Author - Danny Waxman

Foreword to the Hebrew edition

This book was born as a result of weekly Zen sessions that started on September 1994, and continue regularly since then. We start the meetings with Zazen sitting. I then read from the writings of Zen teacher Dogen or my Zen teacher Prof. Masunaga Reiho, and answer the students questions. Together we enjoy tea and cake and the meeting is ended

In those weekly sessions, anyone is welcome to come to learn how to find his true-self through Zazen, and to learn by practice the essence of Zazen-way and the harmony of Zazen. Most of the subjects and the contents of the book originate from the Zen-talks that I held with my students over the years.

In addition to the 70 questions and answers about Zen, the book contains few important essays: 'Fukanzazengi - Rules for sitting in Zazen', written by the Zen teacher Dogen, and three other essays written by Professor Masunaga Reiho. Their names respectively are 'Zen and existence', 'Zen and the Arts' and 'The role of Zen in the modern world'.

It is important to note that in Zen there is no discrimination between men and women. All women and men have the same ability to achieve Satori. No difference exists. In any place where the male gender notation is used, it is of course also refers to females.

This book is for everyone who practices Zen, or has an interest in Zen, and for anybody who wants to find himself or wants to develop his body and mind and the unity between them. Zen is, in my opinion, the best answer to meet those goals.

Now, that the writing of the book 'Zen Questions and Answers' is finished, I wish to thank Mr. Ofer Cohen, my disciple and friend, for assisting me in writing and publishing this book in Israel, and for translating this book into English. Without his effort the book would not have be written. I also want to thank Eli Ben-Zaquen and Shaul Mani, my disciples and to Frankie. M. Tayar, Eli and Anat Sandovski and of-course to my girl friend Nurit for her encouragement and patient.

Danny Waxman, Tel-Aviv, 1999

The publishing of "Zen questions and Answers" in Hebrew had a stimulating effect on our continuous work in our weekly Zen sessions. More Zen questions have been raised and other issues where re-discussed based on continuous practice of Zazen by the students.

One outcome of this fruitful atmosphere was that I have written 5 new Zen essays and they are presented here with the answers to 25 additional questions of my students.

A third major enhancement to the English Edition is adding another 4 essays of My Zen teacher Prof. Masunaga Reiho in order to present a wider scope of the depth of his teaching. The names of the essays are Buddha and Zen, Dogen's Zen, Zen and Judo and Western interest in Zen.

Prof. Masunaga was the only person I met that fully comprehended Shobogenzo, the Zen masterpiece of Dogen Zenji. He explained Dogen teachings and clarified how the modern man or woman of the twenty and twenty one century ought to train in Zen and how everyone can find her/his true self through Zazen practice.

Teaching Zen and writing this book is my work to promote the fulfillment of Prof. Masunaga goals, which are:

1. Teaching Zazen as the direct way to penetrate true self and reach Satori (Enlightenment) within daily life.
2. Enhancing full functioning (Zenki) in daily life, vitalize our true self, combining creativity and practical humanism together as oneness.
3. Helping bring together the deep wisdom of the east and the achievements of science and culture of the west.
4. Creating a more compassionate humanistic society.

I have long wished and had set my mind to republish the Zen books of my teacher, Prof. Masunaga Reiho, and make his teaching once more available to the general public. Prof. Masunaga Reiho has written three books in English. Their names are Zen in daily living, the Soto Approach to Zen and Zen beyond Zen. The essays are taken from these great books. It is my plan to set the books into one big volume and republish it again.

These books and other works of Prof. Masunaga Reiho written in Japanese can have tremendous helpful effect on the development of the human beings and humanity, and for finding true creativity and reaching true self.

Another wide source of Zen texts written by Prof. Masunaga about the Soto Approach to Zen, Zen in Daily life, some of my additional writing and information about our Zen projects and activities are presented in the Internet site WWW.ZENKI.Com which is edited by my disciple Mr. Ofer Cohen. Translations of Prof. Masunaga Reiho to some of the most important chapters of Shobogenzo, such as Bendowa, Uji, GenjoKoan can be found there.

Special thanks to Prof. Masunaga son, Toshikazu Masunaga Sensei that was so kind and generous to permit the inclusion of Prof. Masunaga essays in the book 'Zen Questions and Answers'.

Through practicing and studying the Zen of Dogen and Prof. Masunaga Reiho one can learn and actualize the happiness and joyfulness from within (Jiyu Zammai), and develop ability to express oneself in writing and in speech a trait that is very important in our modern time. By training everyday in Zazen, we can achieve everything.

Zen is essential in directing the human thought towards industry of peace, not of war. Thoughts the are oriented towards war, violence and discrimination destroy the world. The role of contemporary Zen in the 21 century is to be instrumental in transforming the prevailing current ways of thinking and attitudes towards economy of peace instead of maintaining economy of war. If this essential change that enhance the importance and value of every human being will be successful in the long run, all people in all parts of the world will have houses, food, learning and self developing opportunities, and the freedom to actualize themselves fully and freely. Society will prosper and the danger of destroying of humanity will vanish.

Danny Waxman Tel Aviv

December 2000