Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to page footer
Western Chan Fellowship logo Western Chan Fellowship logo
  • Home
  • About
    • About the WCF
    • Lineage
      • Lineage
      • Lineage Chart
      • Chan Master John Crook
      • Chan Master Sheng Yen
    • Teachers
    • Liturgy
      • WCF Liturgy
      • Retreat Centre Opening Ceremony
      • Mealtime Ceremonial
      • Maenllwyd Mandala
      • Heart Sutra Transliteration
      • On Pursuing that which Leaves no Tracks
      • Exhortation, Benediction
      • Heart Sutra
      • Diamond Sutra
    • Donations
    • Contacts
      • Contacts
      • Contact WCF Administrator
      • Avoid the spam folder
      • Keeping in Touch
      • Links
    • Gallery
    • Membership
    • History
    • Documents
      • WCF Documents
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Constitution
      • Policies
    • Supplies
      • Dharma supplies
      • Make a Meditation Bench
    • Search
    • About this Website
  • Retreats & Events
    • Considering a retreat? Read on:
    • Retreats & Events Calendar Select a retreat or other event from our calendar
    • General Retreat Information Pre-booking information and advice
    • Retreat Booking How to book a place on a retreat
    • Preparing for Retreats Preparing to attend a retreat
    • Venues Venue information
      • Shawbottom Farm
    • More Events and Retreats Non WCF events which may be of interest
    • Retreat Reports Reviews and testimonials
  • Online Activities
    • Online activities
  • Meditation Groups
    • Local Chan Groups
    • Local Groups Map
    • Birmingham
    • Bristol
    • Cardiff
    • Derbyshire Dales
    • Forest of Dean
    • Glastonbury
    • Hatfield / Welwyn Garden City
    • Kent
    • Leek
    • The Lizard
    • London
    • Manchester
    • Mid-Wales
    • Newbury
    • Nottingham
    • Portsmouth
    • Scottish Chan
    • South Devon
    • Swindon
    • Warsaw - Poland
    • Winscombe
    • Other Groups
  • Resources
    • Dharma Resources
    • Selected Articles Articles for newcomers
    • Retreat Reports Reviews / testimonials
      • Retreat Reports
      • Western Zen Retreat
      • Silent Illumination Retreat
      • Koan Retreat
      • Other Chan Retreat
      • Other Retreats
    • Dharma Library Many articles on Chan Buddhism, meditation and retreats
    • New Chan Forum
    • Chan Magazine
    • Free Books
    • Books Sheng Yen / John Crook
    • Reading List
    • Good Reads
    • Audio Video
  • News
    • News
    • Newsletters
    • Mailing Lists
  • Login
    • Login
    • Set Preferences
    • Registration
    • My Retreat Bookings

The Western Chan Fellowship

Buddhist statues at Yungang Grottoes, China

Who are we?

Chan is the Chinese ancestor of Zen Buddhism. The Western Chan Fellowship is an association of lay Chan practitioners, a lay Sangha, based in the UK. We are registered as a charity in England and Wales, but 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

  • Newcomers Information

  • Introduction to meditation

  • Introducing Buddhism

  • Retreats and other events

  • Local Meditation Groups

  • Online activities

  • Lineage and practice

  • New Chan Forum

  • Mindfulness and Mindfulness Training

  • Mindfulness and Counsellor or Therapist Training

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, and 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.

Chan meditation hall

View our retreat programme

May 24th
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights
June 8th
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
 
June 28th
Mid-Summer Silent Meditation Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights
July 18th
Silent Illumination Retreat
Residential Retreat
9 Nights
August 23rd
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights
September 7th
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
 
September 26th
Weekend Chan Retreat
Residential Retreat
2 Nights
October 4th
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights
November 15th
Silent Illumination Retreat
Residential Retreat
7 Nights
November 29th
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights
December 7th
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
 

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 a Zen sangha helpful to support your practice and your cultivation of mindfulness in daily life.

