Eido Tai Shimano
Eido Tai Shimano was a Rinzai Zen Buddhist priest and the founding abbot of the New York Zendo Shobo-Ji and Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-Ji monastery in New York. He was a significant figure in the dissemination of Buddhism in the West, receiving a Buddhism Transmission Award in 2004. However, his tenure was marked by revelations of sexual relationships with female students, leading to his resignation as abbot and subsequent controversies.
Key Facts
- ›Born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1932, his birth name was Eitaro.
- ›Ordained as a novice monk in the Rinzai tradition by Kengan Goto, receiving the Dharma name Eido.
- ›Moved to the United States in 1960, initially intending to assist Nyogen Senzaki, then guiding the Diamond Sangha in Hawaii.
- ›Founded the New York Zendo Shobo-Ji in Manhattan and the Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-Ji monastery in the Catskill mountains.
- ›Received Dharma transmission from Soen Nakagawa in 1972.
- ›Resigned as abbot in December 2010 following allegations and admissions of sexual misconduct with students.
Important Relationships
- Kengan Goto
- Shirozou Keizan Roshi
- Ryutaku-ji
- Bernard Phillips
- Robert Baker Aitken
- Anne Hopkins Aitken
- Dorris Carlson
- Shinge Roko Sherry Chayat
- Myoshinji
- ShōBōGenzō: Being-Time
- ShōBōGenzō: Only Buddha Knows Buddha, Life-Death
- Japanese Views of Religion As Opposed To Those of the West
- the Book of Rinzai: the Recorded Sayings of Zen Master Rinzai
- Zen Word, Zen Calligraphy
- Points of Departure: Zen Buddhism With A Rinzai View
- Golden Wind: Zen Talks
- Like A Dream, Like A Fantasy: the Zen Teachings and Translations of Nyogen Senzaki
- Tokyo, Japan
- Chichibu, Japan
- New York Zendo Shobo-Ji, Manhattan, New York
- Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-Ji, Catskill Mountains, New York
- Hawaii
- Gifu, Japan
Nyogen Senzaki, Soen Nakagawa Roshi, Haku'Un Yasutani, Eisai, Dogen
English, Japanese
Novice Monk Vows
About Eido Tai Shimano
Eido Tai Shimano (1932–2018) was a prominent Rinzai Zen Buddhist priest who played a significant role in the dissemination of Zen Buddhism in the United States. Born Eitaro in Tokyo, Japan, he was ordained as a novice monk and later received the Dharma name Eido. He trained under various masters, including Kengan Goto and Soen Nakagawa Roshi.
Life and Work in the United States
Shimano's journey to the United States began in 1957 when he was invited to assist the elderly Zen teacher Nyogen Senzaki. Although Senzaki passed away before Shimano could arrive, he was subsequently asked to go to Hawaii to help guide the Diamond Sangha. He eventually returned to Japan and then accompanied Haku'un Yasutani back to the United States. In 1965, he became associated with the Zen Studies Society in Manhattan, eventually serving as its abbot. He was instrumental in founding the New York Zendo Shobo-Ji in Manhattan and later established the Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-Ji monastery in the Catskill mountains of New York, which opened in 1976.
Shimano received Dharma transmission from Soen Nakagawa in 1972. In 2004, he was recognized for his contributions to spreading Buddhism in the West with the Buddhism Transmission Award from the Japan-based Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai Foundation.
Controversy and Resignation
Over the years, rumors circulated regarding Eido Tai Shimano's relationships with female students. In 2010, following revelations of sexual relationships and alleged sexual harassment, he was forced to resign from his position as abbot after 40 years. He sent a letter of apology to the Zen Studies Society community, acknowledging that his words and deeds had hurt people's feelings and trust. He formally retired as abbot in December 2010 and subsequently announced he would no longer formally teach Zen in any capacity.
Later Life and Legacy
Despite his resignation, Shimano remained a controversial figure. The Myoshinji headquarters, part of his claimed lineage sect, issued a statement in 2012 disassociating themselves from him and his organizations. Eido Tai Shimano passed away in Gifu, Japan, in 2018 at the age of 85. His significant contributions to Zen in the West are intertwined with the controversies that marked the end of his public teaching career.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Eido Tai Shimano?
Eido Tai Shimano was a Rinzai Zen Buddhist priest who played a significant role in establishing Zen Buddhism in the United States. He founded two prominent Zen centers in New York: the New York Zendo Shobo-Ji and the Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-Ji monastery.
What were Eido Tai Shimano's major contributions to Buddhism in the West?
Shimano was instrumental in the dissemination of Zen Buddhism in the West, establishing practice centers and teaching students. In 2004, he received the Buddhism Transmission Award for his impact on this dissemination.
What controversies surrounded Eido Tai Shimano?
Shimano faced significant controversy due to allegations and admissions of sexual relationships with female students over many years. These revelations led to investigations, his resignation as abbot, and a public statement from his claimed lineage headquarters distancing themselves from him.
When and where did Eido Tai Shimano die?
Eido Tai Shimano died on February 18, 2018, in Gifu, Japan, at the age of 85.
What is the status of Eido Tai Shimano's lineage?
Shimano's claimed lineage sect, Myoshinji, issued a public statement in 2012 stating they have no connection with him, his activities, or his organizations, and that neither he nor his successors are certified priests of the Myōshin-ji branch of Zen or recognized as qualified teachers.
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