E-SANGHA WATCH - OBJECTING TO BIAS & SECTARIAN INTOLERANCE on E-SANGHA

E-SANGHA WATCH

OBJECTING TO BIAS & SECTARIAN INTOLERANCE on the E-SANGHA BUDDHISM PORTAL

WE FEEL THAT ...

E-SANGHA WATCH has been created with the support, guidance and encouragement of concerned Buddhist clergy and lay-persons of several schools wishing to firmly yet constructively oppose, publicize, correct and explain to the unwary the current state of intra-Buddhist sectarian bias, misinformation, religious intolerance and 'sect bashing' which unfortunately exists under the present policies and administration of the 'E-Sangha' Buddhism Portal website.

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS:

CONTACT E-SANGHA WATCH:

ESANGHAWATCH(a)GMAIL.COM

or

'E-Sangha Watch' Representative
Jundo Cohen, Soto Zen Priest
Tree leaf Sangha
jundotreeleaf(a)gmail.com

If you have a tale to relate of poor, unfair or biased treatment by the actions and policies of the 'E-Sangha Buddhism Portal' website, its administrators and moderators, and would like to tell your story so as to educate those who may encounter that website seeking information on Buddhism but unfamiliar with the situation there, please write to:

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS:

E-SANGHA WATCH

ESANGHAWATCH(a)GMAIL.COM

PLEASE READ
SUBMITTED STATEMENTS
HERE (link)

We will only print statements that are clearly written in a first-hand, sincere, forthright and respectful manner, and which otherwise appear to constitute 'Right Speech'. Powerful or critical speech will be allowed, if not stepping over the line of anger. We will also do our best to confirm factual claims, which may result in delay in our posting some comments. We also welcome and will publish statements by the current owner and administrators of E-Sangha, should they wish to write.

An ESSAY ENTITLED
_{BACKGROUND & REASONS E-SANGHA WATCH is NECESSARY}

IS PRINTED BELOW, AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ IT

_{We are thankful for the many encouraging readers' comments like the following ...}Don't under-estimate the value of the transparency you provide by shining this spotlight on E-sangha. When someone knows they're being monitored and that any nastiness will be exposed then they will behave in more appropriate ways. Buddha blessed!

_{Thank you!}

_{E-SANGHA .COM IS CURRENTLY DOWN DUE TO HAVING BEEN HACKED AND IS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE FROM AN "}expert in security, php and mysql database". WHILE WE ARE CRITICAL OF MANY OF THE POLICIES OF THE SITE, WE BELIEVE IT A VALUABLE RESOURCE NONETHELESS, AND ASK FOR A VOLUNTEER TO RENDER ASSISTANCE.

_{PLEASE KNOW YOUR ADMINISTRATORS & MODERATORS}
_{for they make the policies ...}

(PHOTOS HAVE BEEN ALTERED ARTISTICALLY & SATIRICALLY BY AN ARTIST, FOLLOWING IMAGES OPTAINED EXCLUSIVELY FROM PUBLIC DOMAIN SOURCES, ON LEGAL ADVICE IN PART TO AVOID REPEATED ATTEMPTS BY E-SANGHA OWNER K.L. LEO TO CLOSE THIS SITE BASED UPON ALLEGED COPYRIGHT CLAIMS. WE REGRET THE NEED TO DO SO)

_{Leo Kah Leong}

_{( Teyes / K.L. Leo )

SITE OWNER}

_{Todd Marek}

_{( Jamyang Norbu )}

_ADMIN

_{Malcolm Smith}

_{( Namdrol )}

_{ADMIN (DE FACTO)}

_Chigpu

_ADMIN

_{Rev. Eijo}

_{(Tom Eijo Dreitlein)}

_{Global Moderator}

The owner, administrators and moderators of the E-Sangha website are responsible for its policies.
While not all moderators (unlike the site owner and administrators) bear direct responsibility for determining the policies of E-Sangha, they are responsible for enforcing those policies and contributing to their continuation and effect. The administrators of E-Sangha have been largely unresponsive over the past several years to member complaints of unfair treatment, and so 'E-Sangha Watch' was created. However, let us continue to voice any objections directly to the officials of the website.

