The mark of mature students is that most of the time, they don't do something else. They're just here, living their life. Nothing special.
Joko Beck
Nothing Special
The teaching of Flint Sparks inspired the creation of Nothing Special in Sheffield in 2010. We began meeting in a small room in the garden of one of our members. Our understanding of Zen developed slowly as we practiced together; in sitting meditation, walking meditation and in studying contemporary Zen texts. In this we were gently guided and supported by Flint and over time transformed from being a local meditation group to being a Zen Sangha.
Nothing Special is led by three senior students working with an organising group of volunteer members and guided by our teachers Flint and Josh.
One of the first books we read together was Joko Beck’s ‘ Nothing Special’. We found her work challenging and inspiring and hence the name of our Sangha.
“When we bring awareness to our cherished self-images, such as our need to be special, they begin to lose their power over us. No longer puffing ourselves up or trying to stand out means we’re coming closer to living like a white bird in the snow. That is, we no longer feel the inner compulsion to see ourselves or be seen in a particular way- there is no ulterior agenda. The result is true humility- no one special to be.”
Ezra Bayda
Our community life has been greatly enriched by the accessibility afforded by online meetings, allowing those that live beyond Sheffield to join us in our regular meetings. This development has meant that the boundaries between us and our sister sanghas have become more fluid. Over the years we have held local non-residential retreats, Sangha days and helped to organise national residential retreats and many happy social events.