Page "Nyogen Senzaki" Paragraph 8

By the start of the 20th century Japan had become dangerously nationalistic.

In 1905 Soyen Shaku was asked by friends in the San Francisco, CA area to come and give talks and lectures on Buddhism.

Soyen needed an attendant for his time there, and asked Nyogen to come with him.

Nyogen jumped at the opportunity, for he was dissatisfied with the nationalism all around him and the institutional way in which Zen was then being practiced.

So they left that same year and landed in Seattle, WA where they stayed for a few days, and then headed for San Francisco.

When it was time for the two to return to Japan, Soyen sensed his student's turmoil at the prospect of returning.