Dharma Library

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

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The Zen of Social Action

Ken Jones headshot

1. The Privatisation of the Dharma

Buddhism comes to Westerners as a monkish other worldly religion of meditation embedded in a culture of monasticism. It brings with it all the assumptions of a traditional hierarchical culture where society and nature were perceived as an unchanging back drop to the human condition. Public virtues enjoined upon 'householders' (and even rulers), charitable…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1995 , Ken Jones

Hermit at Stallion's Rock

Ken Jones headshot

It was a cliff overhang rather than a real cave. But the walls glowed with beautiful lichens, and at one end was a rockfall hung with ferns. I cleared out the sheep dung, set up a little shrine, cut a bed of reeds and laid out my sleeping bag. I was in business at least as a part-time hermit.

Notwithstanding two decades of tough Zen training, I still had a romantic itch for the hermit life - all…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1994 , Ken Jones , Highlighted

Ystrad Haiku

Ken Jones headshot

(from a seven day solitary retreat on the Ystrad Estate in Radnorshire)

Surrounded by sprouts 
stone cottage 
labouring poor

Sleep so deep 
I forget the names 
of lovers long ago

Small birds sing their evensong 
how sharp the incense!

Smoke drifts 
from my neighbour's chimney 
morning rain

Birdsong and rain 
incense and solitude 
day follows day

Young flames leap 
in pale sunlight 
it's Sunday morning!

Hanging up…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1994 , Poetry , Ken Jones

Some Images of India

Ken Jones headshot

A haiku diary of a tour through Uttar Pradesh by bus, boat, plane and rickshaw in the winter of 1992.

The plane stops at Abu Dhabi.
White faces recede;
The Fast floods in.

Against a high-rise backdrop,
Two vultures on a pig's back.
Third World.

The fawning rickshaw wallah's
Smile
Frames my guilt.

A black bull
With a white egret on his back;
Time out of mind.

Muzzafarnagar -
Dust and Chaos
No, not chaos.
Everybo…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1992 , Poetry , Ken Jones

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