Online meditation and discussion meetings

COVID-19 introduced us all to online events. Our local groups have mostly resumed in-person meetings, but alongside that some online events continue to be hosted and may welcome participation of people who do not live near the hosting group.

There are events held on several weekday evenings, and also weekend daytimes. Visit our Online Events page to see the full list of activities.

Lineage

Our Guiding Teacher, Chan Master Simon Child, 淨宏傳法 Jing-hong Chuan-fa, is the second Western Dharma heir of the late Chan Master Sheng Yen of Taiwan, receiving Dharma Transmission in the Dharma Drum lineage (Linji and Caodong, Rinzai and Soto)  in 2000. 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 from the lineages of both Linji Chan (Japanese: Rinzai Zen) and Caodong Chan (Japanese: Soto Zen), including Gongan (Japanese: Koan), Huatou, Silent Illumination (Ch. Mo-zhao, related to Jap. Shikantaza zazen or “just sitting”), and other methods such as counting or following the breath.

Latest News

  • New Chan Forum issue 67 cover image

    New Chan Forum issue 67

    2025-05-01

    New Chan Forum issue 67 is now available for download.

    Visit the New Chan Forum 67 page.

    Read more of: New Chan Forum issue 67
  • Shawbottom viewed from the hillside, isolated and standing alone in the valley

    Open Weekend at Shawbottom Farm

    2025-04-24

    Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd June 2025

    WCF members are invited to stay at Shawbottom free of charge during the period Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd June, to coincide with the WCF AGM on 22nd June.

    This is for socialising, sangha building, and to give an opportunity for exploring the area such as by taking longer walks than is possible in retreat walk periods of only an hour. It is also an occasion to…

    Read more of: Open Weekend at Shawbottom Farm
  • AGM - Trustee nominations are open

    2025-04-24

    Western Chan Fellowship CIO AGM

    Nominations are now open, for three vacancies for trustees of WCF.

    Elections will be held at the AGM on June 22nd if more than three nominations are received.

    Nomination forms

    • Trustee nomination form as Word docx file (editable)
    • Trustee nomination form as PDF file

    Closing date for receipt of nominations is 30th May.

    AGM details

    To access the AGM details you…

    Read more of: AGM - Trustee nominations are open
  • Rebecca Li headshot

    Silent Illumination and Peacemaking

    2025-02-28

    "Rebecca Li’s teachings are deep, lucid, and accessible. She helps undo the habits blocking realization of our naturally radiant, awake being." —Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance

    • Join Zen Peacemakers for the online event "Silent Illumination and Peacemaking" with Dr. Rebecca Li. Tuesday, March 4, 2025 5 p.m. GMT,  Online, Free
    • Register at: https://hive.zenpeacemakers.org/events/162250

    Sak…

    Read more of: Silent Illumination and Peacemaking
  • Western Chan Fellowship logo

    Save the Date - June 22nd for Western Chan Fellowship AGM

    2025-01-30

    Morning of Sunday June 22nd 2025

    Similar to 2023, the 2025 AGM will be held as a hybrid meeting both online and also in person at Shawbottom.

    This includes an open invitation to members to take the opportunity to visit Shawbottom and stay over the weekend on a self-catering basis at no charge. An opportunity for socialising, for longer walks in the area, or whatever you prefer. If you wish to…

    Read more of: Save the Date - June 22nd for Western Chan Fellowship AGM

More News

View more WCF news.

©Western Chan Fellowship CIO 2006, 2008-2025. May not be quoted for commercial purposes. Anyone wishing to quote for non-commercial purposes may seek permission from the WCF Secretary.

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

Permalink: https://w-c-f.org/Q1

Contact

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Office 7511
PO Box 6945
London W1A 6US
England

https://westernchanfellowship.org/contact-us

Contact us

Credits

Sun icon by gravisio from Noun Project (CC BY 3.0)
Bed icon by IconMark from Noun Project (CC BY 3.0)

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • YouTube