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| Gudo Wafu Nishijima (1919 - ) |
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 Gudo Wafu Nishijima is one of the few Zen masters that has balanced a professional career with studying the art of Zen. Unlike most Zen masters, Nishijima continued to work until he was elderly. He was such a successful businessman that he did not officially become a priest until his mid-50's. Although Nishijima has done a lot to spread Buddhism in Japan, he really has tried to focus on English-speaking countries. He learned how to speak English for lectures and learned how to write in English for his books. He has since retired from lecturing and now focuses on writing books and updating his blog. |
Date of Birth: 02 Jan, 1919
Location: Japan
State: Tokyo
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Views: 99
Summary
Gudo Wafu Nishijima was born in 1919 in Yokohama, Japan. In the early 40's, around the time he was in college, Nishijima met famed Zen master Kodo Sawaki. He became a student of the great Zen teacher. Still, Nishijima was concentrating on his studies and in 1946 he received his law degree from Tokyo University. He worked for the Ministry of Finance. Nishijima had to balance his professional career and spiritual studying at the same time. He had to deal with studying Zen, giving lectures on Zen, and switching jobs on a few occasions. He was so busy that he did not become an ordained Buddhist priest until he was in his mid-50's. He became a successor to Rempo Niwa, a former head of the Soto Zen sect. In 1977, he officially received his Dharma transmission. He finally retired from his professional career in 1979 to focus his time on Zen. Since his retirement he has been working hard to spread Zen in English speaking countries, in addition to Japan. He has written many books in English as well as giving countless lectures in English. He has also been a notable translator of Buddhist texts: working with Chodo Cross, Nishijima compiled one of the two complete English versions of Dogen's 95-fascicle Kana Shobogenzo, based on his 13-volume modern Japanese translation and commentary, and often considered as the most exact and faithful in existence; he also translated Dogen's Shinji Shobogenzo.[1] In 2005, he retired from giving lectures and solely focuses on his writing. Aside from just writing books, Nishijima has a blog about Buddhism.
References:
1. Introducing Master Gudo Wafu Nishijima". Dogen Sangha. http://www.dogensangha.org/gwn.htm
Related Links:
www.mbzc.org/teacher.php4
gudoblog-e.blogspot.com/
www.youtube.com/user/dogensangha
www.dogensangha.org/gwn.htm
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