Beatrice Erskine Lane Suzuki

Beatrice Erskine Lane

Beatrice Erskine Lane Suzuki (c. 1878–1939) was an American Theosophist, who was instrumental in promoting Theosophy in Japan. Lane Suzuki is often eclipsed by her famous husband, Japanese writer and scholar D. T. Suzuki. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Lane was educated at Radcliffe College, where one of her tutors was William James, graduating in 1898. She also completed a Master of Arts degree in social work at Columbia University in 1908.

Lane married Suzuki in 1911.

The Suzukis, along with her mother, joined the Tokyo International Lodge of the Theosophical Society in 1920. Lane Suzuki fulfilled various official roles in the Lodge. Lane Suzuki and her husband later founded the Mahayana Lodge with a more explicitly Buddhist focus. Letters from the time speak of the difficulty of spreading Theosophy in Buddhist Japan, since Theosophy draws heavily on Buddhism.

Lane Suzuki published numerous books on Buddhism and Japanese culture. These have seen many reprints and editions as well as being translated into many languages.

Publications

• 1931: Kōya San: the home of Kobō Daishi and his Shingon doctrine.
• 1932: Noḡaku: Japanese nō plays.
• 1933: Buddhism and practical life.
• 1934: Buddhist readings.
• 1938: Mahayana Buddhism. London: The Buddhist Lodge.
• 1940: Impressions of Mahayana Buddhism. The Eastern Buddhist Society, Otani Buddhist College; London: Luzac and Company, London.
• 1959: Mahayana Buddhism: a brief outline.

See also

• Buddhism and Theosophy
• Japanese Zen
• Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
• Theosophy
• Zen Narratives

Sources

• Algeo, Adele S. 2007 "Beatrice Lane Suzuki: An American Theosophist in Japan." Quest 95.1 (January–February 2007): 13–17.
• Barrett, Warrick L. 2006. "Beatrice Erskine Lane Suzuki." Find a Grave.