Events

Event Description

How Shaku Soen Resolved to Spread Buddhism to the U.S.

Unlike his disciple D.T. Suzuki, the role of Zen Buddhist monk Shaku Soen (1860-1919) in the spread of Buddhism in the United States is not widely known. Amidst the rapid popularity of Darwinism and materialism in 19th century Japanese society, Soen studied English under Yukichi Fukuzawa (1835-1901), and Pali in Ceylon, and resolved to spread Buddhism to the “west”. Focusing on his study of Pali in Ceylon, Baba will also discuss how Shaku Soen (1860-1919) invented the concept of “Mahayana Buddhism” (Daijo Bukkyo ????).