Sanbo Kyodan - Charismatic Authority

Charismatic Authority

The Sanbō Kyōdan was also influential in introducing charismatic authority in western Zen, by its dependency on the authority of Yasutani, while simultaneously standing outside the mainstream of Japanese Zen. It was implemented into a culture which is unaware of the specific characteristics of Japanese culture regarding authority. The stress on kensho as means of authority, coupled to the primacy of maintaining the correct Dharma transmission, led to institutional problems when Yasutani's heir Yamada Koun died. Seeing one's nature gives an autonomous confirmation of Zen's ultimate truth, which may conflict with the need to maintain institutions and traditions.