Lizard Chan Group
The group is an Affiliated group of the Western Chan Fellowship, in the lineage of Chan Master Sheng Yen.
Chan Master Sheng-yen
Chan Master Sheng-yen died on 3rd February 2009 in Taiwan aged 80.
Following the removal of one kidney in 2005 and subsequent weekly dialysis, his health was fragile yet he continued to give lectures and attend many public events. In December he returned to hospital and prayer vigils were held. He was well enough to leave hospital and attend the End of Year Charity event, however his health then deteriorated further and he was unable to attend Chinese New Year celebrations.
Thus ends the life of one of the most influential and deeply thinking Zen masters of our age.
In 1975, Master Sheng-yen received transmission from Chan Master Tung-chu of the Ts'ao-tung ( jp. Soto ) lineage tradition of Chan. In 1978, he received transmission from Master Ling-yuan of the Lin-chi ( jp. Rinzai ) tradition of Chan, becoming the 2nd generation descendent of Chan Master Hsu-yun, the greatest contemporary patriarch and reviver of Chan Buddhism.
Those of us in the West who were fortunate to train with him, both here in the UK and during other Chan retreats he lead throughout Europe and in New York, will remember him with profoundest gratitude and love.
Ceremonies of remembrance and gratitude were conducted at Dharma Drum Mountain in Taiwan and around the globe. On 5th February his body was cremated and after a further 14 days of ceremonies of recitation, there was a simple, non-religious burial of the ashes.
Our Sangha exists by virtue of Shifu's transmission to John Crook and later to Simon Child. Each of us in the Western Chan Fellowship is indebted to Master Sheng Yen's Teaching on the Bodhisattva Way and to him as the most devoted exemplar of the Dharma.
A small group of Fellows were extremely fortunate to travel June 2008 on Pilgrimage to monasteries and temples in mainland China and to visit DDM in Taiwan. We were blessed with an hour's audience with Shifu during which he answered questions and gave Refuge, Precepts and Vows in a simple, private Dharma naming ceremony.
We will miss him and offer our deepest thanks for his life and teaching.
For further information please go to DharmaDrumMountain and WesternChanFellowship
Meetings
Meeting bi-monthly each 1st and 3rd Monday Evening, 7.30pm - 9.30pm.
The evening ususally includes 2 periods of sitting meditation - ‘Mo - zhao’ or Silent Illumination and a period of walking meditation - ‘Kin-hin’. We recite a the Chan Buddhist Liturgy of Heart Sutra, Refuge and Vows in both english and chinese.
The meditation evening is offered freely and dana is welcome.
Newcomers are welcome and are asked to please telephone me or contact me via email for any further information and to check on current meeting dates as we are a small group and flexible as to the strict regularity of the meetings.
Tara Group
Occasional meetings of Tara practice group at new moon or full moon.
Directions
At Mawgan village, near Helston, drive past the Post Office/Spar on your left, then the Church on left and follow the road down hill to the Helford River; cross the 1st bridge at the first creek and just before Gear Bridge on the 2nd creek, turn right and take the left hand gate, following the rough track upstream to Gear Mill at the end. Please turn your car on arrival and park to allow others space – Thank-you! There is some parking on the road along the creek with room for one car only just outside the gate.
Occasional Day Retreats offered with visiting Teachers, either senior Fellows of the WCF or from other lineages. 2010 event at Zed Shed on 11 July.
For further information, please contact Sophie Muir - 01326 221651. See also the Gear Mill web site.
