Spirit of Practice: A response to a Sangha Discussion
Return to Summer/Fall 2002
Hey, hey, Zen participants, mellifluous meditators one and all, NYC sangha. What I got out of the meeting is that we have a couple of major concerns:
One, centered on Zen center practice: organizational and (blush) devotional issues, such as keeping silence, following temple rules, and the like.
The other social: how to build and maintain a strong keep-coming-back practicing community that pays attention to individual needs of ourselves as social beings, without trampling on the austere, you-are-responsible-for-your-own-practice outlook that is the fundamental (and ultimately correct) basis of the Kwan Um Zen’s approach.
On the first question, I understood we gotta provide communication, communication, communication, be it as a formal written explanation of the nitty gritty daily aspects of practice or in informal “How can I help” together action.
My suggestion is to use the DITs and DTs as the group that initiates the “information is available here” mode, which to my eyes is just to take joy in our own work of learning to help nurture the sangha. But we do need to be on the same page. We could have informational or educational meetings right after practice in which form issues are raised and clarified..
Now the second area of concern: In some people’s perception, we demonstrate poorly a sense of community in the larger sense and need to care for each other—”engaged practice?”
Do we need to be “social masters” whose role is to follow up on the sangha’s interests and/or well being? Maybe consider small together action, beginning even with chanting Ji Jang Bosal for, let’s say, the victims of war? Or become informed on how the nearby mosque deals with present red alert issues?
Whatever we do, it is important to reach out without forgetting that fun and laughter do not diminish the practice but, in their proper place, enrich it.
Others felt that when people stop coming it is as if they had dropped into a black hole and disappeared ...that if they were sick or hurt or dead, nobody in the sangha would know, equivalent to “not care.” What can be done about that?
There were other topics, such as the feeling that we are pretty much a heavily male-oriented organization, although the causes of such a structure (if it truly exists as an exclusionary paradigm) are pretty mysterious to me. Nonetheless, people who feel this way should have an opportunity to present solutions or at least bring the issue to the fore. The important thing is not whether a male-oriented organization exists, but that the perception does.
There was a lot of concern about why people come and do not stay. Newer people felt that they were left pretty much to their own copy-cat resources and not enough information or even acknowledgment of them as beginners was made. Assigning a dharma buddy seems like a good system, although concern by one and all could substitute just as well. There was also concern on how can we make Koreans feel really welcome and not threatened or disturbed. My take is that we need to keep the energy that brought us together. We have wonderful, dedicated teachers, but the onus of keeping the schtick together should be shared by all, not just our teachers. If we have concerns, I think we should propose solutions and follow up on them. I also believe that if we develop a strong sense of nurture for each other, the more accessible part having to do with the minutiae of form will automatically fall in place and will not need a great project.
To me, the center is rightly a school in which I continuously learn. I am grateful for the opportunity, practice-oriented and not, to be among wonderful people who teach me much. Thanks to all, but especially our guiding teachers, whose efforts on our behalf are deeply appreciated. Bumper sticker: “How can I help begins at home. Just do it”.
I’ve done did it. If you are sufficiently confused, it’s a start.
by Willy Echanique