Hi Robert
Here's a lot of material by Stuart Lachs about the mechanisms and conditions underlying such scandals:
Essays Critical of Zen.
Applies to all hierarchies, of course, including Theravada...
And here's an older discussion over at Kenneth Folk Dharma Forum, about Genpo Roshi's escapades:
Genpe Roshi's resignation, moralism, and growing upOn page 2 of that thread, Kittydew wrote this:
Kittydew:
Maybe I am being overly pessimistic, but every time I see a Dharma leader wrapped in his/her own ego/pathos/issues I can't help but wonder, "If this stuff is supposed to end suffering, why the heck is THAT guy suffering like that if he's supposed to be so good at it?"
I keep thinking, I sit on the cushion and I suffer a little less. So. If I keep going, keep at this, it will bring a cessation or at least a serious diminishment of my suffering. That's why I play. I know other's may have loftier goals, and I know I am not as hardcore as most here, at DO and other groups, but that's why I STARTED doing this, why I keep doing it, to suffer less. Then I look at many teachers, yes, I know they are just frail humans as well, but whether Brad W. is wrapped in his own angst over his ego and affair or how Big Mind didn't save Roshi from his own stupidity I ask myself, "Why the hell am I sitting everyday?"
Am I missing something? Am I not advanced enough? Why do we put so much time/effort/mindfulness into this if not to suffer less?
Sorry, throwing some of my own angst in the mix, I know, but I ALWAYS wonder this when I see this kind of story. I get back on the cushion anyway but it sticks with me. I'd really be curious of other's thoughts on that.
Which is pretty much the same question you ask.
I still like what I wrote back then:
monkeymind:
Good question, Kittydew.
Me, I want to find out, that's why I sit and do other practices. I want to stop fooling myself over reasons why I might be suffering, and instead find out why I'm suffering.
If people suffer from stupid mistakes (mine and other peoples' mistakes - and it doesn't matter at all if it's me or HH the DL or some venerable Ajahn or Roshi being a stupid git - there is only suffering, not holy suffering vs. profane suffering), well, I'd say there is more work to be done, more clarity to be gained, more fooling myself to be debunked. Now at the level I'm referring to, here, the only person who can do this is me. That's why I practice. It's got nothing to do with the hustle and bustle of sangha functionaries anywhere. This is utterly personal, between me and suffering.
And in day-to-day human interaction, this kind of investigation (and its results) is still useful, but can't replace a dedication to being nice, avoiding harmful crap, and generally trying to increase the amount of good things being done, and being circumspect about it. You know, giving them a good performance, as an artist friend of mine puts it.
BTW, being aware of these doubts, by noting them, for example, is great practice towards the end of suffering.
That artist friend of mine I mentioned has a few good one-liners, two of which apply here:
Everything holy stinks.Nothing's holy that eats and craps.Cheers,
Florian