The following is only if you are interested in the topic ...
Many folks know the book "Zen At War" and other writings of Brian Victoria, implicating various Zen and other Buddhist Teachers and institutions in the years up to and during WW2 for their supposed militarism. In some cases, he is right. However, he has also implicated some people in ways, and to degrees, they certainly do not deserve, and Victoria has done so by a sometimes egregious manipulation and misuse of translations and other "evidence".
I have written an earlier article pointing out critics of Victoria's methods in his treatment of D.T. Suzuki and others.
“ZEN AT WAR” AUTHOR BRIAN VICTORIA’S WAR ON ZEN
This time, I focus on Victoria's treatment and mistreatment of "Homeless" Kodo Sawaki. I have written a 38 page report examining Victoria’s use and misuse of quotes, original sources, translations and other materials in his writings regarding“Homeless” Kodo Sawaki. The following link contains a shorter summary of the content of my report that has been published at SweepingZen. Please have a look if interested.
“ZEN AT WAR” BRIAN VICTORIA: THROWING BOMBS AT KODO
I also deal frankly with many of Sawaki's wartime statements.
In the future, if Victoria's criticisms of the Japanese Buddhist establishment and certain figures are ever mentioned, it will be necessary to also consider Victoria's motives and manipulations too.
Gassho, Jundo
Many folks know the book "Zen At War" and other writings of Brian Victoria, implicating various Zen and other Buddhist Teachers and institutions in the years up to and during WW2 for their supposed militarism. In some cases, he is right. However, he has also implicated some people in ways, and to degrees, they certainly do not deserve, and Victoria has done so by a sometimes egregious manipulation and misuse of translations and other "evidence".
I have written an earlier article pointing out critics of Victoria's methods in his treatment of D.T. Suzuki and others.
“ZEN AT WAR” AUTHOR BRIAN VICTORIA’S WAR ON ZEN
This time, I focus on Victoria's treatment and mistreatment of "Homeless" Kodo Sawaki. I have written a 38 page report examining Victoria’s use and misuse of quotes, original sources, translations and other materials in his writings regarding“Homeless” Kodo Sawaki. The following link contains a shorter summary of the content of my report that has been published at SweepingZen. Please have a look if interested.
“ZEN AT WAR” BRIAN VICTORIA: THROWING BOMBS AT KODO
I also deal frankly with many of Sawaki's wartime statements.
[The] situation with Sawaki is complicated. On the one hand, there is no doubt that Sawaki was a patriotic Japanese who supported his country, its Emperor and its troops in battle during wartime and in no uncertain terms. He interpreted various Buddhist and Zen doctrines in order to do so in a way many of us (I am one) may find often wrong and shocking. On the other hand, we have a man who – even during the height of World War II – spoke out against war itself, its futility, and underlined the need for soldiers compelled into battle to act with compassion, honor, selflessness and mercy to their opponents as the situation will allow. … Sawaki also used Buddhist or Zen doctrines to counsel for the avoidance of war and, if there is to be a war nonetheless, the avoidance of excess and reckless violence. If Sawaki was supportive of Japan’s effort during the war, it seems reluctantly (if sometimes too passionately) and with a sense that Japan was fighting a war for its own survival and defense.
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Unfortunately, in his attempt to paint Kodo Sawaki black, Brian Victoria has confused loyalty to one’s country with rabid militarism, and has failed to sufficiently emphasize the anti-war aspects of Sawaki’s personality. Victoria has done this by neglecting or taking out of context quotes (to such a degree that one must sometimes consider the intentionality behind his doing so) which otherwise show that Sawaki had deep reservations about all war, including Japan’s wars throughout history. Victoria has surgically removed quotes so as to omit material showing that, even in writings most supportive of his country and its troops in times of war, Sawaki was frequently and simultaneously a strong and outspoken critic.
...
Unfortunately, in his attempt to paint Kodo Sawaki black, Brian Victoria has confused loyalty to one’s country with rabid militarism, and has failed to sufficiently emphasize the anti-war aspects of Sawaki’s personality. Victoria has done this by neglecting or taking out of context quotes (to such a degree that one must sometimes consider the intentionality behind his doing so) which otherwise show that Sawaki had deep reservations about all war, including Japan’s wars throughout history. Victoria has surgically removed quotes so as to omit material showing that, even in writings most supportive of his country and its troops in times of war, Sawaki was frequently and simultaneously a strong and outspoken critic.
Gassho, Jundo
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