BLOWING THE WHISTLE on the SZBA
I have been told that I might be booted out of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association just for writing this (an organization, by the way, that has never even kicked out a priest for sexual abuse or other improprieties toward students.) There may be pressure on moderators from influential SZBA members to have these posts taken down, or they may suddenly disappear. Some will say that we should not say bad things publicly, or that we should be 'beyond' all this, or that it is just a matter of 'Tradition' and thus cannot be challenged. Still others will say, "who cares about the SZBA?" I disagree, will take the risk, because good people are being hurt, turned away, denied recognition of what they are, discriminated against.
The fact is that sincere people who would make excellent Soto Zen priests are facing closed doors because the SZBA refuses to recognize them as priests simply because they are physically or otherwise unable to meet the demands of in person, physically demanding residential priest training that the SZBA continues to insist upon year after year. It is not just the SZBA, but most or all of our major monastic training centers in America, Europe and Japan.
Some will point to a few wheelchair ramps, added railings or small adjustments and loosenings of training schedules in defense: However, I am speaking of individuals, some fully confined to bed or to home, with fragile and dangerous conditions, in need of nursing care or constant treatment, people who otherwise would risk serious injury if attempting residential training. Nonetheless, these are people having the calling to be good and dedicated priests while truly understanding the impermanence of the body and the meaning of suffering.
The SZBA is an organization which prides itself on how supposedly "woke" it is with regard to racism, social injustice and discrimination, regularly advertising such fact, and yet it continues to look the other way to its own discriminatory behavior. It studies minor adjustments, a few cut corners and small accommodations to its training standards, nothing more, pleading that it be given time, that some things cannot change or that things change only slowly. It points to some of its members who have degrees or kinds of disability which allowed them the demanded training as an excuse for its exclusion of disabled individuals who simply cannot.
Well, now is the time, and for many individuals (some already ordained and excellent priests, but whom the SZBA would refuse to recognize because their disabilities and other conditions required alternative means of training) it is time to push back. I and others will speak up about this tragedy in the coming weeks and months until this injustice, which has continued for decades, even for centuries in Zen Buddhism, is left behind in history, even if the threatened hammer of the organization comes down on some of us.
It is time to open the doors to such individuals who do not meet the "standard" definition of what is a Soto Zen Priest.
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
Sorry to run long.
BLOWING THE WHISTLE on the SZBA
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Juki
Not at all. I think that maybe there was no administrator up at 545 am. Maybe they will admit me later.
Gassho
Juki
sat today and lah
My request was approved in half an hour or so..
Did you fill everything out properly and clicked accept rules at the end?
[emoji1374] Sat Today
BLOWING THE WHISTLE on the SZBA
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Zenkon
Title 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits commercial organizations such as schools from discriminating against individuals with disabilities, and requires organizations to make "reasonable accomodations". SZBA is based in Calif. I "think" a case could be made that they are subject to the act. At least, it might be worth having a lawyer look into it. Often, just the threat of such a lawsuit is enough to generate change.
Gassho
Zenkon
This is a difficult issue. If priests could be thought of as doctors, then the practice of medicine has a model in place to ensure only qualified professionals practce their trade.
In the case of medicine, there is a long world wide tradition where students compete fiercely for a few covered spots to become a doctor. Those that are lucky get accepted to medical school after many years of study and continue their training and may eventually become general doctors and then further specialize. After becoming doctors and finishing several years of specialization, doctors begin their trade independent of supervision from other doctors.
When doctors have finished all of their academic training, they are monitored by a medical board constituted by other doctors and members of the general public appointed by the government whose function is then to protect the public by ensuring that doctors are capable of continuing their duties as physicians. For example, a doctor who develops a hand tremor may no longer operate or one that develops mental illness or an addictve disorder may no longer work due to their disability.
This is as it should be. A job has to be done regardless of ability or disability. No reasonable accomodations can be made for a doctor in the operating room who can not utilize the operating instruments safely. Reasonable accommodations can not be made to any doctor who is unable to practice medicine safely due to mental disability.
Other professions such as law, accounting, engineering, nursing, professional sports, etc. all have standards that must be met by it's practitioners.
Because I am not a priest or have intimate knowledge of the education system of priests, I don't know what the appropriate standards should be in educating priests but I can easily understand why changing the system would be difficult given all the complexity involved in determining who is ultimately fit to do the job.
My 2 cents,
Gassho, Jishin, ST, LAH
