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RHACS Ch'an Retreats
The Richard Hunn Association for Ch’an Study started life as the Norwich Ch’an Association under Richard Hunn (1949-2006) following the passing of Charles Luk (1898-1978). The Norwich Ch’an Association existed in the UK up until 1991, when Richard Hunn emigrated to live in Kyoto, Japan. Whilst in Japan, Richard Hunn developed the Kyoto Ch’an Group, which had a small but dedicated Japanese membership. Richard Hunn travelled from Japan to the UK every year between 1991 and 2004, keeping in touch with family, friends, and students. In 2004 during his last UK visit, Richard Hunn conceived of the idea of creating an online presence for the Ch’an method and as a consequence developed the Chinese Ch’an Buddhism Forum. In the early days, Richard Hunn’s students copy-typed extracts from Charles Luk’s books about Master Xu Yun’s (1840-1959) Ch’an training method. Richard Hunn passed away in 2006 leaving his Ch’an project to his UK disciple Adrian Chan-Wyles.
At the time of his passing it was thought respectful to re-name the ‘Chinese Ch’an Buddhism Forum’ as ‘Richard Hunn Association for Ch’an Study’, a name that has become an umbrella concept for all Chinese Buddhist projects begun by Richard Hunn, Charles Luk, and Master Xu Yun. The forum part is now simply referred to as the ‘Ch’an Forum’, and RHACS now has its own dedicated website. Richard Hunn, (like Master Xu Yun and Charles Luk) held regular Ch’an meditation sessions at his home, and on occasion held Ch’an Retreats. Many of these have not been recorded other than in memory, but one or two are well known. There is the retreat Richard Hunn held at the Bristol Ch’an Group, and the retreat he held with the famous Buddhist author Stephen Bachelor in Devon, amongst others. Often the venues were old houses, or even shacks in remote parts of the UK countryside. Today, RHACS offers Ch’an instruction through the written word – encouraging self-practice wherever a student happens to live – and occasionally holds one day, one weekend, or one week Ch’an Retreats. It must never be forgotten that the empty Mind Ground is always existent ‘here and now’ and that nothing else is required to realise it other than correct looking and direct perception. Travelling in the outer world is not required to realise it. However, sometimes the ‘expedient means’ of holding formal Ch’an gatherings can assist individuals in their training. This is the practice of skilful means, and explains why RHACS occasionally holds formal gatherings. Until recently, these gatherings have not been recorded – as all returns to the void - but this section will now act as an archive for any Ch’an Retreat considered worthy of remembering, so that others may be inspired to practice with energy and strength. Please use the following email address to contact RHACS concerning: 1) Written Ch’an instruction. 2) The possibility of one to one Ch’an instruction (South London area). 3) RHACS Ch’an Retreats. Email: shidadao@mailforce.net Wainsford Ch'an Retreat - Cornwall - 31/08/13 - 07/09/13 Hayle Ch'an Retreat - Cornwall - 19/04/14 - 26/04/14 Kingston Bagpuize Ch'an Retreat - Oxford - 15/08/14 - 22/08/14 Camelford Ch’an Retreat - North Cornwall - 13/12/14 – 20/12/14 Launceston Ch’an Retreat - North Cornwall - 25/07/15 – 01/08/15 |