Dharma Library

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

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How to be Me?

Calligraphy for the character Chan

Lurching up the steep approach road to the Maenllwyd, I liked the feel of a cottage tucked up in the hillside - a Zen mountain temple. Perhaps, not so surprisingly, I instantly recognized one of the participants as an old war-horse from other sesshins. John appeared and made me feel immediately at home. He had a sort of swashbuckling pirate look about him which I rather liked, and an immediate…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1991 , Chan Retreat Reports , Anon

Contemplating Earth

Calligraphy for the character Chan

All through the retreat Shifu spoke about compassion. It hit home, as it always has in previous retreats, but at those times, save for a shiver here or a sniffle there, nothing out of the ordinary came of it. Not so on Thursday afternoon. Shifu had us stand for a session of prostrations, but he introduced a method I had never encountered before. Usually he has us contemplate the movement of…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1990 , Chan Retreat Reports , Anon

Chan Retreat May 1990

Calligraphy for the character Chan

My stay at Maenllwyd was a gift which I received with gratitude. It has given me deep insights which will always remain. I have sought the truth for many years, joining this group or that, always looking outside myself, out there, beyond. The concentrated watching, the allowing of my mind to express itself are things which I have avoided, the associated feelings being only partially felt and…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1990 , Chan Retreat Reports , For Newcomers , Anon

First Retreat Experience

Calligraphy for the character Chan

I arrived at the farmhouse a complete innocent. I had not the faintest idea what I was in for and this was just as well or I would never have come at all! My only expectation was that the scenery would be beautiful. 'Experiencing a Buddhist Retreat' was one of the many adventures I'd decided to undertake. I thought 'It may as well be now'. There were intimations that it would be difficult but…

Western Chan Fellowship CIO

Categories: 1990 , Chan Retreat Reports , Anon

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