Ama Samy | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Title | Zen master Jesuit |
Personal life | |
Born | 1936 |
Religious life | |
Religion | Zen Buddhism, Christianity |
School | Bodhi Sangha |
Lineage | Harada-Yasutani |
Senior posting | |
Teacher | Yamada Koun |
Website | www.kanzeonzendo.in |
![]() |
Part of a series on |
Zen Buddhism |
---|
![]() |
Part of a series on |
Western Buddhism |
---|
![]() |
Ama Samy (Arul Maria Arokiasamy), born in 1936, is an Indian Zen master. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Ama Samy was born to Christian parents in Burma in 1936 and grew up in India. After becoming a Jesuit in 1972, he began visiting Hindu ashrams and Buddhist meditation centers. He was introduced to Ramana Maharshi's teachings by Swami Abhishiktananda. His searching led him to become a wandering beggar for a period and to settle down as a hermit. [5] [3] With the help of Father Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle, he visited Japan and trained with Yamada Koun Roshi of Sanbo Kyodan. In 1982, Yamada Roshi authorized him to teach Zen. [1] [2] [3] He received the Japanese Dharma name Gen'un-ken (Gen: dark, obscure, mystery; Un: cloud). [6]
Ama Samy founded the Bodhi Sangha, the community of his disciples, in 1986. Bodhi Sangha became an independent Zen school when he left the Sanbo Kyodan organization in 2002. [7] [3] [8] Ama Samy's method of teaching embraces both Soto and Rinzai Zen traditions and draws from the resources of Christianity and other religions. [5] He founded two Zen centers near Kodaikanal in South India, Bodhi Zendo (opened in 1996) and Kanzeon Zendo (opened in 2022). He currently lives and teaches at Kanzeon Zendo. [9] Ama Samy is a member of the Society of Jesus. Since his transition to Kanzeon Zendo, however, he considers his relationship to be of a different kind. [4] Since Father Lassalle first invited Ama Samy to join him on a tour of Europe in 1985, Ama Samy has spent several months each year leading retreats in Europe, Australia, and the USA. [5] [3] With the help of his students, he also runs Little Flower, a non-profit organization supporting women, children and landless people in South India. [10]
Ama Samy has appointed the following teachers:
In English:
In German:
In Dutch:
In French:
In Spanish:
In Swedish: