New Chan Forum 68

Editor’s Introduction

Sarah Bird

Welcome to Issue 68 of New Chan Forum.

This edition has a focus on practice.

It starts with interviews that Simon and Fiona gave to Dharma Drum’s Humanity Magazine – both give quite an insight into their personal practice and history. We then hear from Eddy Street, with his thoughtful analysis of how our practices have changed over the centuries. Jos Hadfield offers a fascinating exploration of her long-established practice of t’ai chi through the lens of the Satipatthana Sutta. Jake Lyne, through his examination of Mihu’s koan, asks what can be done about falling into the secondary, and facing the world in which we live?

We are also offered the treat of poems from Diana Warner, Martin Treacy and Hugh Carroll and an illuminating(!) account of a Silent Illumination retreat in Shawbottom in 2024. 

Happy reading, and thank you for connecting the circuit – without readers, all the words in this issue won’t have a chance of hitting their mark.

The theme for NCF 69 will be creativity – so please do email me on editor@westernchanfellowship.org with your contributions of essays, poems or images. The deadline is January 31 2025.

Contents 

• Editor’s Introduction - Sarah Bird
• Humanity Magazine Interview - Simon Child & Fiona Nuttall
• Practice – Past and Present - Eddy Street
• Mindfulness of the Body: T’ai Chi through the Lens of the Satipatthana Sutta - Jos Hadfield
• What can be done about falling into the Secondary? - Jake Lyne
• Poems - Diana Warner, Hugh Carroll & Martin Treacy
• Retreat Report