Please note that Mr. Smith is included as a "de facto" administrator based on confirmed information regarding actual E-Sangha policies and decision making. Upon discussion, Rev. Eijo is cited for particular mention as a 'Global Moderator' based on his ongoing role supervising the current discriminatory operation of the so-called "Japanese Zen" forum (discussed below).
The website owner can be contacted at: esangha@gmail.com

_{HERE ARE REPORTS OF}
_{RECENT ADMINISTRATOR ACTIONS WE ARE MONITORING}
_{WITH GREAT CONCERN & DISAPPOINTMENT:}

_{Closing Down of Soto Zen Forum/Treatment of All "Japanese Zen": Following the nearly one year closing of the Soto Zen Forum for "review and maintenance", and the purge and banning of dozens of Zen lay and clergy forum members (see discussion below), the heretofore separate "Rinzai" "Soto" and "Obaku" forums were collapsed into a single "Japanese Zen" forum in a very hard to find, nearly hidden area of E-Sangha (with few links and password protected). This new "Japanese Zen" forum has been placed under the firm control of conservative moderators none of whom is a "Japanese Zen" practitioner, yet who (even if sometimes well meaning) daily profess their personal interpretations of Japanese Zen doctrine based upon their own sects and beliefs (all with limited disclosure, especially to newcomers to Zen, that the moderators are not actually "Japanese Zen" practitioners or clergy, and with no diclosure that actual Zen clergy are banned from the site). As well, discussion of legitmate "Japanese Zen" doctrines disliked by the Administrators has been banned and deleted, and legitimate and respected Soto and Rinzai priests attempting to explain the doctrines of their schools have been secretly suspended from membership in the site. We now feel safe in concluding that these actions were taken in an attempt to "disappear" and silence the discussion of disliked Soto and Rinzai Zen doctrines, and bring the rest of the discussion under the firm control of the non-Zen administration. Derogatory comments about Japanese lineage clergy, the legitimacy of their Ordinations and the "lesser" nature of the Precepts recognized in their respective schools, continue to be tolerated and encouraged by moderators despite repeated protests by Japanese Zen clergy (see discussion below on E-Sangha Terms of Service) In addition to Rev. Eijo (photo above, a Shingon Buddhist Priest), the other moderators engaging in such conduct (all self described as not practiticing Japanese Zen) are: "thegiantalbion" ( Daniel Gustaf Anderson, a Tibetan and 'Mantra Path' practioner) , "UpsakaJC" ( JC Brand, Theravadan ) , and "Astus" ( Zsolt Hadházi, Chan Buddhist)

WE HAVE ADDED A NEW PAGE FEATURING A FASCINATING E-SANGHA THREAD IN WHICH REV. EIJO AND OTHER "NON-JAPANESE ZEN" MODERATORS DEFEND THEIR ACTIONS IN MODERATING THE "JAPANESE ZEN" FORUM. HERE}

_{We continue to bring attention to an aggressive campaign by administrators directed against Theravada Buddhists on the site. This includes the banning of Therevada members, and even the firing of two Theravada moderators,}including one venerated Theravadin monk_{, who questioned administrators on their policies. A third Theravada moderator resigned in protest. Among the fired or resigning moderators were}BEN O'LOUGHLIN, RETROFUTURIST and the VENERABLE DHAMMANANDO. Site administrators have tolerated the use in verious forums (including the Theravada forums) of the pejorative term _{"HINAYANA" on a regular basis despite protests by Theravada members and moderators, all while deleting protesting posts and suspending from the website many Theravadans and other Buddhists who have objected to the administrators' conduct. In response to a request for comment, former moderator RETROFUTURIST provided this quote from 'The Edicts of King Asoka":}"Whoever praises his own religion, due to excessive devotion, and condemns others with the thought 'Let me glorify my own religion,' only harms his own religion"._{Read the full passage HERE}

