Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to page footer
Western Chan Fellowship logo Western Chan Fellowship logo
  • Home
  • About
    • About the WCF
    • Lineage
      • Lineage
      • Lineage Chart
      • Chan Master John Crook
      • Chan Master Sheng Yen
    • Teachers
    • Liturgy
      • WCF Liturgy
      • Retreat Centre Opening Ceremony
      • Mealtime Ceremonial
      • Maenllwyd Mandala
      • Heart Sutra Transliteration
      • On Pursuing that which Leaves no Tracks
      • Exhortation, Benediction
      • Heart Sutra
      • Diamond Sutra
    • Donations
    • Contacts
      • Contacts
      • Contact WCF Administrator
      • Avoid the spam folder
      • Keeping in Touch
      • Links
    • Gallery
    • Membership
    • History
    • Documents
      • WCF Documents
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Constitution
      • Policies
    • Supplies
      • Dharma supplies
      • Make a Meditation Bench
    • Search
    • About this Website
  • Retreats & Events
    • Considering a retreat? Read on:
    • Retreats & Events Calendar Select a retreat or other event from our calendar
    • General Retreat Information Pre-booking information and advice
    • Retreat Booking How to book a place on a retreat
    • Preparing for Retreats Preparing to attend a retreat
    • Venues Venue information
      • Shawbottom Farm
    • More Events and Retreats Non WCF events which may be of interest
    • Retreat Reports Reviews and testimonials
  • Online Activities
    • Online activities
  • Meditation Groups
    • Local Chan Groups
    • Local Groups Map
    • Birmingham
    • Bristol
    • Cardiff
    • Derbyshire Dales
    • Forest of Dean
    • Glastonbury
    • Hatfield / Welwyn Garden City
    • Kent
    • Leek
    • The Lizard
    • London
    • Manchester
    • Mid-Wales
    • Newbury
    • Nottingham
    • Portsmouth
    • Scottish Chan
    • South Devon
    • Swindon
    • Warsaw - Poland
    • Winscombe
    • Other Groups
  • Resources
    • Dharma Resources
    • Selected Articles Articles for newcomers
    • Retreat Reports Reviews / testimonials
      • Retreat Reports
      • Western Zen Retreat
      • Silent Illumination Retreat
      • Koan Retreat
      • Other Chan Retreat
      • Other Retreats
    • Dharma Library Many articles on Chan Buddhism, meditation and retreats
    • New Chan Forum
    • Chan Magazine
    • Free Books
    • Books Sheng Yen / John Crook
    • Reading List
    • Good Reads
    • Audio Video
  • News
    • News
    • Newsletters
    • Mailing Lists
  • Login
    • Login
    • Set Preferences
    • Registration

You are here:

  1. Western Chan Fellowship
  2. News
  3. New Teacher of the Western Chan Fellowship

New Teacher of the Western Chan Fellowship

On 28th January, Dr Simon Child Chuan-fa Jing-hong, Chan Master Sheng Yen's third Dharma Heir, was confirmed as the new Teacher of the Western Chan Fellowship. His appointment was unanimously approved by members of the Western Chan Fellowship at an Annual General Meeting. It was a poignant occasion since this was also the Western Chan Fellowship's third annual Memorial Day for Chan Master Sheng Yen.

Simon is very active and leads retreats in the UK, Poland and other European centres, and at Dharma Drum Retreat Center in New York, in addition to leading a local Chan Group in Manchester, UK.

He is the second Teacher of the Western Chan Fellowship. The Founding Teacher was Dr John Crook Chuan-deng Jing-di who died last year. When Chan Master Sheng Yen gave him Transmission, John asked how he should teach Chan in the West. Shifu's reply was:

“I’m Chinese, you’re British, you find out how to teach British people.” 

In this spirit, Simon and John have worked closely together for many years in their mission to bring Chan Buddhism to the West. We are very glad that in Simon we have an experienced and skilful Teacher who can carry forward the Chan lineage in a form that is well suited to the western world, whilst retaining respect for its Chinese origins.

At his Teacher's address, Simon emphasised the need for the Western Chan Fellowship to continue to adapt and change to circumstances and to avoid becoming focussed on the past: the transmission of Chan is dependent on continuity, yet is always renewed in the present.  He also referred to the significance of Sangha as practice and to the importance of nurturing continuous practice in every 24-hour day of our lives.

Back

Related articles

  • placemarker calligraphy
    A Course in Zen
    30-01-2013 Western Chan Fellowship

  • Author: Jake Lyne
  • Publication date: 02-02-2012
  • Modified date: 02-11-2024
  • Categories: 2012 WCF News
  • Western Chan Fellowship logo Western Chan Fellowship CIO
  • Link to this page
Simon Child speaking at WCF AGM 2012
  • News
  • Newsletters
  • Mailing Lists

©Western Chan Fellowship CIO 2006-2025. May not be quoted for commercial purposes. Anyone wishing to quote for non-commercial purposes may seek permission from the WCF Secretary.

The articles on this website have been submitted by various authors and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Western Chan Fellowship.

Permalink: https://w-c-f.org/Q311-307

View our retreat programme August 23
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights
September 7
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
 
September 26
Weekend Chan Retreat
Residential Retreat
2 Nights
October 4
Investigating Koans
Residential Retreat
7 Nights
October 25
Spiritual Faculties, Spiritual Powers
Day Retreat
 
November 15
Silent Illumination Retreat
Residential Retreat
7 Nights
November 29
Western Zen Retreat
Residential Retreat
5 Nights
December 7
Kent Chan Day Retreat
Day Retreat
 
Cookie Settings
X

We are using cookies.

We are using cookies on this web page. Some of them are required to run this page, some are useful to provide you the best web experience.

I accept

Individual Cookie Settings

Only accept required cookies.

Privacy Notes Imprint

X

Privacy settings

Here is an overview of all cookies used

Cookies for Statistics

Statistics cookies anonymize your data before use. This information will help us to learn how visitors are using our website.

Show Cookie Information

Hide Cookie Information

Google Analytics

Google analytics is a service which provides statistics and analytical tools that help us understand the activity on the website.

Provider:Google Inc
Cookie name:_ga,_ga_gtag
Cookie lifetime (days):365
Privacy policy:https://policies.google.com/privacy
Host:google.com

Save

BackOnly accept required cookies.

Privacy Notes Imprint

Sitemap

Contact

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Office 7511
PO Box 6945
London W1A 6US
England

https://westernchanfellowship.org/contact-us

Contact us

Credits

Sun icon by gravisio from Noun Project (CC BY 3.0)
Bed icon by IconMark from Noun Project (CC BY 3.0)
Computer icon by Jony from Noun Project (CC BY 3.0)

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • YouTube