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9781538131664

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This third volume completes a masterly trilogy exposing how the violent undercurrents in Zen surfaced in modern times in the form of a militaristic right-wing ideology. Rather than focusing on Zen warmongering, as in the first two volumes, the subject of the present book is terrorism. Buddhism and terrorism might seem unlikely partners, but Victoria's carefully documented research traces how a partnership of febrile nationalism and Zen ideology led to Inoue Nissho becoming the leader of a terrorist group in pre-WWII Japan. The book makes sobering reading for those who still see Buddhism as exclusively a religion of peace, and will be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the chilling relationship between religion and terror. -- Damien Keown, Emeritus Professor of Buddhist Ethics, University of London Goldsmiths I am delighted to draw attention to the admirable work of Brian Victoria. His expertise in Zen Buddhism comes both from intensive study of the Japanese sources and from his many years of personal experience. In both areas he has devoted himself to finding the truth and to conveying it with unflinching honesty and complete lucidity. His bold statements and candid judgments are all supported by unambiguous evidence and deserve to be pondered on by all who care about Buddhism and have humane values at heart. -- Richard Gombrich, Richard Gombrich, Boden Professor of Sanskrit Emeritus, University of Oxford Zen Terror completes Brian Victoria's trilogy that mines the seam of killing-facilitation in twentieth-century Japanese Zen, focusing here on the writings and statements of the leader of a small group of terrorists led by a Zen practitioner. Buddhism contains rich resources for supporting non-violence and peace, but also some teachings that have been used to support violence. Victoria does a signal service to Buddhism by shining a spotlight on harmful delusions that have arisen in some of its followers, which should help to undermine these beliefs, drawing instead on more positive resources in the tradition. As a Zen teacher might have said, `If you see Buddhist bullshit on the road, kill it!' -- Peter Harvey, emeritus, University of Sunderland; author of An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Foundations, Values and Issues

This third volume completes a masterly trilogy exposing how the violent undercurrents in Zen surfaced in modern times in the form of a militaristic right-wing ideology. Rather than focusing on Zen warmongering, as in the first two volumes, the subject of the present book is terrorism. Buddhism and terrorism might seem unlikely partners, but Victoria's carefully documented research traces how a partnership of febrile nationalism and Zen ideology led to Inoue Nissho becoming the leader of a terrorist group in pre-WWII Japan. The book makes sobering reading for those who still see Buddhism as exclusively a religion of peace, and will be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the chilling relationship between religion and terror. -- Damien Keown, Emeritus Professor of Buddhist Ethics, University of London Goldsmiths

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Brian Daizen Victoria, a fully ordained Sōtō Zen priest, is currently a senior research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies. His publications include Zen at War (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006) and Zen War Stories (2003).

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