Engaged Zen Foundation - Zen 'in the marketplace'

Floating_Abu

Just came across this and thought it wonderful, wanted to share:

http://www.engaged-zen.org/

The Engaged Zen Foundation is dedicated to alleviating tangible suffering in the world. Where Zen Buddhism encourages the careful investigation of an individual life, EZF underscores the inescapable need to take that understanding 'into the marketplace.'

EZF was founded in 1992 with a focus on prisons. Incarceration and its depredations continue to be a focal point in our mission, but EZF also concerns itself with human rights violations and human needs in whatever form they may occur. We are grateful to all those who have aided our efforts and those who may join us in future.

How wonderful, and I wanted to thank these individuals and organisations for caring.

daemyo

Wonderful!! Thanks for posting this.

genkaku

Mods ... I don't know whether this is appropriate or allowed, but if not, please feel free to delete. I received the following email this morning from The Engaged Zen Foundation and thought it might be appropriate to add here:

I am writing on behalf of The Engaged Zen Foundation and my father, Rev. Kobutsu Kevin Malone, to ask for your help.

We need a replacement for our present car, a 1994 Mazda Protégé, which has served us for many years but is now worn out and rusted through. We are also hoping to replace our Mac G5 computer to make use of current software and an up-to-date operating system.

Those who share the concerns of The Engaged Zen Foundation are aware of Kobutsu’s work as a chaplain and advocate for prisoners, in particular for his efforts as a Buddhist monk who has been very outspoken against the death penalty.

My father worked for many years in Sing Sing prison, establishing a Sangha there and keeping regular zazen meetings. He visited prisoners on death row in several states, and brought Shodo Harada Roshi to the Arkansas Death Row for the first ever visit of a Japanese Zen Master to an American Death Row. His book, Prison Chaplaincy Guidelines for Zen Buddhism (2006) is recognized as a primary resource for Buddhists engaged in working with prisoners.

Kobutsu was instrumental in compiling the Shimano Archive, a project that was initiated by Aitken Roshi to archive documents that record the words and deeds of Eido Shimano, Roshi, the former Abbot of The Zen Studies Society. The shimanoarchive.com [http://shimanoarchive.com/] is the most comprehensive and detailed compilation of documents about a Zen teacher and Abbot’s misbehavior ever compiled. It is a website that is continually “under construction” as more documents are submitted to be archived. This open-sourced website is Kobutsu’s ongoing project.

My dad has endeavored to be self-sufficient and always worked without the sponsorship of an organization, although in years past, occasional grants from foundations helped support his mission. Today we ask for your help. Kobutsu needs a better car to get through this winter in Maine, and a newer computer would also be helpful. His Social Security Disability income is simply not enough to afford these purchases, therefore this appeal for your help.

Engaged Zen Foundation
P.O. Box 213
Sedgwick, ME 04676 USA

Floating_Abu

Many thanks for bringing this to our attention, @genkaku.

Namaste.

genkaku

PS. Apologies above: I did a poor job of linking the Shimano Archive. It is found at http://shimanoarchive.com/

Floating_Abu

I read an article from that today and I feel . I don't even know what I feel. I guess I feel scared as well because who knows what I might become if I had as much power and influence as some of these hot shots. Sad, sad.

Eido Shimano should go.

Floating_Abu

Mods ... I don't know whether this is appropriate or allowed, but if not, please feel free to delete. I received the following email this morning from The Engaged Zen Foundation and thought it might be appropriate to add here:

I am writing on behalf of The Engaged Zen Foundation and my father, Rev. Kobutsu Kevin Malone, to ask for your help.

We need a replacement for our present car, a 1994 Mazda Protégé, which has served us for many years but is now worn out and rusted through. We are also hoping to replace our Mac G5 computer to make use of current software and an up-to-date operating system.

Those who share the concerns of The Engaged Zen Foundation are aware of Kobutsu’s work as a chaplain and advocate for prisoners, in particular for his efforts as a Buddhist monk who has been very outspoken against the death penalty.

My father worked for many years in Sing Sing prison, establishing a Sangha there and keeping regular zazen meetings. He visited prisoners on death row in several states, and brought Shodo Harada Roshi to the Arkansas Death Row for the first ever visit of a Japanese Zen Master to an American Death Row. His book, Prison Chaplaincy Guidelines for Zen Buddhism (2006) is recognized as a primary resource for Buddhists engaged in working with prisoners.

