2023/1/17

On Sunday, December 18th, Professor Anna Ruggeri Takeshita of the Department of Italian Studies gave a lecture titled “The Teachings and Training Methods of Hakuin Ekaku: Discovering Through His Works and Apprentices” in The Kanazawa Theatre upon the request of D.T. Suzuki Museum in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

For 25 years, Professor Takeshita has been researching the philosophy, training method, and female apprentices of Hakuin Zenshi (1685-1768), the reviver of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen Buddhism. She spoke about how meditating on paradoxical questions was essential for Hakuin and his perspective on training and showed his works and Zen paintings. Professor Takeshita also emphasized the importance of compassion which is perceived to have the most relevance to salvation of humankind.

Although there were some who could not visit the venue due to bad weather, dozens of people participated in the lecture and questions were asked regarding zazen (seated meditation) and how Hakuin issued certificates to his apprentices for solving paradoxical questions.

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