Hakuin Zenji (1689-1769) is often referred to as the 'father' of the Japanese Zen Rinzai school. His reforms revitalised the school, ensuring its endurance even to our own day. Hakuin re-emphasised the importance of zazen, or sitting meditation, in his teaching. This intimate self-portrait of the Zen master includes reminiscences from his childhood, an account of how he came to practise Zen, and a description of his enlightenment experiences.