Ama Samy

Ama Samy (Arul Maria Arokiasamy), born in 1936, is an Indian Zen master.

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. 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.

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. Ama Samy's method of teaching embraces both Soto and Rinzai Zen traditions and draws from the resources of Christianity and other religions. 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.

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 Johannes Fischer (b. 1957), Zen master, resides in Germany, separated from Bodhi Sangha in 2018 Carl Hooper (b. 1943), Zen master, resides in Australia Gert Lüderitz (b. 1950), Zen master, resides in Germany Mathew, Cyril Antony, SJ (b. 1970), Zen master, resides in India Angela Pliske (b. 1937), Sensei (Zen teacher), resides in Czech Republic

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