Hey all,

Zen is the oddest religion and the most 'normal' religion - at the same time! I think people get down when they realize that their teachers and sanghas are just human like everyone else. We all want to look good in the eyes of others. People become jealous, hurt - petty rivalries ensue. People are people. And yet also caring, truth-seeking, and kind. Today's sanghas are not different than others throughout Buddhist history in this way, I think.

But these splinters in our social interactions are also practice, I think.

Chet