Suzuki - Selected Works of D.T. Suzuki, Volume II

When I embarked on this project, my knowledge of D. T. Suzuki was limited largely to several of his writings that I had read casually and uncritically early in my career. Hence, I faced a challenge equipping myself with a sufficient understanding of his life, thought, historical circumstances, and intellectual climate to undertake this work. I am indebted to my home institution, Oberlin College, for providing a sabbatical leave in 20102011 during which this project was begun. I am equally grateful to Otani University in Kyoto, where Suzuki was a professor, for hosting me during that year, and to its Shinsh Sg Kenkyjo and The Eastern Buddhist office, which provided additional support. Special thanks also go to Norman Waddell, who updated his translation of excerpts from Suzukis Japanese Spirituality (Nihon teki reisei) that appear in this volume, and to the American Buddhist Studies Center in New York and its president, Hoshina Seki, for permission to publish Suzukis public talk of September 11, 1955. I would also like to thank Caroline Chen who, supported by Oberlin College, assisted me in the early production of the manuscriptcreating electronic versions of Suzukis essays, making the first wave of editorial changes to them, and producing preliminary versions of Japanese, Chinese, and Sanskrit glossaries. In addition, I want to express appreciation to the Matsugaoka Bunko for permission to publish Suzukis essays. There are also several organizations who provided financial support for the production of this volume and of the series in general: the Buddhist Society of London; Duke Universitys Asian-Pacific Studies Institute and Trinity College of Arts and Sciences; the Japan Foundation of New York (through a grant to the Triangle Center for Japanese Studies) and the Japan Foundation of Los Angeles; Mr. Luke Ding; and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation. Finally, I must acknowledge the expertise and help of Wayne Yokoyama and Richard Jaffe who became frequent conversation partners concerning Suzuki and who offered valuable suggestions and information at all stages of the project. And of course I wish to thank my wife Suzanne Gay for her patience and support throughout the process.