Taisen Deshimaru (弟子丸 泰仙, birth name: Yasuo Deshimaru, kaimyō: Mōkudo Taisen) (1914 - April 30, 1982) was a Japanese Soto Zen Buddhist teacher.

Early life

Born in the Saga Prefecture of Kyūshū, Deshimaru was raised by his grandfather, a former Samurai before the Meiji Revolution, and by his mother, a devout follower of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism. Interested in the world, he abandoned his mother's practices and studied Christianity for a long while under a Protestant minister before ultimately deciding that it was not for him either. He returned to his own religion, Buddhism, and eventually came into contact with Rinzai teachings. Eventually, he also grew distant from Rinzai Buddhism and was unsatisfied by his life as a businessman. This led him to meet Soto Zen Master Kodo Sawaki, whom he quickly became a disciple of. Deshimaru quickly followed in Master Sawaki's footsteps and devoted himself to the practice of Shikantaza.

War years

Following The Attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, the two were separated as Deshimaru was sent off to war. His experiences led him to Bangka Island, where he taught zazen to the Chinese, Indonesian, and European inhabitants of the island. The island was under the attack of the Japanese Occupational Army, who were executing large numbers of the inhabitants indiscriminately. Feeling a plight for the people of Bankga, Deshimaru eventually took up their cause and was quickly labeled a rebel by the Japanese Army and thrown in prison. Shortly before he was due for execution, high Japanese officials released him and the other prisoners waiting to be killed. Following this, he was placed in an American POW camp in Singapore until he was released months later.

• Lineage@ (2)

• Deshimaru
  zen-deshimaru.com
  Biography of Master Deshimaru, founder of the Association Zen Internationale.