Smiling Zen

About the Book

Smiling Zen - In Search for Profound Significance of Living was written by Toru Matsui and published by Chobunsha, Inc, Tokyo on April 30, 1998. It was based on his lecture series broadcast by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation, Japan’s national public broadcasting organization). He tells how to live with smiles (taken from Zen koan of Mahakashyapa’s smile at the Buddha’s holding up a lotus flower) through Zen practice. He explains why and how to practice Zen following Tenda’s Shôshikan (Abridged Version of Calming and Visioning) with his profound experience and explications about questions arising from it so that anyone can understand and actualize.

About the Author

Toru Matsui (1910~1994) was social activist and essayst. His father (1870~1933) was a playwright named Shôyô Matsui. During the last war he was required by the Government General of Taiwan to take on the job of dramatic supervision in the whole island. In post-war days he formed Ari-no Machi (Town of Ants) with those who shared the same aspiration and contributed to town-building for poor people (mostly garbage collectors) in Sumida Park in Tokyo, becoming the leader there with Reiko Kitahara. His book was made into the movie with the same title of his book, Arino Machino Maria (Mary in Ants Town), featuring her, became famous. His other writings include Binbo Tsuihô – Arino Machino Keizaigaku (Expelling Poverty – Economics of Ants Town), Tengoku-wa Hadaka (Naked in Heaven, Shi-ni Katsu-madeno 30-nichi – Shôshikan Monogatari (30 Days until Conquring Death – Story of Shôshikan), Inochi Kiwami-nashi – Hokekyô Gensô (Limitless is Life – Imagery of Lotus Sutra), Zen-no Genryû-wo Tazunete – Tendai Shôshikan Kôwa (In Pursuit of the Source of Zen – Lectures on Tendai’s Shôshikan), and many others.