Western Chan Fellowship

The Western Chan Fellowship (WCF) has affiliation with the Dharma Drum Mountain Centre, which was founded by Chan Master Sheng Yen. Master Sheng Yen has played a significant role in reviving Chinese Chan (or Zen in Japan) Buddhism and in bringing Chan to the West. Master Sheng-yen is a second generation teacher in the lineage of the Great Master Hsu Yun who did much to restore Chan to China in the early years of the 20th century

The founding Teacher of the WCF is Dr John Crook who is one of Master Sheng Yen's Dharma Heirs. For more than 30 years, John has led Zen and Chan retreats at the Maenllwyd, a remote and beautiful retreat centre in mid-Wales. John is a lay Buddhist Teacher and at present all of the WCF Fellows (experienced practitioners) are lay practitioners who seek to bring Chan practice into their everyday lives. Dr Simon Child the Secretary of the WCF is also one of Master Sheng Yen's Dharma Heirs and is an experienced retreat leader.

In addition to the retreat programme in Wales, there is a number of Chan Retreat Groups in Britain, led by Senior WCF Fellows some of whom are themselves authorised to lead retreats. York Chan Group is one of these. These groups are very open and welcome people interested in meditation and Buddhism, but with no expectation that participants will be Buddhists themselves. You are welcome to join these groups whatever your beliefs. The groups form the basis for a local Sangha (community of practitioners) providing a first taste of Chan Buddhism through weekly sitting and, in some centres including York, short retreats. Many people go on to attend retreats at the Maenllwyd and some eventually become Fellows of the WCF.

The aims of the WCF are to advance the education of the public in the principles of Buddhism by providing training in Buddhist meditation, insight and precepts. This is done through the teaching, practice and transmission of the Chinese Lin Chi and Tsao Tung traditions of Chan as transmitted by Master Sheng Yen. .