NEWS 

16th July 2011

It is with very great sorrow that I  have to announce the death of Chan Master Dr. John Crook (Ch'uan-Teng Chien-Ti). John was the teacher of the Western Chan Fellowship, and the first Western Dharma Heir of the late Grand Master Sheng-Yeng. He was also my much loved and deeply respected personal teacher for nigh on 25 years, for which I will always remain immensely grateful.

At the moment, I do not have any further details to share, but the Glastonbury group will be holding a simple memorial service for John at our usual meeting time & place on Monday 25th July (the Monday after next). I know many of you will not have known John, although some of you will have heard him talk when  he visited our group on a couple of occasions. You may well also know him from his writing, and from his "teishos" that have been read at times during our meetings. I hope as many of you as possible will be able to come to the memorial meeting, whether you studied directly with John or not: it is largely through his effort, insight, energy and compassion that Chan has taken root in this land.

All things are impermanent as we know, but we can allow ourselves to feel the loss and acknowledge the passing of a wonderful teacher and a beautiful man.

With a deep bow,

Ned