WCF Books

On this page we list books by Teachers of the WCF, Master Sheng-yen and Dr John Crook. You may order these books by clicking on the links or images below.

Chan Comes West
Illuminating Silence
Orthodox Chinese Buddhism
Attaining the Way
Song of Mind
Complete Enlightenment
Hoofprint of the Ox
There Is No Suffering
Zen Wisdom
Subtle Wisdom
The Infinite Mirror
The Dharma Drum
Sword of Wisdom
Getting the Buddha Mind
Poetry of Enlightenment
Faith in Mind
Ox-herding at Morgan's Bay
The Yogins of Ladakh
Space in Mind
Catching a Feather on a Fan

Chan Comes West - FREE

Master Sheng-yen and his Western Dharma Heirs

It contains:

an article by Master Sheng-yen on his training and transmission and his view of transmission
articles by each of his four Western Dharma Heirs (John Crook, Simon Child, Max Kalin, and Zarko Andricevic) on their experience in Chan
a full lineage chart

Publication of the book was supported by donors and it was available free of charge.

The WCF secretary is now out of stock of the first edition of this book. A new expanded edition is under preparation.

In the USA a local source was from the Chan Meditation Center in New York, and they may have a few copies left.

Illuminating Silence - Master Sheng-yen

Introductions and commentaries by John Crook

This comprehensive work provides an introduction to the practice of Chinese Zen (Chan) by a great contemporary Chan master based on talks given during two intensive retreats at the Maenllwyd - the meditation centre of the Western Chan Fellowship in Wales. It provides a basic handbook for all concerned with an effective training in Zen for the West.

In his foreward Stephen Batchelor writes:

The discourses are lucid and direct, drawn widely on the sources of Chinese Buddhism, and speak in a refreshingly modern idiom. Perhaps because the setting was relatively small and intimate, the gentleness, warmth and humour of Master Sheng-yen radiate throughout the text.

Part One provides full details of the unfolding of a Chan retreat with details of schedule, liturgy and all talks by the Master thereby enabling the reader to sit in on the retreat as it developed.

Part Two contains a careful presentation of the meditation method of Silent Illumination (mo chao) which, taken later to Japan, there became the sitting style called "shikantaza" The talks here are based in the original presentations of Master Hongzhi Zhenjue (1090-1157).

Part Three comprises retreat reports written by the editor during his training with Master Sheng-yen and which thus provide the reader with an experience of what it is like to "sit" a training retreat with a Chan master.

John Crook, the Teacher of the Western Chan Fellowship and the first European Dharma Heir of the Master in the Linji and Caodong traditions of Chinese Zen, has constructed the text from the taped English interpretations by Ming Yee Wang of the spoken mandarin. He writes:

I was engaging in an exercise in hermeneutics, an interpretation of the teaching in which my own subjectivity was highly engaged. I thus received the teachings many times over.

John also provides commentarial introductions to each part of the text and an edited autobiography of the master.

You may order online from Amazon.co.uk - click on the image to order. At the time of writing their price is £9.99 plus postage and packing.

Orthodox Chinese Buddhism

A Contemporary Chan Master's Answers to Common Questions

Master Sheng-yen

Originally published in 1965 and addressed to a Chinese audience, this book is now available for the first time in an English translation. It presents Chan Master Sheng-yen's views on Chan from an orthodox perspective.

Attaining the Way

A Guide to the Practice of Chan Buddhism

Master Sheng-yen

Song of Mind

Wisdom from the Zen Classic Xin Ming

Master Sheng-yen

Complete Enlightenment

Master Sheng-yen

Hoofprint of the Ox

Principles of the Chan Buddhist Path As Taught by a Modern Chinese Master

Master Sheng-yen

There Is No Suffering

A Commentary on the Heart Sutra

Master Sheng-yen

Zen Wisdom

Master Sheng-yen

Subtle Wisdom

Understanding Suffering, Cultivating Compassion Through Chan Buddhism

Master Sheng-yen

The Infinite Mirror

Ts'ao-Tung Chan: Commentaries on Inquiry into Matching Halves and Song of the Precious Mirror Samadhi

Master Sheng-yen

The Infinite Mirror (no picture available)

The Dharma Drum

Master Sheng-yen

Sword of Wisdom

Master Sheng-yen

Getting the Buddha Mind

Master Sheng-yen

Getting the Buddha Mind (no picture available)

Poetry of Enlightenment

Master Sheng-yen

Faith in Mind

Master Sheng-yen

Ox-herding at Morgan's Bay

Master Sheng-yen

Ox-herding at Morgan's Bay (no picture available)

The Yogins of Ladakh

Dr John Crook

The Yogins of Ladakh (no picture available)

The Yogins of Ladakh

Dr John Crook

Space in Mind

Dr John Crook

Catching a Feather on a Fan

Dr John Crook

Catching a Feather on a Fan (out of print) (no picture available)

Most of the text of this book has been incorporated into the later publication Illuminating Silence (which also includes a lot of new material besides that from Catching a Feather on a Fan).