192 pp. August 2003
cloth, ISBN 978-0-8248-2665-9, $34.00
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Keywords: |
Asia
Japan
religion
philosophy
Buddhism
textbook |
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Zen and the Modern World: A Third Sequel to Zen and Western Thought
by Masao Abe
ed. by Steven Heine
"Abe's work should be applauded and held in the highest regard. The editor of the present work, Steven Heine, has not only done a marvelous job collecting, editing, and contextualizing these essays, his collection of Abe's various and variously published essays ... has ensured that Abe's pioneer work and intellectual creativity have been made easily accessible to the English speaking world. Abe's attempt at a Zen Buddhist philosophy as philosophy of Absolute Nothingness has thus been given the place and recognition in academia it deserves." --Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 31 (2004) "Although Abe's conclusions will likely rankle adherents of Western religions, they do provide excellent insight into the fundamental differences between Buddhism and Western thought.... Editor Steven Heine does a good job of explaining Abe's philosophy, its importance in Japanese history and its place within the Western context." --Buddhadharma, Spring 2004
Written by one of Japan’s foremost contemporary thinkers and scholars, Zen and the Modern World is the third in a series of essay collections on Zen Buddhism as seen in the context of Western thought. As a leading representative of the Kyoto School, which has sought a critical, comparative linking of Eastern and Western thought, Abe has based his approach on constructive, mutually respectful yet critical intellectual interaction and dialogue with some of the leading figures in the West (including Paul Tillich, Hans Küng, and Eugene Borowitz) as well as dozens of colleagues, students, and disciples. Together with the previous volumes, this work examines and exemplifies some key features of Kyoto School thought. While the essays presented here should be read in light of the socio-political criticism that has since been lodged against the Kyoto School and, more particularly, its founder Nishida Kitarò, most of them were written prior to the recent discussions and focus on issues of comparative philosophy and religious thought outside the contours of the debate. This should not, however, limit their approach to the earlier historical context.
Masao Abe's first book published in English, Zen and Western Thought (edited by William LaFleur), received the American Academy of Religion’s Award for Excellence. Steven Heine is professor of religious studies and history and director of the Institute for Asian Studies, Florida International University.
Read chapter 1 (PDF).
table of contents
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