Ama Samy

Last updated
Ama Samy
Ama Samy.jpg
TitleZen master
Jesuit
Personal life
Born1936
Religious life
Religion Zen Buddhism, Christianity
SchoolBodhi Sangha
Lineage Harada-Yasutani
Senior posting
Teacher Yamada Koun
Website www.kanzeonzendo.in

Ama Samy (Arul Maria Arokiasamy), born in 1936, is an Indian Zen master. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Biography

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]

Dharma Successors

Ama Samy has appointed the following teachers:

Books

In English:

In German:

In Dutch:

In French:

In Spanish:

In Swedish:

See also

Hakuun Yasutani Lineage Chart

References

  1. 1 2 Sharf, Robert H. (1995). Sanbokyodan, Zen and the Way of the New Religions. Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Vol. 22, 3-4, pp. 417-458.
  2. 1 2 Kyosho no. 231 (1991), Newsletter of the Religious Foundation Sanbokyodan, edited by Sanbokoryukai.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Baatz, Ursula (2009). Erleuchtung trifft Auferstehung, Zen-Buddhismus und Christentum, eine Orientierung. pp. 185–195. ISBN   978-3783195286.
  4. 1 2 "Kanzeon Zendo, Ama Samy".
  5. 1 2 3 Samy, Ama (2005). Zen: Awakening to Your Original Face. pp. 26–33. ISBN   978-8185602868.
  6. Habito, Ruben L. F. (1990). In Memoriam: Yamada Koun Roshi (1907-1989). Buddhist-Christian Studies, Vol. 10, 1990 (1990), pp. 231-237.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ciolek, T. Matthew. 1995-present. Sanbo Kyodan: Harada-Yasutani School of Zen Buddhism and its Teachers. Canberra: www.ciolek.com - Asia Pacific Research Online. "Zen Buddhism: Sanbo Kyodan: Harada-Yasutani School and its Teachers". Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  8. "Bodhi Sangha".
  9. "Kanzeon Zendo".
  10. "Little Flower Association".
  11. "Zen-Guide Deutschland | Schule des Herzgrundes".
  12. "Über mich | Zen | Johannes Fischer".
  13. "Carl Hooper, Australia".
  14. "Bodhimountzendo: TEACHER".
  15. "Gert Lüderitz, Germany".
  16. "Cyril Mathew, India".
  17. "Loveland Zen, Teachers".
  18. "Olaf Strelcyk, United States".