On 13 January, an open letter signed by over 90 priests, abbots, and teachers of the Zen tradition in America was published by Lion’s Roar, outlining the intent to end a culture that allows for sexual abuse. The letter was written in response to an article about Roshi Eido Tai Shimano, founding abbot of the New York Zendo Shobo-Ji (Temple of True Dharma), that was first published on 18 December 2014 in The Atlantic. It was also in acknowledgment of an earlier piece in Lion’s Roar that called for an investigation into the abuse-of-power scandals besetting Buddhism in the West.
Zen teacher Roshi Eido Tai Shimano (left). From engaged-zen.org
Since the Dharma arrived in the West, with its tradition of guru yoga and teacher worship, it has grown into a large body comprising different traditions, sects, and cultural systems. As it has spread from shore to shore across the American continent, it has illuminated and transformed the Western mind. But it has also cast a long shadow over its Western students. That shadow hangs like a hidden specter behind a closed closet door, whispering of sexual harassment and abuse of power by teachers who promise enlightenment through devotion on the part of all-too-eager students, hungry for spiritual insight.
This issue can no longer be avoided. Thus, the American Zen community has done something historic—they have joined forces to confront the abuse and to explore within the sangha how best to alter the culture that allows for abuse to occur. The open letter is both an apology to those who have been harmed in a situation where they did not know how to confront a misguided spiritual authority, and a clear intention to change the culture of silence that allows for this to happen. The opening statement of the letter clarifies: “We believe exposing this problem is a positive step in the direction of preventing such abuses in the future. Many women and others in the Zen community have suffered as a result, and we regret and apologize for our collective failure to stop this harm.”
The letter then goes on to say, “We have pledged to look and listen to our communities and to build more visible ethics codes, working toward consensus on national standards on behavior and oversight, and seeking outside consultation to educate and empower students to come forward if they have been abused.”
It further notes that the American Zen community, unlike its Asian counterparts, does not have a governing body to oversee, regulate, or discipline the teachers and priests who are active throughout the country. For that reason, the signatories were united in their agreement to work toward fostering a better climate for students.
The letter was drafted by Abbess Myoan Grace Schireson of Empty Nest Zendo in California and Reverend Joe Genjo Marinello of the Chobo-ji Zen center in Washington State, both of whom also signed the letter.
The aspirations for the letter to have a positive impact run high. In an interview with Huffington Post, Schireson indicated that not only did she hope that the letter would actively counter abuse, as well as encourage teachers and priests to higher levels of ethical standards, but that it might also be the beginning of a students’ bill of rights in relation to their teachers within the spiritual community.
Buddhism is a tradition that bases its spiritual validity on lineage. It comes from various Asian states that were still feudal patriarchies less than 100 years ago, but is now encountering the liberal thinking of the West. The resulting attempts to begin working with the challenge of power relationships within the sangha are certain to be an ongoing part of how the Dharma becomes more rooted in the West.