Question
Well, I think that is a dead end. Here is the answer I received: “No, that is not possible, because Stéphane Thibaut left us quite a few years ago and is no longer part of the AZI. However, I believe he is invited to the symposium days in June at La Gendronnière.
Best regards,
Luc Bordes (for the DZP)“
Um… can’t you do something about this?
LB
Answer from Master Kosen
You know, I practiced with Master Deshimaru for fifteen years and helped him in his mission. I led hundreds of zazen sessions and sesshins, and at his request I served for seven years as shusso and head of the Paris dojo without ever belonging to the AZI. Sensei never asked me to join this association. When my master died, the other disciples, particularly Ms. Monot, the association’s founder, asked me to join. They even paid my membership fee. Ms. Monot was an angel. I finally agreed in order to help the sangha at the time, but unfortunately, after Sensei’s death, Ms. Monot soon stepped down from her angelic duties to make way for the young wolves. A few years later, the board decided to remove us from the leadership of the summer camp by breaking the association’s own rules—in other words, illegally, since it happened in the absence of the board’s two principal officers, Roland and me. A line had been crossed. From then on, a new direction was taken, until eventually the association controlled everything and decisions about the teaching became political rather than Dharmic. That is when I withdrew.
The shrewdest took control, and today, although I am Master Deshimaru’s longest-standing living disciple and can offer a great deal to those who want to know his teaching, I am marginalized: at La Gendronnière, at the Paris dojo, and in media such as Sunday morning television, from which they bar me.
Hypocrisy, bad faith, empty rhetoric: that is the lot of politics. And before the public, the face of a compassionate angel.
This answer from the Paris dojo is yet another example. I see no legal reason why an association could not invite a master—especially a former disciple of Master Deshimaru—to give a lecture or teach in one of its dojos.
The AZI is supposed to be an association governed by the 1901 law, not a sect.
They say they are inviting me to the symposium they are organizing at La Gendronnière, but under what conditions?
I have received many emails about my participation in the symposium that the AZI is organizing jointly with the Soto Shu in June, and about my reasons for participating. I would therefore like to give readers an idea of the context in which I made the decisions explained at the end of this message.
Here is a transcript of the email exchanges between the AZI leadership and me.
This transcript was prepared by my secretary, whom I had asked to oversee the arrangements for my possible attendance at the symposium.
January 10, 2007
Master Kosen has just received a phone call from Master Yuno Rech, who confirmed his invitation to the June symposium at La Gendronnière. He also described differences of opinion among the AZI leaders. The association’s administrative committee apparently consists of about twenty people, most of whom oppose Master Kosen’s attendance at this symposium. Master Yuno Rech therefore proposed that Master Kosen submit a proposal of about twenty lines explaining his reasons and other suggestions for participation, to be put to a decisive vote by the AZI administrative committee. He noted that the symposium program, which remains secret even today, had already been established, and therefore doubted how easily Master Kosen’s participation could be incorporated into the event’s presentations.
Below are the email exchanges sent to four AZI officials more directly involved in organizing the symposium. The emails are dated according to when they were sent.
The emails reproduced here in their original form were sent by Master Kosen’s secretary with his prior approval of their wording.
January 12, 2007 (email sent to the AZI leadership)
Dear Sirs,
Following Stéphane’s invitation to the symposium you are organizing in June at La Gendronnière, and in addition to his recent telephone conversation with Roland, I wanted to clarify a few points that I sincerely hope will reassure you about Stéphane’s wish to take an active part in this event.
First, he would like to convey his wish to participate in a completely apolitical way, without triggering or reviving any controversy. Although he is entirely open to a private discussion with you about certain aspects of the Zen tradition on which he has recently published his views, his primary wish is to contribute to the symposium’s interest by sharing different perspectives on the universality of Buddhism through video lectures combining mainly science and spirituality. Following these screenings, he proposes to answer a few audience questions, while assuring you once again that he will not discuss any subject relating to organizations or individuals who may hold authority in spreading Buddhist teaching. The same obviously applies to the other speakers mentioned below.
Our website, which receives around 70,000 visitors per month, is gladly available to help promote this symposium.
