In this book, having spent time in Japan learning about Zen Buddhism, the author presents the results of his studies, not simply as a practical manual, but as a way of removing some of the mystery surrounding mysticism. The book thus stands in the centre of studies on this subject. Paul D. Wienpahl (1916-1980) was a widely published scholar, an exceptionally successful teacher, and an important contributor to the early academic planning and development of the University of California Santa Barbara campus, spending his entire academic career there (1948-1980). He was an exceptionally successful teacher, widely popular, deeply respected and admired by his students. He wrote important studies on Frege and Wittgenstein, on existentialism and Zen Buddhism, and on Spinoza, publishing about 40 articles in scholarly journals, and 3 books: "The Matter of Zen", "Zen Diary", and "The Radical Spinoza". A mere listing of numbers and titles does not reveal the background of personal commitment beh