New Chan Forum 56

Welcome to the summer edition of New Chan Forum.

In this issue Simon Child gives a dharma talk that navigates a range of subtle distinctions to clarify what ‘silent illumination’ means – and warns of the rocks on either side of the channel. Being With is an elusive state in which the mind flows freely, and it is not quite what we might suppose.

Anna Jedynak’s third article on meditation describes how one extends meditative mindfulness into everyday life so that it becomes an integral part of the eightfold path for us. We thank Anna for her helpful essays on how meditation practice relates to all that is going on around about us. 

There follow three shorter articles, two poems, a selection of retreat reports, as usual, and a book recommendation. And it all slips into a beachbag for summer reading.

If you have ideas for articles, or feedback for me on the future role of the New Chan Forum, please email me at editor@westernchanfellowship.org

STOP PRESS I have had an advanced sneak preview of a major new Buddhism exhibition being prepared by the British Library at St. Pancras. It will open in October next year, 2019, and will feature Theravada and Mahayana books and illustrations, from all regions of Asia, including some from their Dunhuang library cave manuscripts. I hope to interview the curators for our next issue.

• Being With - Simon Child
• Meditation and Everyday Life Practice - Anna Jedynak
• Illusory Self - Harry Miller
• Is this Life or is this Death? - George Marsh
• Thoughts from Brum - Margaret Holmes
• Poems - Didi Crook and Martin Treacy
• Retreat Reports - Various
• Book Review: Tibetan Zen - Eddy Street
• About Us and Retreat Information

Download pdf file of New Chan Forum 56