Over the years, there were rumors that the married Shimano was having sex with some of his female students. Shimano sent a letter of apology to the ZSS community in September, 2010, stating "“Over time, I took your kindness for granted and arrogance grew in my heart. As a result, my sensitivity to feel the pain of others decreased. Now, as I reflect on the past, I realize how many people’s feelings and trust in me were hurt by my words and deeds.”. In February, 2011, the Zen Studies Society announced that Eido Shimano no longer would teach Zen under the auspices of their organization. On July 2, 2011, an open meeting for all sangha members of the ZSS was held, where Shimano encouraged everyone to accept his successor, Shinge Sherry Chayat, as their teacher, and stated unequivocally that in order to avoid further controversy and division, he would no longer formally teach Zen in any capacity. Some of the richer students left the Zen Studies Society, causing financial difficulties for the society. Shimano remained in the apartment owned and maintained by the ZSS. He sued the organization for a pension, a pension denied by the Society's leaders who stated that he was not entitled to one given his years of inappropriate behavior. In December, 2012,
Myoshinji, the headquarters of Shimano's claimed lineage sect, issued a public statement responding to the controversies surrounding Shimano and ZSS; they state they have Eido Shimano died on February 18, 2018, in
Gifu, Japan, at the age of 85. ==Dharma heirs==