Past Patron - The late Venerable Chan Master Dr Sheng Yen
Founding Teacher - The late Chan Master Dr John Crook Chuan-deng Jing-di
What is Chan?
Chan means Meditation, in Chinese. It is the historical root of Japanese Zen. Both Chan and Zen are rooted in the Mahayana traditions of Compassion and Wisdom which are central to the Buddhist path.
Chan employs traditional Buddhist meditation techniques to explore important questions concerning our place in the world. To know yourself through Chan is to go beyond the ego and to perceive the relationship between yourself and the Universe. In this quest Chan places emphasis on personal experience, both in meditation and in everyday life.
Chan opens the door to a fresh appreciation of life, death, self and mind. It accords with present-day Western psychology and philosophy and in several respects goes beyond them, to provide basic values for life in the modern world.
Although Chan Buddhism is not well known in this country, its broad approach has much to offer Westerners. It fulfils a need for a contemporary viewpoint which, whilst based in traditional orthodox practice, also relates to our present time.
A special transmission outside the scriptures
No reliance on words or letters
Direct pointing to the heart of humanity
Seeing into ones own nature.
About the Western Chan Fellowship
The Western Chan Fellowship was formed in 1997 and registered as a charity in 1998. It was based on a network of local groups which formed following the first teaching visit to the UK in 1989 of the Venerable Chan Master Dr Sheng Yen. Master Sheng Yen is Abbot of a monastery in Taiwan and Head of the Institutes of Chung Hwa Buddhist Culture in Taiwan and New York.
Master Sheng Yen has visited the UK four times and has passed on to us a view of the Dharma (teaching) based on his experience in both the main lineages of Chan - Linji (Rinzai) and Caodong (Soto). He is a second generation teacher in the lineage of the Great Master Hsu Yun who did so much to restore Chan to China in the early years of this century. Master Sheng Yen has also trained in Japan following the tradition of Harada Roshi, from whom several lineages of American Zen are currently descended. In Japan he also received a doctorate in Buddhist studies and is today a much-respected scholar. In attempting to transmit the wisdom of Master Sheng Yen, we have a tradition on which we can rely.
In April 1989, Master Sheng Yen came to the Maenllwyd Retreat Centre in Mid Wales and Dr John Crook, who trains with him in New York, acted as Guestmaster. At the end of the retreat John was asked to run orthodox Chan retreats in Britain as the representative of Master Sheng Yen. John was subsequently invited to function as teacher to the Bristol Chan Group, the first of the WCF local groups. In 1993 John received the Dharma transmission from Master Sheng Yen and is thus a fully authorised teacher in the same lineage. We are a group of lay practitioners with properly authenticated teachers. We approach Chan through practice, talks and everyday life. Many people find that participation in retreat is an important part of their approach. Our evening meetings are linked to both informal local day retreats led by the local group meditation instructors and sometimes invited teachers from other traditions, and to more disciplined retreats held in Wales. An introductory retreat - the Western Zen Retreat - is recommended before participation in a full Chan retreat.
Further Reading
Master Sheng Yen 1982 Getting the Buddha Mind: on the Practice of Chan Retreat. Dharma Drum.
Master Sheng Yen 1987 Faith in Mind. A guide to Chan Practice. Dharma Drum.
Master Sheng Yen 1996 Dharma Drum, The Life and Heart of Chan Practice. Dharma Drum.
John Crook: 1991 Catching a Feather on a Fan: A Zen Retreat with Master Sheng Yen. Element Press.
Master Sheng Yen: 2002 Illuminating Silence: The Practice of Chinese Zen. Watkins.
What Does the WCF Do?
We run a programme of residential meditation retreats, usually at our retreat centre in Mid Wales. These are open to all-comers, who neither need to be Buddhist nor to know much about Buddhism.
We have meditation groups in several towns and cities around the UK where interested persons meet together to meditate and newcomers wishing to find out more are welcome. Most of these groups have a meditation instructor authorised by John Crook to teach meditation, so beginners can have their first taste of meditation in these groups.
We also publish a journal "New Chan Forum" which appears two or three times a year. This contains a variety of articles: reports by participants on their experience of retreat; transcriptions of teachings given by Master Sheng Yen and others; poetry and artwork; social and Buddhist commentary and critique; etc.
Bursaries: As a charity we maintain a bursary fund. Those needing financial support to attend a retreat may apply in writing to the Treasurer for a bursary to defray the costs. Donations to replenish the bursary fund and to help with other projects of the WCF are always welcome. Contact the Treasurer.
How Can I Find Out More?
You can find copies of most of our literature, programmes, and contact details, together with back issues of the journal New Chan Forum on this website. Go back to the home page and follow the menu links.
You can write to the Secretary for copies of the programmes, contact details, subscription details for New Chan Forum, etc. To book a retreat or to enquire about bursaries and donations contact the Treasurer. Contact the Membership Secretary if you wish to have your name placed on the mailing list to receive new editions of the retreat programme, copies of our newsletter, or if you wish to place a subscription to New Chan Forum.
Local groups are open to newcomers and you can contact the one most convenient to you to find out their meeting arrangements. There you will be able to meet others who have been meditating for some time, and probably some who have attended our residential retreats, and you can receive meditation instruction if you wish.
Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Your local contact: See the contacts listing.
