User:Zenothing/Trevor Barton

Trevor Barton (Zhèng Píngguǒ Shakya; traditional Chinese: 證 蘋果 ; simplified Chinese 证 苹果 ; ‘witness’ 'apple'; usu. Trevor) (1975 - ) is a Chinese Chán Buddhist Rinzai or Linji school master.

Significance
He has instructed others in Zen meditation since 2011. He took on the coordination of https://tumble.home.blog, founded 2017, in April 2018.

His lineage is that of Jy Ding's (the abbot who founded Hsu Yun Temple, ordained Chuan zhi, and established an order with a lay or non-monastic style devised to spread the dharma to the west). The sangha is in keeping this tradition, separating itself from formal dōjō set-up, use of chanting, ritual, fuse, or generally the wearing of any special robes including kesa and rakusu, except at special events.

Instead the emphasis, as determined by his teacher Michael Pockley, is on practical effort in the sangha community, and single-pointed concentration practice (normally sitting meditation). Informal in nature, the name of the sangha serves as organising nomenclature for what is, in effect, a series of communities in Oxfordshire, England, all of the same approach, and each of them overseen by individuals who commit to the way of the Zen parish Priest as Shakya (rōshi) ordinands.

The communities meet as one a few times a year at zazenkai, taking stock of health and numbers and enabling discussion of any concerns while also practicing Zen together. Thus the sangha can grow, while always maintaining a sustainable hyper-local feel.

Early life

 * He was given bodhisattva ordination in the Sōtō Zen lineage of Taisen Deshimaru by Taisen's student, Guy Mokuho Mercier in December 2010, Bristol UK.
 * He received ordination as a Zen Priest from Michael Pockley in the Línjì Chán lineage of Hsu Yun on 22nd July, 2019.