WCF News

I had just got off a train at Pontypridd. I walked outside the station, sat on a bench and was adjusting my camera. Nobody was on the bench and then when I looked up someone else was sitting at the other end. This is the image.

First the bench was vacant and then it wasn't. The sitter had become part of the bench and the bench was a part of him. I do not know what is waiting, the sitter for the…

I had the idea that it would be good to let people know how the calendar images and verses came about, simply as a means of adding to the viewing and in this way enhancing a practice. So, as a beginning here is my view of what taking photos is all about. I see there as being three aspects

• Firstly there is the occasion itself - the moment - that is present in the real world; the world that is out…

On 1st November 2015 Fiona Nuttall received Dharma Transmission from Simon Child

Fiona received the Dharma name 智淨法宏 Zhi-jing Fa-hong, Wisdom Pure Dharma Greatness.

She becomes the first Dharma Heir of Simon Child, receiving the Dharma Drum lineages of Linji and Caodong Chan.

It is with sadness that we announce the death of Ken Jones at his home in Aberystwyth on Sunday August 2nd 2015

Ken was a superb teacher and a good friend to many of us. He was a founder member of the WCF and supported Chan Master John Crook in establishing the WCF in its early years. Ken led many retreats at the Maenllwyd. His main focus for teaching was to bring the practice of Zen into…

Simon Child and Fiona Nuttall attended the International Western Dharma Teachers Gathering at Omega Institute, Rhinebeck NY, USA, June 1-5 2015. This was a 4-year follow-up to a similar meeting at Garrison NY in 2011.

Nearly 200 teachers attended, with many traditions represented. The majority of those attending were American, but there were 33 teachers from 9 European countries and also some…

Simon Child, Teacher of the Western Fellowship, attended the 3rd Dharma Drum Mountain Monastic and Followers conference in Taipei, Taiwan, June 27-28.

There were about 400 people attending, including most of the DDM sangha and students. There were presentations and discussion panels involving several of Chan Master Sheng Yen's Dharma heirs such as Chi Chern Fashi, Simon Child, Žarko Andricevic,…

Join us in a commitment for a period of connected and enhanced practice. We will undertake this in our daily lives, whether at home or in the workplace, with the silent support of knowing that we are not practising alone. We intend to raise the tempo of our practice for this period, increasing our capacity to be aware in our daily lives. A Mindfulness Bell will be rung at noon every day, when all…

Sat 15th March, by Ven Guo Yuan Fashi of DDM

Venerable Guo Yuan Fashi, Dharma Heir of Master Sheng Yen, the Director of the Chan Hall at Dharma Drum Mountain, will be visiting London and will give a talk at the London Buddhist Society on Saturday March 15th.

• Place: Buddhist Society, 58 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PH
• Date: Saturday March 15th
• Time: 1-5pm
• Admission: donation at your discretion

He…

Join in our Connected Practice for Wesak 18-29 May 2013. Anyone who wishes to participate is invited join us in a commitment for a period of connected and enhanced practice. We will undertake this in our daily lives, whether at home or in the workplace, with the silent support of knowing that we are not practising alone. We intend to raise the tempo of our practice for the period around Wesak,…

Nine WCF members met up on Saturday 18th August to look at and discuss the Diamond Sutra at Jane and Martin Spray’s house in the Forest of Dean. We also looked at some of the commentaries on it that have been translated into English. The discussion was led by Jake Lyne, and continued outside in the garden after a break for lunch.

Later in the afternoon a short ceremony was held at the Pludds…