D.T. Suzuki, also known as Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, lived from October 18, 1870 to July 12, 1966. He was a Japanese scholar and philosopher who became one of the leading authorities on Zen Buddhism in the Western world.

Suzuki was born in Kanazawa, Japan, and was the youngest of five children. He grew up in a family that followed the Pure Land sect of Buddhism, but he was also exposed to other Buddhist traditions and teachings from a young age. Suzuki's father was a physician and encouraged his son to study medicine, but Suzuki's interest in Buddhism led him to pursue a career in religious studies instead.

In 1890, Suzuki enrolled in the University of Tokyo to study Buddhist philosophy. He was deeply influenced by the works of the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, who wrote extensively about the concept of the "will" in Buddhism. Suzuki also studied under the guidance of the renowned Buddhist scholar Kosen Ishikawa, who introduced him to Zen Buddhism.

After graduating from the university in 1895, Suzuki became a lecturer at the Gakushuin University in Tokyo. He continued to study and write about Buddhism, and in 1897, he published his first book, "A Study of the Lankavatara Sutra," which focused on the teachings of the Yogacara school of Buddhism.

In 1898, Suzuki traveled to the United States to study at Columbia University in New York. He was initially invited to teach about Japanese culture and language, but he soon began to introduce Western scholars to the teachings of Zen Buddhism. Suzuki's lectures and writings were well-received, and he became a popular figure in the academic world.

Suzuki returned to Japan in 1909 and became a professor at Otani University in Kyoto. He continued to teach and write about Buddhism, and in 1927, he published his most famous work, "Essays in Zen Buddhism." This book, along with his other writings, helped to popularize Zen Buddhism in the Western world and made Suzuki a well-known figure in the field of religious studies.

In the later years of his life, Suzuki traveled extensively and gave lectures on Zen Buddhism in Europe and the United States. He also established the Eastern Buddhist Society and the Society for the Study of Oriental Philosophy to promote the study of Buddhism in the West.

D.T. Suzuki's contributions to the study and understanding of Zen Buddhism have had a lasting impact on the field of religious studies. His writings continue to be widely read and studied, and his teachings have influenced many Western practitioners of Zen. He passed away in 1966 at the age of 95, but his legacy continues to live on through his work and the many students he inspired.