User talk:Halfmonk

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Edit Summary
Edit summary can only be added in the Edit summary box while you are doing an edit -- Ð ℬig XЯaɣ   06:06, 4 June 2012 (UTC)

June 2012
Thank you for your contributions to Wikipedia. I noticed your recent edit to Hakuun Yasutani does not have an edit summary. Please provide one before saving your changes to an article, as the summaries are quite helpful to people browsing an article's history. Thanks!  Ð ℬig XЯaɣ   21:09, 3 June 2012 (UTC)

Yasutani
Hi Halfmonk. It's clear that you object the section on Yasutani's plotical views, but it would be appreciated if you would explain what your objections are, so they can be worked in, if necessary. So, what are your objections? Joshua Jonathan (talk) 15:46, 4 June 2012 (UTC)

Hello, Joshua. I did not realize that it was possible and also required to leave an edit summary. I apologize for not understanding the process.

The accusations of extremist political views and anti-Semitism were made by Brian Victoria. Brian Victoria has been accused by the Sokka GakKai and other Japanese Buddhist institutions of selectively editing and misquoting original written sources in Japan for the purpose of his provocative and slanderous articles and books about Japanese Buddhist teachers. Many of Victoria's accusations have been refuted in Japan and Victoria has been discredited as an objective source on this subject.

Every American Zen Buddhist teacher of note has written articles and responses to Victoria accusations about Yasutani Roshi, setting the record straight in this country. If the negative and specious claims about Japanese Buddhists during WWII are going to be posted in Wikipedia, then the comments which refute those claims should also be included. Whoever is writing entries is clearly biased and not objective.

Through the 60s until his death, Yasutani Roshi was a pivotal figure in bringing the living practice of Zen Buddhism to the west. Without acknowledgement of his transformation, the Wikipedia entry is not only provocative, it borders on disingenuous. If Wikipedia intends to be a legitimate source of information, then a balanced and complete approach is paramount.

G.E. Stinson (User name: halfmonk) I have been a practicing Zen Buddhist for over 35 years. Starting with Kongo Roshi at the Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago. Moving to LA, I continued my practice with William Yoshin Jordan, successor of Jikyo Sensei. I am continuing my practice with William Nyogen Yeo, Roshi, Dharma successor of Maezumi Roshi.


 * Hi Halfmonk/Stinson. There has indeed been criticism of Brian Victoria's writings. Yet, the procedure on Wikipedia is not to remove sourced information, but to complement it with additional information, especially if there is dispute on the accuracy. In the case of Yasutani, there has been quite some dispute before yet. The section on his political views isn't neutral either; terms as "vitriol" are definately not neutral - and not sourced either. That's also a "rule of the game" at Wikipedia: not personal opinions, but summaries of sourced information. In the case of Yasutani, it is definately of interest for other readers to read about these various opinions. So would I like to ask you to reverse your own removals, and to complement it with counter-statements and sources. By the way, you're not this G. E. Stinson, are you? Friendly regards, Joshua Jonathan (talk) 20:26, 4 June 2012 (UTC)
 * PS: I've copied this section the Talk Page of Yasutani, so we can continue the talk over there. Joshua Jonathan (talk) 20:41, 4 June 2012 (UTC)

A cup of tea for you!
Thank you, Sir. Much appreciated. Peace.