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The Western Chan Fellowship

Buddhist statues at Yungang Grottoes, China

Who are the Western Chan Fellowship?

Chan is the Chinese ancestor of Zen Buddhism. The Western Chan Fellowship is an association of lay Chan practitioners. We are a lay Sangha, based in the UK.

We are registered as a charity in England and Wales. We also have contacts in Europe, principally in Poland, Croatia and Switzerland, and also in USA. Our Zen retreats and other activities are open equally to both Buddhists and non-Buddhists.

Quicklinks

Zen retreat, Buddhist retreat, meditation retreat, silent retreat

We lead a range of different types of Buddhist meditation retreats at centres in England and Wales.

Some of our Zen meditation retreats follow the traditional methods of practice. Others such as our 'Western Zen Retreat' include adaptations to match the needs of Westerners. Most of our Zen retreats are silent retreats - read the retreat descriptions for details.

Meditation hall with exposed roof trusses and sunbeams lighting the Buddha statues

Zen meditation groups

We have Chan meditation groups meeting around the UK. Visit us to ask about meditation and the Western Chan Fellowship.

You will find participation in a Zen sangha helpful. It supports and develops your practice and your cultivation of mindfulness in daily life.

Online meditation and discussion meetings

COVID-19 introduced us all to online events. Some online events continue to be hosted. Online groups may welcome participation of people who do not live near the hosting group.

Visit our Online Events page to see the full list of activities.

Our Chan Buddhist Lineage

Our Guiding Teacher is Chan Master Simon Child, 淨宏傳法 Jing-hong Chuan-fa. He is the second Western Dharma heir of the late Chan Master Sheng Yen of Taiwan. He received Dharma Transmission in the Dharma Drum lineage in 2000. This lineage includes both Linji and Caodong, i.e. both Rinzai and Soto.

Our Founding Teacher was Master Sheng Yen's first Western Dharma Heir, Dr John Crook.

Our meditation practice

Our practice includes a variety of Buddhist meditation methods. We teach methods from the lineages of both Linji Chan (Japanese: Rinzai Zen) and Caodong Chan (Japanese: Soto Zen).

We use Chan practices such as Gongan (Japanese: Koan), Huatou, and Silent Illumination (Ch. Mo-zhao, the source of Jap. Shikantaza zazen or “just sitting”). We use general Buddhist methods such as counting or following the breath. We also practice mindful movement in the form of qigong and walking meditation, work practice, and more.

View our retreat programme August 31
Chan Brushwork Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights February 18
A Taste of Chan
Residential Retreat
4 Nights September 1
Chan Brushwork Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights May 2
Connected Practice
Online course
  October 3
Freeing the Heart: Everyday Bodhisattva Precepts
Online course
  November 21
South Devon Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  November 27
Pilgrimage to Ladakh: Zoom Slide Show
Online course
  December 5
Walking the Path of Liberation
Online course
  March 28
South Devon Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  April 10
Freeing the Heart: Everyday Bodhisattva Precepts
Online course
  April 24
Connected Practice
Online course
  May 15
Finding Freedom Right Where You Are
Online course
  June 5
The Earth as our Witness: Chan Eco-Dharma Retreat
Online course
  July 17
Online Commemoration of John Crook
Online course
  July 24
Online Day Retreat - The First Two Paramitas, Dana and Sila
Online course
  November 13
Illuminating the Mind
Residential Retreat
7 Nights December 4
Living as a Bodhisattva - “An Appropriate Response”
Online course
  August 13
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights September 4
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  September 17
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights October 22
Illuminating the Mind
Residential Retreat
7 Nights November 12
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights December 3
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights December 4
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  January 14
Bristol Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  January 14
Illuminating the Mind
Residential Retreat
7 Nights January 21
London Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  March 4
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights March 12
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  May 27
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights June 4
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  June 10
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights June 20
Introduction to Chan Buddhist Practice
Online course
  August 5
Illuminating the Mind
Residential Retreat
7 Nights September 3
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  November 11
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights December 2
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights December 3
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  January 6
Illuminating the Mind
Residential Retreat
7 Nights January 9
Introduction to Meditation, Buddhism and Chan (online)
Online course
  January 20
London Weekend Retreat (non-residential)
Online course
  February 10
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights March 17
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  March 30
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights April 14
Manchester Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  May 25
Illuminating the Mind
Residential Retreat
7 Nights June 2
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  June 22
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights June 29
South Devon Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  July 27
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights August 17
Illuminating the Mind
Residential Retreat
7 Nights September 1
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  October 5
Awareness In The Everyday: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
Residential Retreat
5 Nights November 2
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights November 30
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights December 8
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  January 4
Illuminating the Mind
Residential Retreat
7 Nights January 15
Introduction to Meditation, Buddhism and Chan (online)
Online course
  January 25
South Devon Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  March 9
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  March 15
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights April 12
Illuminating the Mind
Residential Retreat
7 Nights May 24
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights June 8
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  June 28
Mid-Summer Silent Meditation Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights July 18
Silent Illumination Retreat
Residential Retreat
9 Nights July 19
Spiritual Faculties, Spiritual Powers
Day Retreat
  August 23
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights September 7
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  September 26
Weekend Chan Retreat
Residential Retreat
2 Nights October 4
Investigating Koans Retreat
Residential Retreat
7 Nights November 15
Silent Illumination Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
7 Nights November 29
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights December 7
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
  February 11
Introduction to Meditation, Buddhism and Chan (online)
Online course
  February 14
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights February 21
Spiritual Faculties, Spiritual Powers
Day Retreat
  March 28
Silent Illumination Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
7 Nights April 25
Zen Koan Retreat
Residential Retreat
7 Nights May 23
Everyday Zen Silent Meditation Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights July 4
Silent Illumination Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
7 Nights August 1
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights

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The articles on this website have been submitted by various authors. The views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Western Chan Fellowship.