If I were asked who my favourite Western Zen philosopher was, without any hesitation, I would declare it to be Henry David Thoreau. Although he knew in translation the religious writings of the Hindus, it may be unlikely that Henry David Thoreau ever studied the teachings of the Zen Masters. Even then, the insight within his own personal writings would irrefutably make him master of his own temple. The wisdom found within Thoreau's Walden can …showed first 75 words of 1889 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1889 total…great Zen master declared that 'The purpose of Zen is the perfection of character'. Keeping that in mind, I believe that Walden has secured Henry David Thoreau's place as one of the greatest Zen philosophers. WORKS CITED Schiller, David, trans. and ed. , The Little Zen Companion. New York: Workman, 1994. Schloegl, Irmgard, trans. and ed. , The Wisdom of the Zen Masters. New York: New Directions Books, 1976. Wood, Ernest, Zen Dictionary. Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1973. ENDNOTES