Audiobooks by D.T. Suzuki

An Introduction to Zen Buddhism

"Buddhism in its course of development has completed a form which distinguishes itself from its so-called primitive or original type—so greatly, indeed, that we are justified in emphasizing its historical division into two schools, Hinayana and Mahayana, or the Lesser Vehicle and the Greater vehicle of salvation. As a matter of fact, the Mahayana, with all its varied formulae, is no more than a developed form of Buddhism and traces back its final authority to its Indian founder, the great Buddha Sakyamuni."

D.T. Suzuki (Author), Chas Mandala (Narrator)

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The Lankāvatāra Sūtra

"The Lankavatara Sutra, dating from the early years of the Common Era, sometime before 443, is one of the most important Mahayana Buddhist texts, not least because of its influence on later Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese Buddhism. One of its possible early translators in the 8th century was Gunabhadra who is sometimes regarded as the first father of Zen in China. The Sutra takes the form of a dialogue between the Buddha in his cosmic form (as opposed to the historical figure of the Pali Canon) and the Bodhisattva or ‘Great Being’, Mahamati. The Bodhisattva, as represented by Mahamati, is the enlightened presence in the world, foregoing the bliss of Nirvana and enlightenment for the sake of oneself alone, in order to lead all beings to that state of liberation, of complete non-attachment, as taught by the Buddha. The Sutra is especially concerned with the teaching of ‘Emptiness’, or ‘Sunyata’ in the Sanskrit, the letting go of all concepts and constructs, through which we ‘label’ the world around us, thus perpetuating that duality of self and other, which, according to the Buddha’s teaching, lies at the root of the world’s suffering. This is what is meant in the Sutra by the ‘discriminating consciousness’, through which we make logical sense of the world on a relative basis and which is distinguished from Transcendental Knowledge which allows us to enter into absolute reality. Much of the Sutra is concerned with the way this is brought about through the workings of our inner consciousness. The Buddha, prompted by Mahamati’s questions, reiterates again and again that this world of ‘particulars’ as perceived by the non-enlightened, is devoid of an ego-substance and is illusory, like ‘Maya’ or a visionary flower in the air. It is because of our persistent need to hold onto some sense of a fixed self or ‘soul’ that we perpetuate the rounds of rebirth in this samsaric world, or world of suffering. This recording includes the ‘Sagathakam’ (or “one with verses”), a later addition to the Sutra which contains many references to the Sutra itself and may well have been intended as an ‘aide-memoire’ for those trying to learn sections of the Sutra."

D.T. Suzuki (Author), Ratnadhya (Narrator)

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An Introduction to Zen Buddhism

"This is the classic account of Zen from the first major authority to inform the West of the details and practice of this form of Mahayana Buddhism. Despite its age and the widespread adoption of Zen by Western society in the past century, it remains an important and authentic source for theory and practice. Zen originated in China where it was known as Cha’an, and although D. T. Suzuki’s discussion here concentrates on its Japanese form, he gives his subject a historic perspective. He explains how Zen became perhaps the single most unusual development of Buddhism, moving far from its Indian origins. Rather than theory and philosophical discussion, Zen became identified by its intense, arduous and even seemingly odd practices, underpinned by charismatic teachers with uncompromising teaching styles. The purpose was to develop satori, insight into the nature of things, which was only attainable through personal experience rather than by learning. The route was often counter-intuitive, and the explanations and implications often beyond logic. In Japan, Zen developed into two major schools. Soto, as founded by Dogen (1200-1253), which concentrated on formal seated zazen (meditation), and Rinzai, which was given new impetus by Hakuin (1686-1769) and uses the Koan – a phrase or question intended to propel the exponent into the experience of satori. In his sound and straightforward exposition of classical Zen, Suzuki discusses the nature of Zen Buddhism in nine chapters, asking ‘What is Zen’, ‘Is Zen Nihilistic’, ‘Illogical Zen’ before expressing his particular interest in Rinzai. He closes his account with an insightful chapter ‘The Meditation Hall and the Monk’s Life’, which describes the traditional training up to the time of the writing (1930s) of this book. The practice of Zen has moved on considerably since then, especially since its adoption in the West, including a broader attitude towards non-monastic practice. But Suzuki’s Introduction has stood the test of time."

D.T. Suzuki (Author), David Rintoul (Narrator)

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