35 - Imperial Japan pt. 5 - Imperial Way Buddhism vs. the Youth League for Revitalizing Buddhism: Carry the Buddha on your backs and go out into the streets!
Today we cover the Control and Imperial Way factions in Imperial Japan, and then get into Imperial Way Buddhism, Japanese Zen Buddhism's drift into nationalistic, militaristic territory. We discuss the Youth League for Revitalizing Buddhism, which sought to oppose this drift, and how it was undermined by the police state. Then we discuss Bushido and its interactions with Zen, and extensively quote DT Suzuki about the nature of Zen Buddhism and why it was so easily coopted by the state. Song: Samurai Showdown by the RZA, w/ sample from Ghost Dog film