New Chan Forum 46

As we move forward, New Chan Forum is changing slowly in the way in which it presents itself. When the NCF began the Internet was only in its beginning phases and the Fellowship used the Forum as a context for discussion about ourselves and news of members and local activities. These matters are now ably dealt with digitally on the website and this publication can now focus on its other aims of making available educational material and providing an opportunity for written ways in which we express the Dharma.

In this edition, Simon Child, the WCF Teacher, presents the issues that face us in being Western practitioners and in particular he outlines the process of our Western Zen Retreat. This description will be very useful to individuals who are considering coming along to this particular retreat as will the Retreat Reports which are all from participants on a Western Zen Retreat.

In a mixture of other articles this edition also offers the ‘pleasures’ and ‘pitfalls’ are working with Mu in George Marsh’s personal account of his struggle with this koan. George has also edited the poems that are presented.

Together with Rob Stratton, I offer a way of looking at the ‘calm’ in what appears to be ‘chaos’ in taking photographs. Alysun Jones provides a tribute to David Childs by presenting his own words as he prepared for dying and Ken Jones’ haibun in a subtle way also touches on our ‘living’ issues. Finally, we have a recipe from one of Maenllwyd’s longtime cooks, Pam Butler and as she says in her cook’s instructions “grind the mixture” – so please do so with all the articles in this issue and see how it tastes!

• Presenting the Dharma within Western Culture - Simon Child
• Consolations: Preparation for Dying - Alysun Jones
• Poems : the Fragrance of Dust  - James Norton
• Meaninglessness that makes Sense - George Marsh
• Poems - Ned Reiter and Aurie Mackay
• Cook’s Meditations: Gomasio - Pam Butler
• Hearing Photographs - Eddy Street and Rob Stratton
• Retreat Reports
• Who? - Ken Jones