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{{Short description|Indian Zen master and Jesuit priest}}{{Infobox religious biography
|background = #FFD068
|name =Ama Samy
|image =File:Ama Samy.jpg
|birth_date = 1936
|religion = [[Zen Buddhism]], [[Christianity]]
|school = Bodhi Sangha
|lineage = [[Zen lineage charts#Hakuun Yasutani|Harada-Yasutani]]
|title = Zen master<br/>Jesuit
|teacher = [[Yamada Koun]]
|website ={{URL | https://kanzeonzendo.in/ | www.kanzeonzendo.in }}
}}
{{Zen Buddhism}}
{{Western Buddhism}}
'''Ama Samy''' (Arul Maria Arokiasamy), born in 1936, is an Indian Zen master.<ref name="Sharf1995"/><ref name="Kyosho231"/><ref name="Baatz2009"/><ref name="KanzeonZendo_AmaSamy">{{Cite web | url=https://kanzeonzendo.in/ama-samy |title = Kanzeon Zendo, Ama Samy}}</ref>

==Biography==
Ama Samy was born to Christian parents in Burma in 1936 and grew up in India. After becoming a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] in 1972, he began visiting Hindu ashrams and Buddhist meditation centers. He was introduced to [[Ramana Maharshi|Ramana Maharshi's]] teachings by [[Abhishiktananda|Swami Abhishiktananda]]. His searching led him to become a wandering beggar for a period and to settle down as a hermit.<ref name="SamyBiographyInBookChapter2005">{{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen: Awakening to Your Original Face|year=2005|isbn=978-8185602868|pages=26–33}}</ref><ref name="Baatz2009">{{cite book|last1=Baatz|first1=Ursula|title=Erleuchtung trifft Auferstehung, Zen-Buddhismus und Christentum, eine Orientierung|year=2009|isbn=978-3783195286|pages=185–195}}</ref> With the help of [[Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle|Father Hugo Enomiya-Lassalle]], he visited Japan and trained with [[Yamada Koun|Yamada Koun Roshi]] of [[Sanbo Kyodan]]. In 1982, Yamada Roshi authorized him to teach Zen.<ref name="Sharf1995">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.</ref><ref name="Kyosho231">Kyosho no. 231 (1991), Newsletter of the Religious Foundation Sanbokyodan, edited by Sanbokoryukai.</ref><ref name="Baatz2009"/> He received the Japanese Dharma name Gen'un-ken (Gen: dark, obscure, mystery; Un: cloud).<ref>Habito, Ruben L. F. (1990). In Memoriam: Yamada Koun Roshi (1907-1989). Buddhist-Christian Studies, Vol. 10, 1990 (1990), pp. 231-237.</ref>

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.<ref name="CiolekWebsite">Ciolek, T. Matthew. 1995-present. Sanbo Kyodan: Harada-Yasutani School of Zen Buddhism and its Teachers. Canberra: www.ciolek.com - Asia Pacific Research Online.
{{cite web|url=http://www.ciolek.com/wwwvlpages/zenpages/haradayasutani.html |title=Zen Buddhism: Sanbo Kyodan: Harada-Yasutani School and its Teachers |accessdate=2018-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013145047/http://www.ciolek.com/wwwvlpages/zenpages/haradayasutani.html |archive-date=2018-10-13 }}</ref><ref name="Baatz2009"/><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://kanzeonzendo.in/bodhisangha/ |title = Bodhi Sangha}}</ref> Ama Samy's method of teaching embraces both Soto and Rinzai Zen traditions and draws from the resources of Christianity and other religions.<ref name="SamyBiographyInBookChapter2005"/> 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.<ref name="Kanzeon Zendo">{{Cite web | url=https://kanzeonzendo.in |title = Kanzeon Zendo}}</ref> 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.<ref name="KanzeonZendo_AmaSamy"/> 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.<ref name="SamyBiographyInBookChapter2005"/><ref name="Baatz2009"/> With the help of his students, he also runs Little Flower, a non-profit organization supporting women, children and landless people in South India.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.little-flower.de | title=Little Flower Association}}</ref>

