Students of the Way should be thoroughly poor. When we look at people in the secular world, men of property inevitably have two kinds of troubles; anger and dishonor. If they have some treasure, others wish to steal it, and when they try to protect it anger immediately arises. Or in talking about some matter, argument and negotiation eventually escalate to conflict and fighting. Proceeding in this way anger will arise and result in dishonor. Being poor and unselfish releases people from these problems and they find peace. Proof is right in front of our eyes. We don’t need to search for it in the scriptures. Not only that, ancient sages and wise predecessors criticized being wealthy, and heavenly deities, buddhas, and patriarchs have all denounced it. Nevertheless, foolish people accumulate wealth and bear so much anger; this is the shame of shames. Our wise predecessors, ancient sages, buddhas, and patriarchs have all been poor yet aspired to the Way. (Shobogenzo Zuimonki, Book 3, Chapter 4)

"The Buddhist community, sangha, differs from other communities in that its operating premise is harmony. Thus, we defer personal needs and agendas in favor of the group.

"Recently, we have witnessed an egregious disruption in the harmony of the sangha of ASZC. It resulted in an unfortunate outburst and chaotic dissolution of the first meeting welcoming the new executive committee of ASZC’s Board of Directors. This was a time of urgency where we should have been pulling the sangha together rather than pulling it apart, and has precipitated a crisis of confidence.

"This is most unfortunate. The fomenting of disharmony in the sangha is a direct violation of the final of the Ten Grave Precepts, in that it necessarily defames the Three Treasures.

"For my part in this sad occurrence, I will do penance. For at least six months I will not wear the Okesa at ASZC. I will also not accept the new formal Okesa the sangha is said to be sewing for me. I will do other penances, such as multiple prostrations, and suspension of certain formal activities, until harmony is fully restored.

"My deep apologies to all who were in attendance and disturbed by the discord, and to the sangha at large for any untold consequences. We can and must do better.

Deep bows,
Sensei"

In these times when so many scandals have rocked so many sanghas here in the United States, it's almost a relief to learn that our roshi is repenting over a matter as relatively trivial as an argument over money. Arguing and negotiating apparently escalated into conflict and fighting, giving rise to anger and resulting in dishonor. But as Dogen once said on another occasion (Zuimonki, Book 1, Chapter 18), "Do good things secretly while people are not watching, and if you make a mistake or do something bad, confess and repent of it. When you act in this manner, good deeds you have done in secret will have recompense, and wrongdoings will be revealed and repented so that punishment can be dispelled."

Attachment to wealth can be as insidious and hard to break as any other attachment, including the passions of sex and love.