铃木大拙的禅学与东方学密不可分,其禅学的话语空间始终是以日本、中国、印度为整体视域的东方(“东洋”),其基本价值立场是“东方的”,其基本研究方法是“东洋—西洋”之间的比较。他对东方学及日本禅学的创造性阐释与发挥集中体现于四个关键词:不二、灵性、自然、自由。铃木大拙认为东方佛学之精髓是“不二”,最体现“不二”的是禅,禅在日本的表征是“灵性”,“日本的灵性”是在包容和弘扬东方文化基础上形成的独特的宗教与美学意识,在美学方面则表现为东洋的“自然”观及“自然爱”;铃木大拙还发现了禅学中严格意义上的“自由”概念,指出它是不同于西方“自由”概念的真正、绝对的“自由”。从纵向上看,以日本败战前后为界,铃木大拙的思想与表达有着明显的调整与转换,即从日本的立场重新回到作为区域概念的“东方的”立场。

Suzuki Teitaro Daisetz's study of Zen is closely related to Oriental Studies as his discourse always takes Japan, China and India as the background of his study, with his approaches to viewing Oriental as the value standpoint and comparing the East and the West as a research method. His contributions to the Oriental Studies and Japanese Zen Studies are reflected in his four key concepts: Spirituality, The One, Nature and Freedom. According to Suzuki Daisetz, the essence of Oriental Buddhism is The One; the best manifestation of The One is Zen which in Japan is characterized by Spirituality. Spirituality in Japan is unique religious and aesthetic consciousness formed on the basis of integration and promotion of Oriental Culture in aesthetics. It is manifested as the Oriental view of Nature and love of Nature. Suzuki also distinguishes the concept of Freedom in Zen, or freedom in aesthetic sense, from the Western concept of freedom. It is noteworthy that Suzuki's standpoint turned from Japan to “the East” after the defeat of the country in the Second World War.