Kobutsu was instrumental in compiling the Shimano Archive, a project that was initiated by Aitken Roshi to archive documents that record the words and deeds of Eido Shimano, Roshi, the former Abbot of The Zen Studies Society. The shimanoarchive.com [http://shimanoarchive.com/] is the most comprehensive and detailed compilation of documents about a Zen teacher and Abbot’s misbehavior ever compiled. It is a website that is continually “under construction” as more documents are submitted to be archived. This open-sourced website is Kobutsu’s ongoing project.

My dad has endeavored to be self-sufficient and always worked without the sponsorship of an organization, although in years past, occasional grants from foundations helped support his mission. Today we ask for your help. Kobutsu needs a better car to get through this winter in Maine, and a newer computer would also be helpful. His Social Security Disability income is simply not enough to afford these purchases, therefore this appeal for your help.

Engaged Zen Foundation
P.O. Box 213
Sedgwick, ME 04676 USA

Floating_Abu

Mods ... I don't know whether this is appropriate or allowed, but if not, please feel free to delete. I received the following email this morning from The Engaged Zen Foundation and thought it might be appropriate to add here:

I am writing on behalf of The Engaged Zen Foundation and my father, Rev. Kobutsu Kevin Malone, to ask for your help.

We need a replacement for our present car, a 1994 Mazda Protégé, which has served us for many years but is now worn out and rusted through. We are also hoping to replace our Mac G5 computer to make use of current software and an up-to-date operating system.

Those who share the concerns of The Engaged Zen Foundation are aware of Kobutsu’s work as a chaplain and advocate for prisoners, in particular for his efforts as a Buddhist monk who has been very outspoken against the death penalty.

My father worked for many years in Sing Sing prison, establishing a Sangha there and keeping regular zazen meetings. He visited prisoners on death row in several states, and brought Shodo Harada Roshi to the Arkansas Death Row for the first ever visit of a Japanese Zen Master to an American Death Row. His book, Prison Chaplaincy Guidelines for Zen Buddhism (2006) is recognized as a primary resource for Buddhists engaged in working with prisoners.

Kobutsu was instrumental in compiling the Shimano Archive, a project that was initiated by Aitken Roshi to archive documents that record the words and deeds of Eido Shimano, Roshi, the former Abbot of The Zen Studies Society. The shimanoarchive.com [http://shimanoarchive.com/] is the most comprehensive and detailed compilation of documents about a Zen teacher and Abbot’s misbehavior ever compiled. It is a website that is continually “under construction” as more documents are submitted to be archived. This open-sourced website is Kobutsu’s ongoing project.

My dad has endeavored to be self-sufficient and always worked without the sponsorship of an organization, although in years past, occasional grants from foundations helped support his mission. Today we ask for your help. Kobutsu needs a better car to get through this winter in Maine, and a newer computer would also be helpful. His Social Security Disability income is simply not enough to afford these purchases, therefore this appeal for your help.

Engaged Zen Foundation
P.O. Box 213
Sedgwick, ME 04676 USA

Donations welcome.

Floating_Abu

As of November 19 contributions total $ 3,625, a significant sum that makes us optimistic that we may be able to purchase a car that will give us much needed dependable transportation for the winter and beyond.

Once more, we are sending an appeal to help the Engaged Zen Foundation. We make this appeal during a time when our economy is in crisis, and all the non-profits are competing for the goodwill of their donors.
The Engaged Zen Foundation is a two-person operation that has been unswerving in its mission to bring ethical clarity and honesty to our Buddhist practice. We have never been aggressive about raising money to meet our needs. The many years of work in Sing Sing prison that Kobutsu did continued in the midst of medical and financial difficulty. Today, we simply need all the help that you can extend to us.

As a token of our gratitude, please let us know if you would like a copy of Kobutsu’s book, “Prison Chaplaincy Guidelines for Zen Buddhism.” This book is not simply a manual for chaplains but a clear presentation of sitting practice, ritual, and procedures in a zendo. Also, we are offering one of Kobutsu’s signature rakusu rings, hand crafted by Kobutsu from spalted maple or birch. Let us know which is more useful to you.

Our website, www.engaged-zen.org, will inform you of our mission and also of our fundraising progress