Education for Zen Students on Misconduct in Sanghas: Studying Personal, Interpersonal and Transpersonal Levels

By: Abbess Myoan Grace Schireson, Empty Nest Zendo

In studying the recent revelations of the Zen Studies Society (Rev. Eido Shimano) and Kanzeon Zen Center (and the apology of now disrobed Genpo Merzel), we see similar actions, sangha reactions and harm to students and communities. My view is that we cannot count on either the teacher or the sanghas where the misconduct has occurred to explain to us what has gone wrong with their Zen practice. Rather we need to study ourselves, our own sanghas and the way Zen transforms our awareness to look for explanations and more importantly, to find ways to prevent this harm where we practice. I have been studying three levels of interaction between Zen students and Zen sanghas and wanted to share my views.

Excerpt copied from Sweeping Zen. Read the rest of the story here.