Amida Order

Dates of Order Meetings 2011/12

sujatin — 2011-02-03T14:47:44+01:00

Spring Order Meetings

2011: During Conference: 12 - 15 May
2012: Amitaryas 5 - 6 April; Order 7 - 8

Conclave Dates for Amida Ordained plus Amida Order Days

2011: Sept 28 - 30, plus Order Day on October 1

2012: Oct 3 - 5, plus Order Day on 6th

Order Intensives

2011 in France: Sunday 26 June - Saturday 2 July inclusive

(followed by Sesshin 4 - 8 July)

2012 in UK: Sunday 1 July to Saturday 7 July inclusive

Renewal

David Brazier — 2011-02-03T14:15:31+01:00

This weblog is now to recommence.

DISCONTINUATION

David Brazier — 2006-09-01T04:41:59+02:00

This weblog has now been superceded by
http://amidatrust.typepad.com/amidashu

Amida Hawaii Open

David Brazier — 2006-08-26T19:20:56+02:00

On 18th August 2006, Dharmavidya David Brazier, Head of the Order of Amida Buddha, officially opened Amida Hawaii Buddhist Temple as a religious community of Amida-shu in the natural paradise of north Kohala on the Big Island of Hawaii. The temple is situated upon land generously made available by the New Moon Foundation. The temple building is on the edge of an area of mature tropical forest. In addition to the temple building itself there is a residence and a guest accommodation. Full information about the Hawaii Centre can be found via the Amida Trust Home Page link and news of the temple is posted on the Amida Hawaii weblog

After France

Gina Clayton — 2006-08-13T23:50:23+02:00

July 9th to 29th was the summer teaching period in France. The advertised emphasis was Dharmavidya's teaching on the Larger Pureland Sutra. In the event, a significant proportion of those attending the retreat were on Amida's ministry training programme, and so training in conducting liturgy also became a focus for the three weeks. Both these strands of teaching were very rewarding.

For teaching on the sutra, we sat in the meditation hall, which is open on one side to the elements - fire and air being the main ones we were aware of as it was intensely hot. The resident team kindly provided each of us with our own copy of the sutra. Dharmavidya had a way of making this, to me, initially unpromising and remote material into a very human discourse. In particular I am left with a vision of how faith transforms vision, both at the physical and at the inspirational level. It was a good time.

In learning about liturgy, we had opportunities to conduct ceremonies formally and to experiment with new forms for different kinds of occasions and groups. Those of us that had not yet had an opportunity to learn the role of bell master did so, at least to a rudimentary level of what to do when. However we had a glimpse of what extraordinary possibilities there are beyond our efforts when some of us visited the Vietnamese temple at Noyant. Here a woman continuously chanting a sutra simultaneously sounded a huge bell and a huge mokujo with consummate skill and no apparent break for breath.

Other outstanding features of the retreat were community life - and the heat. We had a couple of trips to swim - one in the Allier - a beautiful wide river broken up by gravel banks - and one in the nearest lake. Both much appreciated!

Reflections on summer in France appear on other Amida weblogs, including Dharmavidya Web and http://pureland.wordpress.com/ (the newest version of the Amida Sheffield site). I won't repeat it all here. However, in terms of the Order - six of us were there, and it was a real joy to spend that time together, getting to know one another better, supporting and learning from one another in a whole range of actitivities from gardening, cooking and making incense offerings to sawing down dead trees, making woodpiles and understanding sutras.

Thank you everyone.

Namo Amida Bu.

Sundari

Congregations

David Brazier — 2006-07-22T21:09:41+02:00

On 20th July 2006 Dharmavidya, as Head of the Order, approved Narborough and Sheffield as Congregations of the Amida-shu in accordance with the Provisions for Continuity, Stucture and Governance of the School.

Dharmavidya to Dublin

David Brazier — 2006-05-27T12:51:04+02:00

News of Dharmavidya's forthcoming public dialogues in Dublin

14th June in Dublin

Buddhist - Christian Dialogue

Dharmavidya in dialogue with Louis Hughes

on the theme

Unfolding Eternity

_______________________________

15th June in Dublin

Buddhist - Buddhist Dialogue

Dharmavidya in dialogue with David Loy

on the theme

Faith and Lack

_______________________________

Full details from Brendan Breen

May Pastoral Letter

David Brazier — 2006-05-27T10:55:09+02:00

Dharmavidya's Pastoral Letter of 15th May 2006

Dear Friends

Today is the second anniversary of the death of Irene Brazier, my mother, from whom I received immeasurable love and inspiration. I like to think that she is one of the root founders of our Amida-shu having been with us from the beginning as “senior bomori” at The Buddhist House. Under the shelter of her unstinting attentiveness a special sensitivity arose and grew in me. She did not put it there, but she protected it and nourished it just as she did the many seedlings and plants in each of her beloved gardens, of which she made so many over the years. I hope you will all hold her dear.

