Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel tr from the German by RFC Hull - first published 1953 (1999).pdf - Eugen Herrigel - Zen w sztuce łucznictwa - bungaku2006

ZEN

IN THE ART OF ARCHERY

EUGEN HERRIGEL

Translated from the German by

R. F. C. HULL

First Published 1953

PREFACE

In 1936 a lecture which I had delivered to the German−

Japanese Society in Berlin appeared in the magazine Nippon

under the title "The Chivalrous Art of Archery". I had given this

lecture with the utmost reserve, for I had intended to show the

close connection which exists between this art and Zen.

And since this connection eludes precise description and real

definition, I was fully conscious of the provisional nature of my

attempt.

In spite of everything, my remarks aroused great interest.

They were translated into Japanese in 1937, into Dutch in 1938,

and in 1939 I received news˙so far unconfirmed˙that an

Indian translation was being planned. In 1940 a much improved

Japanese translation appeared together with an eyewitness

account by Prof. Sozo Komachiya.

When Curt Weller, who published The Great Liberation,

D. T. Suzuki’s important book on Zen, and who is also bringing

out a carefully planned series of Buddhist writings, asked me

whether I agreed to a reprint of my lecture, I willingly gave my

consent. But, in the conviction of having made further spiritual

progress during the past ten years˙and this means ten years of

continual practice˙and of being able to say rather better than

before, with greater understanding and realization, what this

"mystical" art is about, I have resolved to set down my

experiences in new form. Unforgettable memories and notes

which I made at the time in connection with the archery lessons,

stood me in good stead. And so I can well say that there is no

word in this exposition which the Master would not have

spoken, no image or co m parison which he would not have used.

I have also tried to keep my language as simple as possible.

Not only because Zen teaches and advocates the greatest

Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel tr from the German by RFC Hull - first published 1953 (1999).pdf