# If you encounter Buddha in the middle of the road, fondle him (Zen Priest Accused of Groping, more)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-encounter-buddha-in-the-middle-of-the-road-fondle-him-zen-priest-accused-of-groping-more/650186>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [February 13, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-encounter-buddha-in-the-middle-of-the-road-fondle-him-zen-priest-accused-of-groping-more/650186 "2013-02-13T15:39:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-encounter-buddha-in-the-middle-of-the-road-fondle-him-zen-priest-accused-of-groping-more/650186/1 "2013-02-13T15:39:24Z")

</div>

NYTimes, behind paywall: [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/world/asia/zen-buddhists-roiled-by-accusations-against-teacher.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/world/asia/zen-buddhists-roiled-by-accusations-against-teacher.html)

Intro:

> [@](#):
>
> Since arriving in Los Angeles from Japan in 1962, the Buddhist teacher Joshu Sasaki, who is 105 years old, has taught thousands of Americans at his two Zen centers in the area and one in New Mexico. He has influenced thousands more enlightenment seekers through a chain of some 30 affiliated Zen centers from the Puget Sound to Princeton to Berlin. And he is known as a Buddhist teacher of Leonard Cohen, the poet and songwriter.
> 
> Mr. Sasaki has also, according to an investigation by an independent council of Buddhist leaders, released in January, groped and sexually harassed female students for decades, taking advantage of their loyalty to a famously charismatic roshi, or master.

Sexual Impropriety within a religious organization - I’m shocked, shocked I tell you!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-encounter-buddha-in-the-middle-of-the-road-fondle-him-zen-priest-accused-of-groping-more/650186/2 "2013-02-13T15:48:15Z")

</div>

He’d be a great candidate for Pope!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-encounter-buddha-in-the-middle-of-the-road-fondle-him-zen-priest-accused-of-groping-more/650186/3 "2013-02-13T16:27:32Z")

</div>

If he makes himself as good as he tells others to be, then he in truth can teach others. Difficult indeed is self-control.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-encounter-buddha-in-the-middle-of-the-road-fondle-him-zen-priest-accused-of-groping-more/650186/4 "2013-02-13T18:59:26Z")

</div>

Well Mr. Sasaki, I think we’ll be limiting our Zen to motorcycle maintenance, thankyouverymuch.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-encounter-buddha-in-the-middle-of-the-road-fondle-him-zen-priest-accused-of-groping-more/650186/5 "2013-02-13T19:50:02Z")

</div>

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate on the hot chick in the present moment.