Back
“Ursula Baatz has written a moving account of Enomiya-Lassalle—virtually unknown today but still relevant as a spiritual teacher for our fracturing age. Baatz tells Lassalle’s life story in its human and fascinating detail. She shows how Lassalle saw a new consciousness emerging in the world but how his life focused on individual practice and direct experience of the deep reality that unites all human beings. Nothing could be more timely than this heartfelt account.”—From the foreword by Jerry Brown, former Governor of California
Hugo Lassalle (1898-1990), who later took the name Enomiya-Lassalle, was a German Jesuit stationed in mission to Japan. There he survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and became deeply engaged in the exploration and practice of Zen, which he believed was compatible with Christian faith. He became the pioneer of this dialogue, giving rise to a whole school of Christian-Zen dialogue/practice and, despite many struggles, winning approval from the Vatican.
Ursula Baatz received her PhD in philosophy from the University of Vienna, where she is currently a research fellow at the Institute of Religious Studies. Certified as a Zen teacher, she is also the author of Hugo M. Enomiya-Lassalle: Life Between Worlds.