==Dharma Successors==
Ama Samy has appointed the following teachers:
* [[:de:Stefan Bauberger]] (b. 1960), Zen master, resides in Germany, separated from Bodhi Sangha in 2009<ref name="CiolekWebsite"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zen-guide.de/zen/zentren/id/286&titel=Schule+des+Herzgrundes|title = Zen-Guide Deutschland | Schule des Herzgrundes}}</ref>
* Johannes Fischer (b. 1957), Zen master, resides in Germany, separated from Bodhi Sangha in 2018<ref name="CiolekWebsite"/><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.zen-fischer.de/johannes-fischer/ |title = Über mich | Zen | Johannes Fischer}}</ref>
* Carl Hooper (b. 1943), Zen master, resides in Australia<ref name="CiolekWebsite"/><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://bodhizendo.org/index.php/en/zen-teachers/carl-hooper-engl | title=Carl Hooper, Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://bodhimountzendo.blogspot.com/p/teachers-carl-hooper-sensei-is-founder.html | title=Bodhimountzendo: TEACHER}}</ref>
* Gert Lüderitz (b. 1950), Zen master, resides in Germany<ref name="CiolekWebsite"/><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://bodhizendo.org/index.php/en/zen-teachers/gert-luederitz-engl | title=Gert Lüderitz, Germany}}</ref>
* Mathew, Cyril Antony, SJ (b. 1970), Zen master, resides in India<ref name="CiolekWebsite"/><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://bodhizendo.org/index.php/en/zen-teachers/cyril-engl | title=Cyril Mathew, India}}</ref>
* Angela Pliske (b. 1937), Sensei (Zen teacher), resides in Czech Republic<ref name="CiolekWebsite"/>
* Olaf Strelcyk (b. 1978), Zen master, resides in the United States<ref name="CiolekWebsite"/><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.lovelandzen.org/teachers | title=Loveland Zen, Teachers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://bodhizendo.org/index.php/en/zen-teachers/olaf-engl-2 | title=Olaf Strelcyk, United States}}</ref>

==Books==
In English:
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen: The Wayless Way|year=2013|asin=B00K7Z645S}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen: The Great Way has No Gates|year=2012|isbn=978-9381597248}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen: Ancient and Modern, The Way to Heart-Mind|year=2010|isbn=978-9380253411}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=The Zen Way: Tradition, Transmission, Challenges|year=2007|isbn=978-8189882143}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen Meditation for Life and Death, Christians and Therapists|year=2006|isbn=978-8186778555}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen: Awakening to Your Original Face|year=2005|isbn=978-8185602868}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen Heart, Zen Mind: The Teachings of Zen Master Ama Samy|year=2002|isbn=978-8185602813}}

In German:
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=ZEN - Der große Weg ist ohne Tor|year=2014|isbn=978-3899018127}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen - Praxis und Dialog|year=2007|isbn=978-3932337079}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen und Erleuchtung: Zehn Meditationen eines Zen Meisters|year=2005|isbn=978-3896202567}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen: Erwachen zum ursprünglichen Gesicht|year=2002|isbn=978-3896201928}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Warum Bodhidharma in den Westen kam oder kann es ein europäisches Zen geben?|year=1995|isbn=978-3895680052}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Leere und Fülle. Zen aus Indien in christlicher Praxis|year=1991|isbn=978-3466203505}}

In Dutch:
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Zen Hart, Zen Geest - op zoek naar je Oorspronkelijk Gelaat|year=2006|isbn=978-9056701369}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Waarom kwam Bodhidharma naar het Westen? de ontmoeting van zen met het Westen|year=1998|isbn=978-9056700249}}

In French:
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Coeur zen, esprit zen: Les enseignements du maître zen Ama Samy|year=2010|isbn=978-2354320492}}

In Spanish:
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Por qué Bodhidharma vino a occidente? La Transmisión del Zen: problemas, peligros y promesa|year=1998|isbn=978-8493622718}}
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Vacío Y Plenitud: Zen de la India en la práctica cristiana|year=1995|isbn=978-8428517393}}

In Swedish:
* {{cite book|last1=Samy|first1=Ama|title=Om överföringen av Zen till väst - Varfö kom Bodhidharma till väst?|year=1997|isbn=978-9163052521}}

==See also==
[[Zen lineage charts#Hakuun Yasutani|Hakuun Yasutani Lineage Chart]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://vimeo.com/165585337 "Zen and the art of compassion," documentary on Ama Samy by Pat van Boeckel] (2016)
* [http://www.abc.net.au/sundaynights/stories/s3383228.htm Interview with John Cleary of ABC Radio Australia] (2011)
* [http://www.dimmid.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BAB5FA5C9-B296-469D-A077-99E20FEEAD11%7D Reflections on interreligious dialog by Ama Samy] (2010)
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samy, Ama}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Jesuits]]
[[Category:Zen Buddhist spiritual teachers]]
[[Category:Zen Buddhism writers]]
[[Category:Buddhist and Christian interfaith dialogue]]
[[Category:Sanbo Kyodan Buddhists]]

Ama Samy - Revision history

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