House of Silent Light: The Dawning of Zen in Gilded Age America

This Oceanside House south of San Francisco is where Zen was first introduced to the West. It was here that Mrs. Ida Russell hosted Zen master Shaku Soen for a period of time. Even though this marks its beginning, this book explains why Shaku Soen’s dream of introducing Zen to the West ultimately went unfulfilled during his lifetime. This pioneering work also examines the varying roles of Sasaki Shigetsu, Senzaki Nyogen, and D. T. Suzuki, all of whom were related to Shaku Soen. And yet none of this would have happened if Mrs. Ida Russell had not been there.