Hoping that you can incorporate Stéphane’s participation into this event, he would like to send you his proposed video lectures:
“Consciousness of the Big Bang: Universal Zazen”
Speaker: Master Kosen Thibaut
Addressing humanity’s spiritual and biological evolution and its consciousness of the cosmos, this pioneering video lecture presents unsuspected aspects of Buddhist practice.
”Chinese Writing: Myths and Realities”
Speaker: C. Ryurin Desmur
From the earliest pictograms to the calligraphy of the masters, this video lecture traces the course of writing in the Far East across eras and regions.
”Buddhist Consciousness in the Service of Scientific Ethics”
Speaker: L. Kosho Vuillemin
This video lecture offers an independent Buddhist spiritual perspective on new biotechnologies and engages directly with current ethical issues in scientific research.
I am, of course, entirely at your disposal for any further information about these lectures and speakers.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. Please accept my respectful regards.
Loïc Vuillemin
Secretary to Master Kosen
P.S. I have a few purely technical questions about the organization of the symposium.
Dates of the symposium?
Program of activities and lectures?
Translation of the lectures?
Multimedia projection equipment?
Thank you for answering these questions. Loïc Vuillemin
No reply was sent to either Master Kosen or his secretary. An oversight?
January 12, 2007 (email sent to the AZI leadership)
Dear Sirs,
I am taking the liberty of emailing to ask whether you have had an opportunity to decide on Stéphane’s proposal concerning the symposium you are organizing.
During his telephone conversation with Stéphane, Roland mentioned the possibility of fitting his participation into the symposium’s evening or evenings, since the daytime program appears to be set already. This does not bother Stéphane—quite the opposite.
In addition to his previous proposal, Stéphane would also like to suggest screening Diego Rafecas’s film “The Buddha of Buenos Aires,” currently showing in theaters. We can obtain the rights relatively easily if you are interested.
I look forward to hearing from you and, of course, remain entirely available for further information. Please accept my respectful regards.
Loïc Vuillemin
Secretary to Master Kosen
P.S. Unfortunately, I do not have an up-to-date address for Mr. Pierre Crépon. Would you kindly forward this message and/or send me his current address?
No reply ever arrived. Perhaps a logistical problem?
January 23, 2007 (email sent to the AZI and La Gendronnière portal)
Hello,
I am trying to obtain the email addresses of the secretaries of Messrs. Crépon, Triet, and Wang Genh, as well as those of the organizers of the June symposium. I would be very grateful if you could send them to me by return email.
Best regards,
Loïc Vuillemin
Secretary to Master Kosen
No reply ever arrived.
February 5, 2007 (email sent to the AZI leadership)
Dear Sirs,
Following my last message, I would like to confirm, at Stéphane’s instruction, that we have obtained the screening rights for “The Buddha of Buenos Aires” (original Spanish version with English subtitles). This screening could, if you wish, be introduced by its director, Diego Rafecas, who would gladly travel from Argentina for your symposium. This film, whose producer is the same as for A. Kurosawa’s films, has been distributed in many countries and has so far enjoyed considerable theatrical success. I would also like to inform you that we have acquired the projector needed to show this film and the multimedia presentations previously proposed.
Stéphane wishes to renew his offer to make his website available to promote the symposium (poster, programs, links, etc.). The site receives around 70,000 visitors per month.
Although he is currently in Argentina, where he is leading his summer camp, Stéphane contacts me regularly to ask for news of decisions concerning the organization of your symposium. I would therefore like to draw your attention to the fact that you have so far neither confirmed nor declined his participation, nor provided any news regarding his proposals.
I look forward to your reply and remain at your disposal for any further information. Please accept my respectful regards.
Loïc Vuillemin
Secretary to Master Kosen
No reply ever arrived.
February 5, 2007 (email sent to the AZI portal)
Hello,
About ten days ago, I sent you a message that unfortunately remains unanswered. I therefore wanted to ask whether you could send me any email addresses for the secretaries of Messrs. Triet, Crépon, and Wang Genh. Stéphane Thibaut, whose disciple and secretary I am, would indeed like me to contact them.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Best regards,
Loïc Vuillemin
Secretary to Master Kosen
February 6, 2007 (reply from the AZI portal)
Hello,
There are no secretaries. If you wish to contact Raphaël Triet (AZI), Pierre Crépon (Vannes), and Olivier Wang-Genh (Weiterswiller), contact them directly. Their addresses are on zen-azi.org, or send a message to this email address and it will be forwarded to them.