_{One of America's most senior and respected Soto Zen Buddhist Priests, REV. NONIN CHOWANEY, Abbot of the NEBRASKA ZEN CENTER (a chairman and committee member of both the American Zen Teachers Association and Soto Zen Teachers Association) was BANNED FROM E-SANGHA FOR EXPRESSING AN OPINION ABOUT HIS INTERPRETATION, AND A SOTO ZEN BUDDHIST VIEW, OF THE NATURE OF SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA, and Rev. Nonin's protesting to the administrators regarding their deletion of the interpretation and general conduct.}
_{REV. NONIN HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO PROVIDE AN HONEST AND OPEN WRITTEN STATEMENT ON HIS BANNING AND PAST EXPERIENCES ON E-SANGHA, AND WE URGE EVERYONE TO READ IT.}_{IT IS AVAILABLE IN ITS ENTIRETY HERE}
_{On the heals of Rev. Nonin's banning, there has continued a PURGE of Soto Zen Buddhists from E-Sangha including, most surprisingly, long time E-Sangha member and popular FORMER MODERATOR LISA MANN and CLYDE GROSSMAN of the 'Do-No-Harm' Movement. Their offences appear to involve merely voicing some disagreement with site management and the banning of Rev. Nonin.}
_{WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING ATTEMPTS BY THE OWNER OF E-SANGHA, LEO KAH LEONG, TO HAVE THIS SITE PULLED DOWN by contacting our Host Provider alleging copyright violation and the like. SHAME!}
_{WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO THANK THE DONOR, WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, WHO CONTRIBUTED SEVERAL HUNDERED DOLLARS TO FUND AN ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN TO MAKE 'E-SANGHA WATCH' KNOWN. ONE OF OUR OTHER SUPPORTERS HAS ALSO AGREED TO MAKE A MATCHING CONTRIBUTION IN THE SAME AMOUNT. THANK YOU. IF ANYONE ELSE WISHES TO MAKE A DONATION OF ANY SIZE, WE WILL PUT IT TO GOOD USE!}
WE WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT INTERESTED READERS TO AN UNRELATED WEBSITE, 'E-SANGHA ALERT', where a concerned volunteer is collecting and publishing a wide range of administrator and moderator comments regarding a great variety of admin disfavored teachers and schools, gathered from the E-Sangha archives. The volunteer says that the collection of posts is not a complete collection of all abusive admin/mod comments and actions, but is "referenced during a two hour period ... random and ... intended to provide a flavour of the goings on." Please visit the "E-Sangha Alert" site or, to see of sample of collected comments, look HERE
We are receiving periodic confirmed reports of members being BANNED FROM E-SANGHA FOR SUBMITTING COMMENTS TO THIS 'E-SANGHA WATCH' PAGE. This is one reason we are choosing to allow anonymity in the publication of statements sent us. For example, "Christopher" writes, "I just wanted to let you know, as a warning to any others who may be as naive as I was, that non-anonymous posts on "e-sangha watch" lead to one's being banned on e-sangha. Indeed, as of yesterday I've been banned without explanation. Oh well. Cheers, and keep up the good work!"

We celebrate the OPENING OF SEVERAL NEW BUDDHIST DISCUSSION FORUMS, EACH LARGELY IN REACTION TO THE ABUSIVE SITUATION ON E-SANGHA. Well, from bad situations, sometimes good can come. We are only sorry that it seems each emphasizes its own beautiful corner of Buddhism, and all could not stay under a single roof. THERAVADA former members including Ben O'Loughlin and Retrofuturist. have formed the very active DHARMA WHEEL FORUM and a variety of Zen Buddhists, including Rev. Nonin Chowaney have also begun the just opened ZEN FORUM INTERNATIONAL. Each was started with the express intention of providing a healthier and more open alternative to E-Sangha Buddhism Portal. An interesting DISCUSSION THREAD REGARDING MEMBERS EXPERIENCES ON E-Sangha can be found on ZFI HERE .

_{BACKGROUND & REASONS 'E-SANGHA WATCH' is NECESSARY}

_{To the uninformed and unsuspecting, the 'E-Sangha Buddhist Portal' appears an open, wide ranging and non-sectarian forum for the discussion of Buddhism in its many varieties and traditions. At its best, it is just that. However, there is also a hidden truth.}

_{Readers (especially those new to Buddhism) encountering the E-Sangha website are frequently unaware that they have stumbled upon a misdescribed, tightly controlled and highly censored discussion of Buddhism. What seems an "open discussion of Buddhism" is, in fact, restricted to the personally held religious beliefs and subjective doctrinal interpretations of the site owner and his hand picked administrators. Only tenets and practices of "approved" sects with which the owner and his administrators sympathize may be presented or discussed on E-Sangha. All discussion is forbidden unless limited to the particular Buddhist beliefs (beliefs not universally accepted) advocated by the owner or such "approved" sects. Simultaneously, the beliefs and teachings of many mainstream, ancient and modern, and widely followed lineages, teachers and schools of Buddhism are banned, in large part or in their entirety, when falling outside the owner and administrators' own personal beliefs. Readers of E-Sangha may not be aware that many widely accepted interpretations of Buddhist doctrine, commonly held teachings, and cherished beliefs of countless numbers of Buddhists world-wide are forbidden from all mention on the site.

The result is a presentation of Buddhism that is incomplete, misleading and doctrinally partisan. Readers frequently do not know this. Given its size, the website thus has become a major source of misinformation for seekers looking for and deserving an unbiased and accurate source for education and discussion regarding Buddhism in its many flavors.

Of course, the owners and managers of any private website are free to write and express their own opinions and viewpoints on their own site. E-Sangha is a private website, and thus rightly should determine its own internal policies. The ownership and administration of E-Sangha is in the hands of a small group of individuals sharing a certain personal vision of what, they believe, "True Buddhism" should be. They may sincerely believe that they are acting in the interest of spreading what they believe to be correct Buddhist teachings. However, the problems of E-Sangha have gone far beyond a matter of free expression.

