The scholarly work of Lithuanian-born American philosopher Thomas Kasulis has been little studied in Lithuania. Kasulis has contributed to Japanese studies by translating numerous Japanese philosophical texts and writing works on Zen – Buddhism and Shinto. In his studies of Zen – Buddhism, he highlighted the importance of pre-reflective experience to explain reality. In his studies of Shinto, he revealed the profound meanings of essentialist and existential spirituality. In the comparative philosophy he emphasized two significant concepts of intercultural interaction: integrality and intimacy. With it the thinker tries to substantiate the dynamics of different cultures by explicating art, policy, mentality. Basing on the relevant national analogies the author of the article deepens his knowledge into the most important ideas of Kasulis, his comparative philosophy and his research contexts of Zen – Buddhism and Shinto.
Key Words: Thomas Kasulis, Japanese studies, Shintoism, Dzen – Buddhism, political context
