Dear All,
In various Zen Ceremonies, we recite a list of the "Zen Ancestors" (sometimes called "Zen Patriarchs"), stretching from the Buddha through Bodhidharma, Dogen, to modern times. For various cultural reasons, the list is exclusively a boy's club.
In recent years, to recognize the roll of great Women in Buddhism and Zen, a "Women Ancestors Lineage" has been created (we will recite and honor this during our upcoming San Francisco Retreat) ...
I have now proposed to the Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA, a group of many Soto Zen Teachers primarily in North America) a "Differently Enabled Ancestors List" of figures from the Buddhist past who practiced and taught from various disabilities, a list similar to the Women's Ancestor List. I am thinking that such a Differently Abled Lineage might become the centerpiece of a special Ceremony or periodic recitation to accompany the core Lineage or Female Lineage.
Unfortunately, in Traditional Buddhism (and even today), people with physical disabilities were sometimes prevented from Ordination for many cultural reasons, including a seeming inability to participate in the great physical demands of monastic life. For example, Ajahn Brahmavamso says this on Vinaya standards in many traditional Buddhist societies ...
I believe that the main point was simply that disability would interfere with monastic life, study and its many physical requirements.
Our Sangha particularly is looking at Training of those who, because of physical restrictions, cannot engage in a standard course of training ... cannot bow or climb steps or move fast for a Ceremony ... but who are excellent individuals with much to teach in the aid of other Sentient Beings, and who will make excellent Priests with reasonable accommodations to what they can do. I think that the "Differently Enabled Ancestors List" is a worthy project for those who were shut out of, or faced impossible obstacles, to Buddhist Training in the past.
Some folks from the SZBA have suggested that we take the lead on a first draft of such a list. If anyone is interested, please let me know. Perhaps the criteria would be figures, both legendary and historical, who are known to have had physical disabilities which did not prevent their engagement in Buddhist Practice or Zen Training, and who had much to offer. Like the Women's Lineage, it does not have to be an actual chain of Teacher-to-Student.
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
In various Zen Ceremonies, we recite a list of the "Zen Ancestors" (sometimes called "Zen Patriarchs"), stretching from the Buddha through Bodhidharma, Dogen, to modern times. For various cultural reasons, the list is exclusively a boy's club.
In recent years, to recognize the roll of great Women in Buddhism and Zen, a "Women Ancestors Lineage" has been created (we will recite and honor this during our upcoming San Francisco Retreat) ...
I have now proposed to the Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA, a group of many Soto Zen Teachers primarily in North America) a "Differently Enabled Ancestors List" of figures from the Buddhist past who practiced and taught from various disabilities, a list similar to the Women's Ancestor List. I am thinking that such a Differently Abled Lineage might become the centerpiece of a special Ceremony or periodic recitation to accompany the core Lineage or Female Lineage.
Unfortunately, in Traditional Buddhism (and even today), people with physical disabilities were sometimes prevented from Ordination for many cultural reasons, including a seeming inability to participate in the great physical demands of monastic life. For example, Ajahn Brahmavamso says this on Vinaya standards in many traditional Buddhist societies ...
There are others still who should not be ordained, although if they are ordained by mistake their ordination is valid. These include: one with infectious diseases, a slave, one escaped from jail, one known to be wanted by the police, one with unpaid debts, one in the 'King's Service' (e.g. a soldier), one maimed, deformed, disabled or very old (meaning to the extent that it is impractical to perform the duties of monastic life).
Our Sangha particularly is looking at Training of those who, because of physical restrictions, cannot engage in a standard course of training ... cannot bow or climb steps or move fast for a Ceremony ... but who are excellent individuals with much to teach in the aid of other Sentient Beings, and who will make excellent Priests with reasonable accommodations to what they can do. I think that the "Differently Enabled Ancestors List" is a worthy project for those who were shut out of, or faced impossible obstacles, to Buddhist Training in the past.
Some folks from the SZBA have suggested that we take the lead on a first draft of such a list. If anyone is interested, please let me know. Perhaps the criteria would be figures, both legendary and historical, who are known to have had physical disabilities which did not prevent their engagement in Buddhist Practice or Zen Training, and who had much to offer. Like the Women's Lineage, it does not have to be an actual chain of Teacher-to-Student.
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
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