Gary Gach on “Zen and the Art of the Sex Scandal” at Religion Dispatches
by Danny Fisher
(L-R) Gary Gach and the author at University of the West. Photo by Ven. Hyun Gak.
Our old friend Gary Gach shares his thoughts on the “Shimano Archive,” the Zen Studies Society, and Eido Shimano Roshi at Religion Dispatches. Take a look here.
For all of my past posts on this issue, follow this link.
When Gary was in the process of writing this piece he wrote to me (as I am involved with the issue directly) and asked for my input. Here is what I sent him:
“The present situation has been largely seen, at superficial scrutiny, to be a matter of the sexual abuse of students in inherent and amplified situations of inequality. On careful examination the situation is far more complex and not at all limited to sexual abuse. What has been revealed by the shimanoarchive.com raises serious questions about the ‘culture’ of ZSS centers, the behavior of ordained sangha in relation to the ZSS Ethical Guidelines and the functioning of the Zen Studies Society Board of Directors. The lack of awareness demonstrated by the recent revelations of ZSS Board members makes it clear that the Board has been completely out of touch with the reality and enormity of the crisis. The response of the larger Buddhist community leadership has been reprehensible and brings questioning of their own positions. Aside from a recent flurry of letters created out of a ‘consensus’ process and largely holding to a ‘party’ line, there have been but a few clear voices that grasp the concept of ‘talking truth to power.’ ”
“Most certainly this matter has raised intense reflection and questioning of ‘institutional’ Buddhism. It is possible that ‘The Shimano Affair’ may provide the catalyst for bringing about a revolution of transparency within World Zen in America and Japan. We are perhaps witnessing the making of a revolution in Buddhism.”
– Rev. Kobutsu Malone, Sedgwick, Maine
Thank you for the wonderful links, Danny!
I was a Mahayana nun for 4.5 years… during the 10 years that I was involved with that tradition, of all the “dis-robings” that occurred, I know of only one other person besides myself who made that choice for reasons other than “sexual misconduct”. It’s truly sobering to see the effect that hypocrisy has on a Sangha, especially when it a Sangha filled with sincere practitioners who thought they had found something more pure than the churches they had left…