New Chan Forum 61

This issue of New Chan Forum begins and ends with memories of our Founding Teacher, John Crook: a formal commemoration by Simon Child, a transcript of one of John's innumerable insightful and inspiring retreat talks – and then finally an odd scrap of his writing showing his creative striving to find just the right image for a truth he wanted to convey.

Those of us who were able to join together by Zoom in July to remember this remarkable Buddhist teacher, scholar and poet will be pleased to have the chance to read the talk that Simon was unable to deliver on that occasion due to technical problems. And reading Susan Blackmore's short contribution gives us all a chance to discover John as an ever-restless poet and thinker in mid creative flow.

I hope that John would be pleased to read this whole issue in all its rich variety: to see that the Fellowship he founded is in such good health and that more than ever the people associated with it are continuing to learn, study, think and share with a power and generosity similar to his.