Certainly we cannot train alone but I don\u2019t think we need community in the way that James seems to assert. A few people is enough to do zazen, sesshin, liturgy and study \u2026 and the equally vital work of taking the practice into the big whirl can be done with work, family, and other relationships. Come to my school for severely acting out teens if you want to test your practice. These kinds of settings with so-called nonpractitioners are often much more challenging than practicing in the \u201clet\u2019s-all-be-nice\u201d atmosphere of some spiritual communities. And then there\u2019s practicing with one\u2019s kids\u2026.<\/div>\n
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One final point. I recently talked with a teacher who said he tells his community that growth of the community is necessary if they want to grow in their own practice because they need growth to have leadership opportunities. So he invites them to all get on his growth bandwagon \u2013 it\u2019ll be good for you, he says. This smells of self-serving nonsense. American cultural \u201cbig is better\u201d propaganda with the corollary, \u201cgreed is good.\u201d<\/div>\n
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There are many ways to grow and one important way is to give up any idea of growth or improvement or making things different. Whatever happened to the practice of having few desires?<\/div>\n
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Now I\u2019ve got to roll up my sleeves and go to work.<\/div>\n
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Comments welcome.<\/div>\n
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