answer to James Shaheen (editor of Tricycle)

I have been meaning to write something in response to Tricycle’s announcement earlier this year that Ken McLeod’s commentary on the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva was cited among their Twelve Best of 2012.

The opportunity arose today following the publication of this article by James Shaheen, editor of Tricycle magazine, on the subject of the sexual misconduct of Zen Buddhist teacher, Joshu Sasaki.

My response to Mr. Shaheen is as follows:

 

You say that “one of the most surprising things” about these stories when they finally break is that they “took so long to be made public”.   I couldn’t agree with you more.

I’d be curious to know why, when these stories about Sasaki have been known for years, Tricycle has only gone public with them now.

Or to cite a current example of another teacher about whom Tricycle has never gone public for his “bullying, deceit, and exploitative conduct”, Ken McLeod preaches on your website:

Even if someone broadcasts to the whole universe
Slanderous and ugly rumors about you,
In return, with an open and caring heart,
Praise his or her abilities
37 Practices of a Bodhisattva; verse 15

Then, within weeks of this commentary being published, Ken  threatens to sue Adam Tebbe of Sweeping Zen and Myoan Grace Schireson for daring to broadcast a documented account of his and his organization’s perfidy. Tricycle has never written about or even investigated any of this hypocrisy but continues to publish Ken, citing his commentary above among the “Twelve Best of 2012” and including him in the latest eBook marketing piece.

How is this different from the “flattering support for his bullying, deceit, and exploitative conduct” that you condemn in your article?