Best regards,
Emmanuel Risacher
February 7, 2007 (message from the AZI portal)
Hello,
Since Stéphane Thibaut is in Argentina, please pass this message on to him.
The program for this symposium was organized a long time ago, so there can be no question of changing its arrangements today. It is impossible to add any event to these three days of commemoration, which are already particularly full.
That said, and in view of Stéphane Thibaut’s new attitude, we will be delighted to welcome him to La Gendronnière for the symposium, on the condition, however, that we meet him on his return from Argentina.
Please convey our best regards to him.
For the AZI secretariat,
Emmanuel Risacher
February 7, 2007 (reply from Master Kosen’s secretary)
Dear Emmanuel,
I have received your message and am passing it on to Stéphane immediately. Communication with our temple in Argentina is difficult, so he will probably not be able to respond for about ten days.
May I nevertheless ask you now for some possible dates for this meeting?
Stéphane should normally return at the end of this month. As far as I currently know, he will be away again from April 5 to 10 and at least from May 3 to 14.
Thank you for your message. Best regards,
Loïc Vuillemin
Secretary to Master Kosen
February 13, 2007 (message sent to the AZI leadership via its portal)
Dear Emmanuel, dear Sirs,
Stéphane has received your message and thanks you for your invitation.
He would like to revisit the proposal Roland made during their telephone conversation in early January. Roland had suggested that his participation might take place in an alternative, optional setting, during the symposium evenings, for example, or during any breaks in the schedule. Stéphane is aware that the program of presentations was fixed long ago and has no wish to interfere with it—quite the contrary.
However, he urges you to give further consideration to his offer, which is intended primarily as recreation and would certainly contribute to the symposium’s positive spirit.
I hope this message reaches you safely and remain at your disposal for any further information. Please accept my respectful regards.
Loïc Vuillemin
Secretary to Master Kosen
P.S. I would like to point out that the lectures Stéphane is proposing are automated with recorded narration and therefore leave no room for improvisation. The same obviously applies to the film “The Buddha of Buenos Aires.”
February 28, 2007 (reply from the AZI portal)
Dear Loïc,
We have received your reply. There seems to be a misunderstanding about the arrangements for these commemorations. When we tell you that the symposium schedule is more than full, it is because it is. As for the evenings, after these more-than-full days, they are the only time when the various participants can meet outside the ceremonies and lectures, and it is very important to preserve those moments.
Furthermore, if we are to have good relations, we invite Stéphane Thibaut to correct certain statements on his website describing his former fellow disciples as “cowards,” “traitors to Master Deshimaru,” and “beggars in their relations with Japanese Zen.” This should be the first step before we meet to commemorate Sensei’s arrival in Europe and avoid, to quote you, any intention of controversy.
Warm regards,
The AZI secretary: Emmanuel Risacher
End of the email transcript.
So, if I understand correctly, I am invited to keep silent and endure all the pompous bigwigs of international Zen, boring speakers who will grind away at our brains for three days with endless intellectual blather about Dogen and Deshimaru, whom they never even knew.
Moreover, I am invited to renounce words I spoke with complete sincerity a few weeks earlier, thereby lowering myself to what I so aptly called “cowardice,” “treachery,” and “begging,” while also giving up expressing a constructive, positive vision of universal, contemporary Buddhism. I therefore see no reason to give up what gives me and my sangha our vitality, and what has always given authentic Zen its vitality, to satisfy the requirements of an association’s administrative committee.
Despite everything, I am happy today to announce to visitors to my website that, without abandoning any part of my original constructive project, I will soon organize an “e-symposium” where everyone can enjoy these perspectives free of charge, from home, and without any commitment.
The organization of this event should take shape quickly, and the program will naturally be announced on this site as soon as possible. I will give you an exclusive advance presentation of one of the video lectures intended for the La Gendronnière symposium. You will find it online in a few days.
As for the AZI symposium, I only hope their exorbitant spending will not go toward recruiting a cordon of riot police to prevent me from burning incense in honor of my master Deshimaru Zenji for the 25th anniversary of his death, during my brief, timely visit to that ceremony, which is unfortunately planned to take place behind closed doors.
Kosen