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

[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

[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.

[MyoHo]

Phone doing its own, sorry.

Gassho

Myoho

[Myoku]

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

[Myosha]

Metta to all.

Gassho,
Myosha sat today

[Hans]

Hello,

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


Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen
#sat today

[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

[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

[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