Przezwyciężanie strachu przed śmiercią w zenie - argumentacja Daisetza Teitaro Suzukiego i dyskusja nad nią (The Overcoming of the Fear of Death in Zen - the Argumentation of Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki and its Discussion)

Abstract

The overcoming of the fear of death in Zen - The argumentation of Daisetz Teiaro Suzuki and its discussion Studying the relationship between zen and kendō, Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki very often expressed the assertion that zen helps the swordsman to overcome the fear of death. The article, in its first part, presents the arguments which were used by Suzuki to justyfiy his conviction. Suzuki’s argumentation says first of all that the Buddhist enlightenment (satori), as the transgression of all differentiations, can help to overcome the fear of death, because it naturally eliminates the difference between life and death. Second part of the article shows how Brian Victoria, in his famous book Zen at War, refers to Suzuki’s argumentation. As Victoria’s opinion is not based on the philosophical ground, therefore the remaining part of the article tries to critically examine Suzuki’s argumentation, taking to account the full epistemological doctrine of enlightenment, which beside the transgression of differentiation aspect has also an affirmation of differentiation character.

Keywords

• Daisetz Suzuki
• zen
• kendō
• the fear of death
• Brian Victoria
• differentiation