Nyogen Senzaki

Nyogen Senzaki (1876–1958) was a Rinzai Zen monk who significantly contributed to the spread of Zen Buddhism in the United States during the 20th century. Born Aizo Senzaki in Japan, his early life is marked by unclear details, with some accounts suggesting he was adopted.

Early Life and Training

Senzaki's mother died when he was five, and he was raised by his grandfather at a Pure Land temple, where he began studying classical Chinese texts. His grandfather's teachings emphasized living by Buddhist ideals away from worldly gain and loss. After his grandfather's death at age 16, Senzaki briefly considered medical school and was influenced by figures like Benjamin Franklin. By 18, he had read the entire Tripitaka, and an encounter with the story of Tokusan burning Buddhist commentaries led him to commit to becoming a Zen Buddhist monk. In 1895, at age 19, he was ordained as Nyogen at a Soto Zen temple, though he preferred Rinzai. He later studied Zen under the Rinzai master Soyen Shaku at Engaku-ji in Kamakura, enduring harsh training methods and a bout of tuberculosis.

Introduction to America and the "Floating Zendo"

In 1905, Senzaki accompanied his teacher, Soyen Shaku, to the United States to give lectures on Buddhism. Dissatisfied with Japanese Zen practices and politics, Senzaki chose to remain in America after Soyen Shaku departed. He supported himself through various jobs and dedicated his spare time to studying English and reading Western philosophy, including Kant and Emerson.

Around 1922, Senzaki began teaching Zen meditation, developing his innovative "Floating Zendo" approach. This method involved renting spaces in San Francisco and later Los Angeles to hold practice sessions, moving from place to place. His early materials often consisted of a picture of Manjusri Bodhisattva. During this period, he connected with figures like D. T. Suzuki and later, through Kin Tanahashi, began a significant correspondence with the Japanese Rinzai monk Soen Nakagawa.

Internment and Later Life

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Senzaki, as a Japanese-American, was among those relocated to internment camps, spending the duration of World War II at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. After the war, he re-established his "Floating Zendo" in Los Angeles and continued to dedicate his life to teaching Zen. His students included influential figures such as Robert Aitken and Samuel L. Lewis. Senzaki passed away in 1958, with his reported last words emphasizing the importance of remembering the Dharma.