INTENSE CITY

Hakuin Ekaku possessed an unusual ability to convey the meaning of Zen to large numbers of people from all classes and religions. Though he chose to work at a small temple in the countryside, he was frequently invited to lecture, and his writings were published, eventually bringing him fame. His writings could be rough, humorous, or sometimes even shocking, intended to rouse his followers from their complacency into a deeper contemplation of religion and spiritual life. His copious writings continue to maintain pivotal importance within the Rinzai Zen sect. His work, both as spiritual leader and as painter, had a profound effect on all subsequent Zen study and Zen painting.

Hakuin practiced painting late in life, beginning in his sixties and continuing until his death at eighty-four. As he grew older, he increasingly relied on it as a means of communicating Zen ideals. By the end of his life, he had produced well over one thousand paintings and calligraphies in a remarkable range of styles and subjects, often suffused with humor.