AMA Samy with Aussie disciples

Zen Master AMA Samy, Carl Hooper sensei and some Australian members of Bodhi Sangha get together at the end of the November sesshin held at the Benedictine Abbey Jamberoo. There were twenty four participants at the sesshin, some of whom were new to Zen. Philip Long, a veteran practitioner with a lengthy association with AMA Samy became a formal member of the sangha on the last day of the sesshin when he was accepted as a disciple by Hooper sensei. Sesshin participants donated over $6,000 to support the 'Little Flower' charitable projects in India. These projects include pre-school care and education for village children, outreach and financial support for the elderly in rural districts around Bodhi Zendo, and servicing a clinic for local people. Zen Master AMA Samy has agreed to return to Australia in 2016 to lead a sesshin at Jamberoo (30 Sept - 6 Oct). Our heart felt thanks to AMA Samy for his care for the Australian members of Bodhi Sangha, to Peter Ofner for all his organizing work on behalf of the local sangha, to David Ingram for tending to the financial matters, and to Aileen McAuliffe for ensuring the survival of the group over a number of years. We also owe a debt of gratitude to Doug Hume and his partner Nadine for their generous hospitality to AMA Samy at their property near Armidale in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.