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D.T. Suzuki

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (October 18, 1870-July 12, 1966)
    Born in Kanazawa, Japan
    Full name was Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki
    Best known for introducing Zen Buddhism and East Asian philosophy to the West
    Studied at Ishikawa University (1888-89) and at Tokyo Imperial University (1891-92)
    Wrote ‘Outlines of Mahayana Buddhism’ (1907), ‘Essays in Zen Buddhism’ (1927-1934), ‘The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk’ (1934), ‘An Introduction to Zen Buddhism’ (1934), ‘Manual of Zen Buddhism’ (1935), and ‘Zen Buddhism and Its Influence on Japanese Culture’ (1938)
    Taught at Columbia University (1952-57)

Why he might be annoying:

    He preached that it is wrong to think that the concept of a self exists.
    He was accused of distorting the real meaning of Zen Buddhism, teaching an idealized form of it instead.
    He was also accused of neglecting the history of Zen Buddhism.
    Apart from his high school, he never formally graduated from the schools he attended.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was born into poverty.
    He came from the samurai class on his father’s side.
    His father died when he was six.
    His grandfather and great-grandfather died early.
    He translated Chinese, Japanese, Sanskrit, and Pali texts into English, and English texts into Japanese.
    During World War II, he fell afoul of the Japanese government for opposing militarism.
    Carl Jung praised him for bringing Zen closer to Western thought.

Credit: Big Lenny


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 93.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 19 Votes: 26.32% Annoying