They have crossed into the realm of religious and sectarian bigotry, discrimination and intolerance.

The problems at E-Sangha only begin with the fact that common doctrines and teachings are banned from honest discussion. (Anyone raising disapproved topics may be suspended from the site, both the person and the person's postings "disappeared" from view as if they never existed).Beyond that, the beliefs of 'disfavored' sects, lineages or teachers are, not merely banned, but frequently misrepresented, falsely maligned and aggressively attacked (not only in postings to the site by general members tolerated by administrators and moderators) but by administrators and moderators themselves. The doctrines of various mainstream sects and schools twisted and incorrectly "explained" by site moderators, acting in their official capacity (and though often themselves believers or clergy of completely different sects and schools) ... all in supposedly "correcting the wrong interpretations" of Buddhism held by the attacked school. Clergy and teachings of some of the largest, most respected and widely followed sects of Buddhism in Asia and the West are regularly subject to disparagement and bashing by general members and site administrators, their statements and tenets wrongly stated, all in the guise of defending "True Buddhism" (or the administrators' particular personal vision of "True Buddhism"). Clergy and members of the attacked schools are thereupon not allowed to rebut the bashings, with the postings of defending clergy and members immediately deleted or hidden from view. Moreover, no criticism of offending administrators and moderators, or of the policies of E-Sangha, is allowed ... period (for critics are subject to banishment or suspension).

The situation is disgraceful.

Equally shameful is the fact that something like "E-Sangha Watch" should be necessary. Buddhists should be living examples of peaceful communication, acceptance of others (though we disagee), tolerance and understanding. It is only after years of complete refusal to communicate by the management of E-Sangha, and their refusal to respond to the smallest requests (or even to simple emails) that the clergy and lay persons of this committee felt further action was required.

As stated, the problems at E-Sangha have become egregious, crossing the lines of bigotry and sectarian abuse.

For example, as but one systemic problem on the website, unsuspecting readers searching for accurate information on a given school of Buddhism ("School A") often encounter a strange reality should "School A" be held in disfavor by the administrators. E-Sangha forums supposedly dedicated to an open exchange of information and friendly discussion of particular ancient sects of Buddhism with millions of members are regularly run under the strict control of moderators and administrators not themselves belonging to the sect, and even doubtful or critical of the tenets of the sect they moderate. Those moderators and administrators will regularly profess the tenets and beliefs of their own schools of Buddhism, or of themselves alone, as if those other often very different tenets and beliefs were, in fact, the tenets of the disfavored school or of a monolithic "True Buddhism". Accordingly, the moderators and administrators will, by their active or passive failure to explain the situation and their true identity as a member of another school, regularly mislead unsuspecting readers into believing that what is being offered is nothing but the teachings of "School A" by a member or clergy of "School A". As if that were not problem enough, genuine clergy and members of any such "School A" are regularly silenced, deleted or fully banned merely for protesting the actions of the moderators or administrators, or for attempting to offer a corrective explanation of the actual teachings of "School A". Beyond that, moderators will greatly tolerate postings by individuals not belonging to "School A" if highly critical of "School A", but will delete or "disappear" postings by clergy and members of "School A" responding thereto or countering the criticism (often suspending the membership of the "School A" clergy or member in the processs).

The overall result is that a given forum, supposedly meant for friendly discussion of the tenets and practices of some "School A", is intentionally used by or tolerated by the administrators and moderators as a place to bash and attack "School A", mischaracterize its teachings, or otherwise allow a negative, false image of the school. Unsuspecting readers will be unaware of the true situation and agenda, and think that they are receiving an honest (but unappealing) image and complete description of the beliefs of "School A" by "School A's" own members and clergy.

A great harm thus results to the unsuspecting (often new) Buddhist practitioner.

We wish to emphasize that there is nothing whatsoever wrong about the administrators and moderators of E-Sangha having their own beliefs, and nothing negative to be said about the sects of Buddhism to which they belong. Each are honored and respected schools, and everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. The problem is merely when those beliefs are intentionally mispackaged as the beliefs of other people, or are used as a club to attack the beliefs of others.

In the following sections of this "E-Sangha Watch" webpage, we will attempt to provide descriptions and accurate information about aspects of Buddhism, and its respected sects, that is typically banned from E-Sangha.

Doing so is meant as a public service so that readers of E-Sangha can know all sides of the story, have much more complete information about the range of Buddhist beliefs and practices available, and come to their own conclusions about which beliefs and practices are right for them.}