Eugen Herrigel German philosopher Date of Birth: 20.03.1884 Country: Germany

1. Biography of Eugen Herrigel
2. Introduction to Buddhism
3. Involvement with Nazism
4. Contributions to Zen Buddhism

Biography of Eugen Herrigel

Eugen Herrigel was a German philosopher who was able to grasp the living Zen Buddhist tradition through his own experience and convey this seemingly inaccessible form of Eastern worldview to readers. He studied theology and philosophy at Heidelberg University, earning his doctoral degree in philosophy in 1913. His works were written in the traditions of neo-Kantianism.

Introduction to Buddhism

Later, Herrigel became fascinated by Buddhism and traveled to Japan. In Japan, he taught philosophy at Tohoku Imperial University in Sendai from 1924 to 1929 and received an honorary doctorate. Upon returning to Germany in July 1929, Eugen Herrigel became a professor of philosophy at the University of Erlangen. In 1938, he was appointed vice president and in 1945, he became the rector of the University of Erlangen.

Involvement with Nazism

In 1937, Eugen Herrigel joined the Nazi Party. Some historians now question his close ties to National Socialism, although there are written reports by the professor to the Nazi regime. His other published works during the Nazi regime do not contain Nazi propaganda, although the irrational mysticism of Zen is compatible with National Socialism. It is worth noting the Nazis' interest in Tibet and their legendary expeditions in search of Shambhala, but this is beyond the scope of this post.

Contributions to Zen Buddhism

One of Eugen Herrigel's works from 1944, "The Spirit of the Samurai," compares Japanese culture with German culture. Most of his works written in Germany after 1929 focused on the culture and mentality of the Japanese. However, Eugen Herrigel gained worldwide recognition through his books on Zen Buddhism. His main book, "Zen in the Art of Archery," took him 50 years to write, from 1929 to 1948. This book has been translated into 13 languages and is still in publication. Another notable work by Herrigel is "The Method of Flowers." Eugen Herrigel contributed to the popularization of Zen in Europe. According to Japanese Zen masters, Professor Herrigel is one of the few non-Japanese individuals who understood the essence of Zen.