| | RE: And so? Answer 3/14/08 10:44 AM as a reply to Al Jigen Billings. Hi Adrian, you're welcome. "The whole thing" refers to the whole set of points/arguments in Lachs' articles. Yes, we are just beginning in a sense, but once we renounce spiritual naivete, without renouncing authenticity, we're bound to run into solutions almost instantly. The problem is complex, though not that complicated as it may seem. I hope Stuart Lachs will join us in the discussion here and share his thoughts on this later. Meanwhile, I would employ some of the integral methodology (i.e. AQAL) to dismantle this monster. Clearly, there are at least three sets of issues: first, the institutional set of issues (what is roshi/rinpoche as a title, what is implicit and explicit, how are decisions made, the structure of governance etc.); second, the cultural set of issues (both the premodern cultural code sometimes being transmitted as "the true dharma", and the postmodern relativism which allows it to go virtually undetected); third, the psychospiritual set of issues (stages of ego development, stages of awakening, styles of practice, types of mystical experience, therapy and shadow issues, relational and group dynamics etc.). Every one of these is hard on its own, but its their mutual reinforcement that makes it a tough nut (still, it's quite doable). At any rate, solution can only be conceived in a definite framework. Just for example, the first set of issues can be tackled with holacracy, a great system for improving governance and organizational intelligence. The second set, requires developing a healthy contemporary dharma practice and discourse, immune to enlightened machismo and anti-intellectualism, integrated the best from premodern, modern and postmodern traditions. The third set is one that concerns each and every one of us.
Judging from the "Big Issues" intro page, these issues seem widespread. Sure we can start different threads to tackle each question in turn, that's the idea! |