Dharma Library

A large collection of articles, from past issues of New Chan Forum and more besides.

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Opening The Heart

Calligraphy for the character Chan

John Rowan has made immensely important contributions to contemporary psychotherapy and humanistic psychology in Britain. We were therefore delighted when he expressed a wish to join us on retreat. Here are his valuable reflections on his experience. We send him our best wishes. Come again John!! (Eds)

Thursday 20th

Went to catch the 2.10 train to Birmingham-Shrewsbury-Llandrindod Wells. Got to…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 2001 , Western Zen Retreat Reports , Others

The Heart Sutra - An Introduction

John Crook sitting in front of the altar at Maenllwyd

Almost as soon as anyone interested in Zen, or indeed almost any form of Mahayana Buddhism, begins to sit with a group of practitioners he or she will encounter the Heart Sutra. Most groups like to include a short liturgy in their evening's 'sit' and it is very probable that the Heart Sutra will form the key element in this. The text is by no means self-explanatory and meditation instructors…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: Highlighted , 2001 , Other Articles , John Crook

Training to Learn, Learning to Train

John Crook sitting in front of the altar at Maenllwyd

Experience in Chan Teaching

Most of us have read the story of how the great yogin Milarepa trained in Dharma practice in the household of his teacher Marpa. It is one of the classics of Tibetan religious literature and extremely important as a guide for those concerned with questions of how to advance on the Dharma path.

As a boy Milarepa had to endure extreme pain in family life as an uncle…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 2001 , Other Articles , John Crook

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