The Shimano Archive
嶋野 栄道 老師 アーカイブ

http://www.shimanoarchive.com
On March 16-19, 1993, a meeting was held in Dharamsala, India, between His Holiness The Fourteenth Dalai Lama and a group of twenty-two Western dharma teachers from the major Buddhist traditions in Europe and America. Also present were the Tibetan lamas Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche, Pachen Otrul Rinpoche, and Amchok Rinpoche. The aim of the meeting was to discuss openly a wide range of issues concerning the transmission of Budhadharma to Western lands.

The following statement ensued from the meeting:
“Each student must be encouraged to take responsible measures to confront teachers with unethical aspects of their conduct. If the teacher shows no sign of reform, students should not hesitate to publicize any unethical behavior of which there is irrefutable evidence. This should be done irrespective of other beneficial aspects of his or her work and of one's spiritual commitment to that teacher. It should also be made clear in any publicity that such conduct is not in conformity with Buddhist teachings. No matter what level of spiritual attainment a teacher has, or claims to have, reached, no person can stand above the norms of ethical conduct.”
—Signed:

Fred von Allmen, Brendan Lee Kennedy, Ven. Ajahn Amaro, Bodhin Kjolhede Sensei, Jack Kornfield, Martine Batchelor, Dharmachari Kulananda, Stephen Batchelor, Jakusho Bill Kwong Roshi, Alex Berzin, Lama Namgyal (Daniel Boschero), Ven. Thubten Chodron (Cherry Greene), Ven. Tenzin Palmo, Lama Drupgyu Crony Chapman), Ven. Thubten Pende (James Dougherty), Lopon Claude aEsnee, Lama Surya Das (Jeffrey Miller), Edie Irwin, Robert Thurman, Junpo Sensei (Denis Kelly), Sylvia Wetzel.

08/02/10
AUDIO ONLY
August 2, 2010 - 10:34 to 10:46 AM HST

Robert Baker Aitken, Rōdaishi Final Interview - Audio Excerpt of Comments on Eido Shimano, Admiration and Encouragement for Survivors.

Aitken, Rōdaishi Passed Away Three Days Later on
August 5, 2010.

 An excerpt from the final interview given by Aitken, Rōdaishi to Joel Whitney, a freelance reporter for Tricycle Magazine.

Present, by specific invitation of Aitken, Rōdaishi, were Lynn Davis and Kobutsu Malone.

Recorded with permission of Aitken, Rōdaishi by Kobutsu Malone and Lynn Davis.

XXX

08/02/10

 20100802_Aitken_Interview.html

Transcript of the Robert Baker Aitken, Rōdaishi Final Interview - Excerpt of Comments on Eido Shimano, Admiration and Encouragement for Survivors.

 "JW – Are there other things related to your teaching, related to Zen coming to the West that you feel regrets about?

RA – There are so many things that are marvelous about it coming to the West that I can overlook the disadvantages.

JW – And yet from what I understand you’ve been working on ...erm trying to right the wrongs of one of your …ah .. you’ve written some stuff on your blog recently about Shimano, Eido.

RA – Oh, that’s it.. That’s like asking a question about a hippopotamus when we’re really discussing a leaf frog.

JW – I’m just wondering if there’s a regret in the fact that this has been going on, and if you’ve been….

RA – You’re damn right it is.

JW – …to clear something up.

RA – Your’e damn right it is.

JW – Is there anything you would like to say about that?

RA – (forcefully) HE’S A CROOK.

JW – He’s a crook.

RA – (pause) We’ve got to find a way that he can say, "I’m a crook."

JW – Is there anything you would like to say to the people for instance in his circle, in his orbit who have maybe helped foster his behavior or enabled it?

RA – They are a part of the problem.

RA – How'm I doing Kobutsu?

KM – Good, Roshi

JW – I understand you guys have been working together. If I may bring in Kobutsu into the conversation for a moment…

RA – Sure.

JW – It must be very frustrating. This is more of a general question to get your reaction. It must be very frustrating to be aware of this for so long to be so interpersonally touched by it, and to be aware that it is one of the unfortunate by-products perhaps of Zen in the West, or this one instance of Zen in the West...

RA – (forcefully) It’s NOT a byproduct of Zen in the West, it’s a byproduct of a criminal mind."

08/02/10

AUDIO ONLY
August 2, 2010
10:00 AM HST

Robert Baker Aitken, Rōdaishi Final Interview - Complete.

Aitken, Rōdaishi Passed Away Three Days Later on
August 5, 2010.

Aitken Rōdaishi’s last interview as recorded by Kobutsu Malone.

  Kobutsu Malone and Lynn Davis (the University of Hawaii archivist), were both specifically invited by Aitken Rōdaishi to be present and to record the interview.

08/02/10
VIDEO

Robert Baker Aitken, Rodaishi Final Interview - A Partial Video Recording.

Aitken Rodaishi’s last interview as recorded by Lynn Davis.

  Lynn Davis (the University of Hawaii archivist) and Kobutsu Malone were both specifically invited by Aitken, Rodaishi to be present and record the interview.





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Robert Baker Aitken, Rodaishi Final Interview - Kobutsu Malone - August 2010 (Audio)

"In times of pervasive deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

Please – Survivors, present and former Zen Studies Society clergy, students, Board members – contact us. We guarantee strict confidentiality; nothing we are sent or told will be made public without a prior understanding and agreement. Your identity will be protected as you wish. All emails, letters, correspondence and any transmitted documents are encrypted and stored at a secure, off-site location.

We want to hear and document your experiences so that the truth prevails and is not overshadowed by hagiographical hyperbole and self-serving historical revisionism. Only by telling our stories and exposing our injuries can others see the truth, our stories can save others from needless injury and suffering. Please come forward, if only anonymously….

We anticipate setting up a secure forum for survivors where experiences, memories, damage, fears, healing of wounds and possible legal recourse may be discussed. This effort will be announced here at a future date.

We are able to offer referals to psychological professionals and legal professionals for survivors.

You may make contact through: kobutsu.malone@gmail.com

or by mail at:

The Archive Project
Rev. Kobutsu Malone
Post Office Box 213
Sedgwick, Maine 04676

(207) 359-2555

Phone open 24/7 - day or night.