Originally Posted by
Jundo
If you came to Japan, you might be shocked at what you find at the typical "Soto Zen" temple here ... Zazen not practiced at most, with the central focus being on the conducting of expensive funerals and memorial services for temple parishioners (that is not true, by the way, of Muho's temple, and that is to his deep credit). Temples are now inherited from father to son (sometimes daughter, but she is usually expected to find a husband who will actually serve as the priest and heir), and a huge system has developed to sustain this inheritance of temple rights. "Dharma Transmission" has little or anything to do with "enlightenment", piercing the teachings, being a good teacher ... and is typically given to the sons of fathers who are temple priests so that they can inherit and continue the "family funeral business" that is the temple. Nishijima Roshi never had any interest in that, was ordained as a priest while continuing his life as a husband, father and working man, now lives in a tiny apartment, and has sought all his life to bring this Practice out to ordinary people so that everyone can practice. Nishijima seeks to return to the original ways of Master Dogen, a simpler time, and to center this practice on the centerless center of Zazen. For that reason, some of the traditional temple priests and monastic types do not like what we are trying to do here. Fortunately, others do and we have much support across the Soto Zen world.
Gassho, Jundo