So what's a self-styled lay monk doing supporting lawsuits to protect a park, providing contentious Power Point presentations at community alliance meetings, and joining Executive Committees of advisory boards? Zen Master Dogen addressed this issue back in 1236, saying:

“Suppose someone comes to talk about his business, and asks you to write a letter to solicit something from someone, or to help him in a lawsuit, etc. but you turn down his request excusing yourself on the grounds that you are not a man of the secular world, that you have retired and have nothing to do with mundane affairs, and that it is not appropriate for a recluse to say something that is not suitable to lay people. Although this may seem like the way of a recluse, you should examine your deeper motivation. If you reject the request because you think you are a monk who has left the secular world and people might think ill of you if you say something unsuitable for a recluse, this still shows ego-attachment to fame and profit. In each situation that you are faced with, just consider carefully; do anything which will bring even a little benefit to the person who is before you, without concern for what people will think of you. Even if you become estranged from your friends or quarrel with them because they say you did something bad and unbecoming of a monk, it is not important. It would be better to break off with such narrow-minded people (Zuimonki, Book 1, Chapter 19)."

As I had anticipated, the contentious (although truthful) presentation that I gave to the board of the neighborhood alliance has already generated repercussions. Emails have been sent (not to me but to others, some of whom have read the messages to me) by some board members saying that I have damaged my reputation by speaking out against the direction in which the alliance has been moving and by reminding them of certain "inconvenient" historical truths.

Yet the fact of the matter is that I was asked to give precisely such a presentation by other board members who did not feel that they had the credibility or requisite skill sets to deliver the presentation. Over Sunday coffee two weeks ago, on the same day that a large limb fell off of a tree onto my shed, I was asked to give the presentation at the next meeting (last Tuesday) of the alliance board in order to correct the course in which the alliance has been moving and to let uninformed board members know of some disturbing prior actions by those from whom the board was seeking support. I truthfully said that I did not want to do it (I was quite busy with other obligations and do not enjoy confrontation) but to benefit the one who was asking, I agreed to do it. I had to set aside that next Saturday to prepare the presentation (the before-and-after photographs posted to this blog that day were a non-contentious portion of that presentation), even though I was scheduled to drive to Chattanooga the next day, and had to endure a long day Tuesday due to a combination of work, other obligations, the meeting itself, and the follow-up to the meeting.

Those who wanted me to give the presentation appreciated my efforts and may (or may not) be benefiting by my actions. And if others think what I did was improper, and my reputation with them has been damaged, I can use this collateral damage as an opportunity to practice ego detachment.

"Even though outwardly it may seem to other people that you are doing something improper," Dogen had counseled, "the primary concern should be to break off your ego-attachment inwardly and throw away any desire for fame. A buddha or bodhisattva cuts off even his own flesh and limbs when someone asks him for help. How much more, then, should you be willing to help someone who asks you just to write a letter. If you reject his request, being concerned with your reputation, you are showing deep attachment to your ego. Although others may think that you are not a holy man and say inappropriate things, if you throw away your concern for fame and bring even a little benefit to others, you correspond with the true Way. . . It is an easy thing to help a little by writing a letter when your supporters or friends ask you to say something which is a little bit unexpected.”