Teachers

Chan Master Simon Child, Jing-hong Chuan-fa, Guiding Teacher of the Western Chan Fellowship, is the third Dharma Heir of the late Chan Master Sheng Yen. Simon trained for over thirty years with both Dr John Crook and Master Sheng Yen, and was the Secretary of the Western Chan Fellowship from its founding until his appointment as Guiding Teacher in 2011.

Simon is married with two adult sons. His main career was as a GP, and he also worked part-time as a Clinical Informatics Advisor for the National Health Service.

Dharma Transmission

Simon Child received Dharma Transmission in the Caodong and Linji lineages from Chan Master Sheng Yen, on 1st December 2000 towards the end of a seven-day retreat at the Dharma Drum Retreat Center in New York. He received the Dharma name Jinghong Chuanfa 'transmitting Dharma, pure greatness'. At the same ceremony Dr Max Kalin of Switzerland also received Dharma Transmission.

Fiona Nuttall, Zhijing Fahong, is the first Dharma Heir of Simon Child. Fiona trained with John Crook and Simon Child from the 1990's. She has been leading retreats for WCF since 2007.

Dharma Transmission

Fiona received Dharma Transmission on 1st November 2015, receiving the Dharma Name 智淨法宏 Zhijing Fahong, Wisdom Pure Dharma Greatness.

Hilary is a retired medical doctor, mother and grandmother. She is past Chair and a founder member of the Western Chan fellowship. Her teachers include Chan Master Sheng Yen, John Crook and Simon Child.

Jake's first retreat was at the Maenllwyd in 1982 led by John Crook, his first Buddhist teacher. He has practiced with a number of other Buddhist teachers mostly in the Chan tradition, especially Master Sheng Yen and Simon Child. He is a past Chair of the Western Chan Fellowship and an experienced Buddhist teacher, having led retreats for over 15 years. He is married with three grown-up children and is a retired clinical psychologist.

Alysun Jones has been meditating in the Western Chan tradition for over 30 years. John Crook was her first Teacher and continued as her Teacher all his life. She also practised in the Soto Zen and Tibetan traditions.

Alysun has been leading a WCF local meditation group for the last eight years and has also led some online and day retreats. She is a qualified clinical Psychologist, currently working part time in the NHS. In her spare time she loves to grow organic vegetables and fruit, and care for her chickens and bees.

Juliet Hackney has practised meditation since 2004 in a variety of Buddhist traditions. She has practised with WCF since 2009 and led a WCF local group since 2011. She works part time as a GP and is training to become a counsellor.