My Article on "Zen At War" Brian Victoria and Kodo Sawaki

[Jundo]

I will be returning to publishing some further criticisms of Brian Victoria sometime soon. He overstates, engages in guilt by association, too broad a brush. Some smoke, sometimes fire, but rarely as much as he makes it.

Gassho, J

[Sekishi]

Resurrecting this old thread with some new reading material for those that may be interested.

Hans-Joachim Bieber has published a response to Brian Victoria's January 2016 article "The Zen of Hitler Jugend":

http://apjjf.org//2016/12/Bieber.html

Brian Victoria's article:

http://apjjf.org/2016/02/2-Victoria.html

Gassho,
Sekishi

#sattoday

[jizu]

Excellent article and substantiating report. As with MyoHo, not understanding the motives to manipulate/fragment the translations to paint such a picture...

Gassho,
Jon
#SatToday

[Hans]

Hello,

just a quick thank you for all your thoughtful comments. I have nothing to add.


Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen
#sat today

[Myosha]

Metta to all.

Gassho,
Myosha sat today

[Myoku]

... I see. how sad this is. May Victoria find peace for the benefit of all beings.
Gassho
Myoku

[MyoHo]

Phone doing its own, sorry.

Gassho

Myoho

[MyoHo]

Victoria seems very keen to uncover some dark past of the subjects he examines. I must admit, his latest article about the letter Suzuki wrote about his impressions of Nazi Germany is very interesting. Sadly the almost hysterical tone and giant leaps of assumption spoil what could be an interesting study. He offers two translations but warns that the one contradicting his own vieuws is biased. Interesting way of doing things.

Why does this man so desperately wants to prove a connection between famous Zen teachers and Nazism is unclear to me? Is he out to get someone or the sangha as a whole? I dont understand his motives.

Although I must say that, reading the online comments and discussion on his articles it does not seem to bring out the best in people. So much anger and resentment there that it does not paint a pretty picture, but maybe its just me.

[Jundo]

Thank you Jundo,
its always difficult to write on history, so many sources, so many different views and things are never clear. What is of same importance, so it seems to me, is to not write about someone in a way that makes a good story but forgets about what really happened. Thank you for having a look at this and repairing what others broke,
Gassho
Myoku

I believe that this Brian Victoria fellow is intellectually dishonest. Handling translations the way he does can only be termed an intentional hatchet job.

Gassho, Jundo

[Myoku]

Thank you Jundo,
its always difficult to write on history, so many sources, so many different views and things are never clear. What is of same importance, so it seems to me, is to not write about someone in a way that makes a good story but forgets about what really happened. Thank you for having a look at this and repairing what others broke,
Gassho
Myoku

[Myosha]

Hello,

. . . and Kodo Sawaki who was so influential on Nishijima Roshi as a young man.

Gassho, J

Excerpt from upcoming book - http://antaiji.org/?page_id=4084&lang=en


Gassho,
Myosha

Oh yeah, I found it. The earlier book about zen master biographies is,

Living and Dying in Zazen, Five Zen Masters of Modern Japan by Arthur Braverman

It includes Sodo Yokoyama, Kodo Sawaki, Kozan Kato, Motoko Idebe, Joshin Kasai (sewing teacher) and Kosho Uchiyama. A very interesting read. I have the new Sawaki book on order. Can't wait.

_/\_ Shinzan

Thank you Shinzan, I have added this book to my list. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Jundo]

Yes, a wonderful book capturing the flavor of that circle of Teachers, and Kodo Sawaki who was so influential on Nishijima Roshi as a young man.

Gassho, J

[Shinzan]

Oh yeah, I found it. The earlier book about zen master biographies is,

Living and Dying in Zazen, Five Zen Masters of Modern Japan by Arthur Braverman

It includes Sodo Yokoyama, Kodo Sawaki, Kozan Kato, Motoko Idebe, Joshin Kasai (sewing teacher) and Kosho Uchiyama. A very interesting read. I have the new Sawaki book on order. Can't wait.

_/\_ Shinzan

[Ryumon]

There is a book due out soon, The Teachings of Homeless Kodo (not sure of the title).

Gassho,

Kirk


(Posted from my iPhone; please excuse any typos or brevity.)