Monday, November 23, 2015

Eido Shimano forum recordings

As noted below in a blog response, here are two audio recordings of the forum held last Saturday (11/21/15) in the matter of Eido Tai Shimano and his 50 years of 'teaching' and his financial/sexual depredation in America. The recordings were provided by Kobutsu Malone who said that the source wanted to remain anonymous.

I have little or no energy to listen to and evaluate the recordings, but post them as a matter of possible wider interest. The quality of the recordings is mixed, but I think those with an interest can probably winkle out the gist.

Recording 1.

Recording 2.

I would still appreciate some sequential description of the meeting. How many attended, how long did it last, how many addressed either positive or negative aspects of the issue at hand, did anyone get angry, were there any come-to-Jesus epiphanies, was anything resolved or healed or improved, did the mediator mediate  ... just some description of the whole.

I know, I know ... if I wanted to know that stuff, I should have gotten up off my own ass and gone. But it's a long ride to New York and a long ride back and I tire easily ... not to mention the fact that I really, really, really had a hard time imagining some air-clearing result.

I wish I were nicer, but I have tried that and, to turn a phrase on its side, "If the shoe doesn't fit, don't wear it." Compassion as some ginned-up altruism may be popular, but that doesn't make it true.

PS (11/24/15). On Zen Forum International, there was this comment from Genjo Marinello:
One of the most interesting revelations coming out of this event is Eido Shimano admitting, apologizing for and warmly remembering his past affair with the current abbot and Roshi of DBZ and the Zen Studies Society, Shinge Roko Sherry Chayat. [emphasis added]. Shinge was hand selected to be the next abbot by Eido Shimano and now I better understand why. Shinge has repeatedly denied that she ever had an affair with Eido Shimano. She told this lie to me on multiple private occasions, in public on multiple occasions, and shamed and angered other women when she denied to them that she had told them at one time the truth about a previous affair with Eido. Shinge said in 2011 that she was starting her new administration with honesty and transparency. I could care less that she had an affair with Eido Shimano, but to lie to the sangha and the public is inexcusable, and I believe she now has no credibility to lead DBZ or ZSS. She could have used the truth for healing, instead she choose to protect herself and be loyal to Eido Shimano.
Once again, I feel as if the eye-stinging dust storm is girding up its loins for another go. Genjo says something true and apposite at the same time that a part of his own credibility as a Zen teacher rests on Eido Shimano's recognition of him as a Zen teacher. That doesn't detract from the truth of Genjo's statement, but it cuts another facet in the gem.

9 comments:

  1. I cant hear anything from either recording... can anyone else hear it?

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  2. I admit I had to turn the sound up, but I could hear it.

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    Replies
    1. shit...
      I've crancked my speakers as far as they can go and still nothing.

      Delete
  3. Shodo -- Try this....

    http://www.shimanoarchive.com/Audio /Shimano%20Apology%20A1.mp3

    http://www.shimanoarchive.com/Audio/Shimano%20Apology%20A2.mp3

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    Replies
    1. ... also, if you're anything like me, check to make sure the speakers are on.

      Delete
  4. Sigh... nothing.
    Even changed speakers, made sure they were working, switched to headphones too.

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  5. Shodo -- No doubt there is some deeeeeeeeep meaning in all of it, but I'm damned if I know what it is.

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  6. AHHA! Chrome was flipping out - switched to Mozilla and it worked. :)

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  7. I have just added two additional Audio recordings of the so-called "Shimano Apology" to the archive:

    http://www.shimanoarchive.com/Au…/Shimano Apology B1.mp3

    and

    http://www.shimanoarchive.com/Au…/Shimano Apology B2.mp3

    ReplyDelete