Retreat Programme

Chinese Zen Meditation Retreats, and More

We lead intensive meditation retreats at Maenllwyd our main retreat centre in Wales, and also at other meditation centres in England and Scotland. We also have facilities for solitary retreats.

Some of our retreats follow closely the traditional methods of teaching and practice, and others such as our 'Western Zen Retreat' include adaptations to match the needs of Westerners. We also use some Tibetan Buddhist meditation practices such as Mahamudra. Most of our retreats are silent retreats - read the retreat descriptions for details.

• Retreat Programme 2008 as a pdf file
• NEW: Retreat Programme 2009 as a pdf file

The Application form is on the Booking Details page.

Retreat Calendar

(errors and omissions excepted)

General Information

• This programme may be subject to changes. Check this page for updates and amendments.
• Retreats usually start about 7pm on the first evening. Seven day retreats finish after breakfast, shorter retreats either during the morning or after lunch.
• Full directions will be given on booking.
• Before booking, you should read all the general information and links below.

The Western Chan Fellowship offers retreats providing training in Zen insight and fresh ways of being. The Maenllwyd Retreat Centre has been providing disciplined Zen, Tibetan and Chan (Chinese Zen) retreats for over 25 years. Participants need not be Buddhist, and indeed, probably the majority are not.

The programme of retreats with the Western Chan Fellowship provides a progressive series of events designed to deepen self-understanding and insight into the Buddhist path. Serious practitioners, and this includes beginners, are invited to take advantage of these rare opportunities for practice and self-discovery in an atmosphere of warmth and the cultivation of kindness.

Western Zen Retreats and Shorter Chan Retreats are open to beginners and adepts alike. Mahamudra and full Chan retreats are open to those who have already attended a Western Zen Retreat or an equivalent retreat. Details required on application.

These retreats are serious and quite demanding. Participants gain important insights into their lives and into the Buddhist path and many return for further retreats. Some indeed make these retreats their main practice. The atmosphere is caring and supportive and interviews (opportunities to speak to the teacher) are always available. You are welcome to enquire further when considering whether a retreat is right for you.

Retreats may be led by John Crook, PhD. DSc Chuan-deng Jing-di, Simon Child Chuan-fa Jing-hong, Hilary Richards, Jake Lyne, Fiona Nuttall, or Ken Jones.

• John Crook and Simon Child are both Dharma heirs of Chan Master Sheng-yen of the Institute of Chung-Hwa Buddhist Culture, Taipei and New York, and are fully authorised teachers in the lineages of Linji (Rinzai) and Caodong (Soto) Chan.
• Hilary Richards is a long-term practitioner with Dr John Crook and Master Sheng-yen, is the past Chair of the Western Chan Fellowship, and leads retreats at Maenllwyd and at Gaia House.
• Jake Lyne and Fiona Nuttall are long-term practitioners with Dr John Crook and Master Sheng-yen, and are senior fellows of the WCF.
• Ken Jones has been for many years a prime mover in "engaged Buddhism" on which he has written three influential books. He is also a leader of intensive workshops and retreats. His prize-winning poems (Haibun) often appear in NCF.

• Retreat Booking
• Preparing for Retreats
• Bursaries (Concessions)
• Retreat Centres
• Daily Schedule
• Solitary Retreats

You may also want to read Reports on their Retreat Experience submitted by past participants in our retreats.

More Retreats

The following events are not run by the Western Chan Fellowship. However they are listed here since they may be of interest to visitors to this website.