dzogchungpa wrote:
I agree. Going back to the OP though, Kyogen is a master from Sara H's lineage so I think it's appropriate to point out that she may not be representing her own school that well.
Kyogen is not a member of "my own school". Nor does he represent it.
Kyogen left Shasta Abbey by way of stealing the Portland Buddhist Priory.
He and his wife disagreed with the decision that was made to become full monastics.
They wanted to stay more of the Japanese route and do Lay Priest training.
This was after they had already been transmitted, so you could say they had the right to make that decision for themselves, however they way they left was highly unethical.
They had been the resident priests of the Portland Priory for little more than about 2 years if my memory serves me correctly.
When they left, they arbitrarily decided that they were going to take the Portland Priory with them.
Obviosly, this caused quite a stir, and there were some in the Shasta congregation who felt like they (Shasta) should sue.
But Rev. Master Jiyu was like "no, just let it go."
But nevertheless, the way they left was quite unethical.
They certainly had the right to make a personal decision to leave, and build their own congregation up from scratch.
But they didn't have the right to do it the way they did.
There are certain legal boundaries they crossed.
Imagine if a priest wanted to leave a Christain church because he disagreed with a policy. Ok, that's fine, there's nothing wrong with that.
But he can't legally take the church he was in with him.
It became more complicated due to ownership issues over the space they were using, etc.
And as I said, some people at Shasta felt the best course was to file charges.
Jiyu-Kennet I think just felt like the best thing was to let them go in peace.
But they did this of course, while she was still alive, and she lived for many more years.
While they are transmitted, yes, in a real way they stopped listening to her as a teacher.
There were other Priests who were also in their position, and who either went the monastic route with the OBC, or became Lay Ministers.
The Carlson's couldn't give up the position. They wanted both, and so in their group, they have followed the Japanese route. That's their choice.
But while they are transmitted, they did their own thing.
They even consider Koho Zenji to be the founder of their temple.
But Koho Zenji, was RM Jiyu Kennett's teacher, he was installed as the founder in the traditional way when it was still the Portland Priory.
It isnt anymore, the Portland Priory is in a different location now, what they have is a different temple in a sense, one that they founded.
It was a big mess. And a pretty big shock and slap in the face to their Teacher.
I have a lot of empathy for them, I know what it's like to find one's natural mate. When somebody finds that person you come together like glue, like magnets that cannot be kept apart.
But I don't agree with the way the Carlson's handled things.
It was unethical, and breaking a Precept. They stole. Big time. In a big way. They didn't have to do that.
And they havn't been entirely honest about that to say the least.
And I don't agree with that.
I do have compassion for them, and I also can't support that kindof behavior.
Every time they bow in front of that shrine, they know in their hearts it's something they stole.
It's just not Right Action.
And they are going to have to live with the consequences of that.
I offer them merit.
In Gassho,
Sara H.