From one of the most influential books ever written on Zen Buddhism: A fascinating study of the spiritually transcending art of tea.

One of the leading twentieth-century works on Zen, D.T. Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture is an invaluable source for those wishing to understand Zen concepts in the context of Japanese life and art.

Zen and the Art of Tea studies the deceptively simple tea ceremony-- a ceremony that, when taken up by the Zen-men, turns out to be a momentous event that leads directly up to Buddhahood and its absolute truth.

In simple, often poetic language, enhanced by anecdotes and poetry, D.T. Suzuki describes the tearoom and tea ceremony; the principles of harmony, reverence, purity and tranquillity that regulate the tearoom; and explores the essential concepts of wabi and sabi, which lead us to the subjective and objective appreciation of poverty and imperfection so vital to creating a Zen state of mind.