ABSTRACT
Zen permeated and permeates many aspects of Japanese life. Its influence and questioning about the root and source of all life is seen in the freshness of the paintings of Hokusai and Hiroshige. Zen was lived by thousands of Masters and their students over many centuries. The living gave life. Each Master handed down a liberating form and message and a keen eye to the growth and understanding of his students. Zen is a way of awakening which makes no claims for a monopoly. Real awakening or as it is called in Zen Buddhism, Satori, lies in breaking the bonds of craving wide open. The Satori of Zen is no distant magical or vague vision to be dreamed about but never really experienced in this life. The strongest flavour of Zen comes from the thousands of frequently infuriating stories. Zen is a discipline of love, knowing not from where it comes and caring little about destinations.
