Tokugawa Ieyasu andTokugawa Hidetada. Shōsan went on to write several treatises before his death in 1655 at 76 years old.
Suzuki Shōsan developed his own style of Zen,Niō Zen “仁王不動禪”, orGuardian King Zen. Shōsan instructed his students to meditate on theNiō, the fierce-looking Guardians that representVajrapani and can be seen at the gates of many Buddhist temples, to help them channel energy to use in meditation and in developing vitality, courage and "death energy" or the readiness to confront death at any moment which are the most important characteristics of a warrior.[1]
Shosan's dedication to bringing Buddhism to people from all segments of society intensified as he grew older. He believed that the virtue of Buddhism depended on its usefulness to one's country and people in the real world. Shosan taught that true enlightenment comes during one's daily tasks. Whether one is "tilling fields, or selling wares, or even confronting an enemy in the heat of battle, direct enlightenment will occur at key moments of one's day to day life".[2] Shosan saw true enlightenment in an untraditional way by discarding the belief that enlightenment can only occur in matters of direct recluse or the renouncement, and therefore true Buddhism has nothing to do with "gentle piety or theory, even though most monks were taught to practice in this manner".[citation needed] Sometimes he asked learners to physically emulate the postures of the Niō, as well as other warrior deities like Fudo and Bishamonten, to aid them in concentration. The energy gained by thinking about the Niō was purported to help learners develop a warrior's fortitude, and to overcome the evil energies that inhibited them from progressing towards enlightenment.[3]
