Taisen Deshimaru was born in Japan in 1914. He grew up in a time of great social and political change, as Japan was transitioning from a feudal society to a modern industrialized nation. Despite the tumultuous times, Deshimaru's childhood was marked by a strong sense of spirituality, as his family was deeply rooted in the practice of Zen Buddhism.

At the age of 18, Deshimaru began working for a large Japanese trading company. He quickly rose through the ranks and became a successful businessman, traveling extensively throughout Asia and Europe. However, despite his success, Deshimaru felt unfulfilled and longed for something more meaningful in his life.

In 1941, at the age of 27, Deshimaru had a chance encounter with a Zen master while on a business trip in Manchuria. This meeting had a profound impact on him, and he became determined to study Zen and become a monk. However, his plans were put on hold when he was drafted into the Japanese army during World War II.

After the war, Deshimaru returned to Japan and resumed his job in the trading company. But his desire to study Zen never waned, and in 1947, he finally left his job and became a monk at the famous Eiheiji monastery in Fukui, Japan. He spent the next eight years training and studying under the guidance of Master Kodo Sawaki, one of the most influential Zen masters of the 20th century.

In 1955, Deshimaru was ordained as a Zen monk and given the name Taisen, which means "great ocean." He continued to study and practice Zen, eventually becoming a master himself. In 1967, he was appointed as the head of a small Zen temple in Paris, France, which marked the beginning of his mission to bring Zen to the West.

Deshimaru's teachings were deeply rooted in the traditional Zen practices he learned in Japan, but he also adapted them to make them more accessible to Westerners. He emphasized the importance of zazen (meditation) and the practice of mindfulness in everyday life. His teachings resonated with many people in Europe, and he quickly gained a following.

Over the next two decades, Deshimaru traveled extensively throughout Europe, giving lectures and leading meditation retreats. He also established several Zen centers and temples in different countries, including France, Germany, and Spain. His efforts helped to popularize Zen in the West and make it more accessible to people from different cultures and backgrounds.

Taisen Deshimaru's background as a successful businessman and his deep spiritual roots in Zen Buddhism played a crucial role in his mission to bring Zen to Europe. His teachings continue to inspire and guide many people on their own spiritual journeys, and his legacy as a Zen master and pioneer in spreading Zen to the West lives on.