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The Beat Generation, a post-World War II countercultural movement, embraced D. T. Suzuki's essays as a gateway to Eastern thought and spirituality. Suzuki's writings, particularly on Zen Buddhism, provided the Beats with an alternative to Western materialism and conformity, influencing their literature, art, and overall worldview. His ideas resonated with the Beats' rejection of societal norms and their exploration of alternative ways of life and consciousness.