Irene left this life two years ago. During that two years, somehow, from her new life, she has continued to help and inspire us. During that period our School has opened into the world. All the work done prior to that time has taken on a more concrete and overt form and this form has enabled individuals to come forth and commit themselves to Amida. We have come out into the world, a fledgling, debutant movement for spiritual renewal, a new religious order. This is something quite miraculous and rare.

During that two years, however, we have also been afflicted with illness. Many friends of and among us have been struck down by cancer, just as Irene was. It has seemed almost an epidemic. Saille Abbott is in the midst of treatment and spoke to me by telephone yesterday. And finally, most recently, we have lost our dear Amrita Dhammika to malaria. Life is short. None of us knows when we will face severe crises of health or even death. We are as if standing in a queue, not knowing when it will be our turn.

We are each here for but a little time. Life can sometimes seem meaningless. Whole ages go by when humans live like blades of grass. Then, sometimes, there come times when something special is possible. The appearance of Honen Shonin in twelfth century Japan was such a time. That of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar in India in the middle of the twentieth century was one. It is given to us to make this present new century such a time, if we have the faith to follow our Light. Faith liberates the latent energy of our condition. It enables Amida to gather us in.

The Highest Light always shines into bombu lives. Nobody has to be specially accomplished to join this turning, only specially inspired, touched by That Light. I hope that we have the courage for it. All my life I have felt this calling, but, being bombu I have already wasted a vast amount of time. I say to Amida, “Why me?” There are plenty of people in the Buddhist world better fitted - more gentle, more polite, more learned, more talented. Why have I become the little bit of grit around which this particular pearl has begun to form? These things are mysteries. I assure you that if I am suitable to be chosen, you are! Is it not precisely out of such a fellowship of the unlikely that Amida would seek to fashion His new garden of peace?

Infinite Light
Be my delight
Shine on me
An ordinary

Our Amidism is a universal spiritual message. It can be expressed in the language of any religion. In this sense, we are Buddhists of all religions, but this does not mean that our Amidism is whatever any member of any religion might want it to be. Amidism has three very special features that are liberating and much needed, especially by those who seek but then realise that they cannot accomplish unaided. These features can be recognised widely. The people to whom this message is addressed are ordinary people - the people in the bus queue. One does not have to be intellectual to know that Amida - whatever name you know Him by - chooses the ordinary ones. They are his special concern. Those of us who have lived our lives believing ourselves to be or even trying to become extraordinary are all now called to return to our common condition and build our foundation there; while those of us who have never aspired and always thought that things spiritual were just too elevated for the likes of ourselves, may here find an unexpected treasure. We are ordinaries. It is ordinaries who will make a Pure Land here and it is ordinaries who will go to the Pure Land in the life to come and it is ordinaries who will be seen to have been bodhisattvas - not through any virtue of accomplishment of their own, but through the simple fact that they kept faith, just as Amrita kept faith. To keep faith, in our case, means to be always sitting at the feet of the Buddha, wherever you may be and whatever you may be doing. The Buddha is the guiding power in our lives. Trust That. Do not think that this life is random or trivial. No need to be more sophisticated. You will be led if you are willing to be. Amida will bear your burdens for you if you will let him. Entrust your worries to him for he is a great power.

The first two special characteristics of Amidism are acknowledgement of our bombu nature and recognition of Other Power at work in our lives. The third characteristic is modgala - to call out in joy! Bombu, Amida, Nembutsu - these three point out our way. Ours is a religion of calling. We call and we are called. Let us follow our calling and have the faith to call out and to be heard. Faith is infectious. One need not be shy or reserved about it. As bombu together we support one another - through sickness, through adversity, through personal failings even. As devotees we receive support, guidance, solace and our burdens are lightened. As nembutsu-sha we carry our drum in the market place and call out in joy to a world in need of hope. This is the time to reach out and carry the message to others.

In the past month we have had a wonderful conference to which so many people made prized contributions as presenters, as organizers, as workers in the kitchen or on the stalls. More people came than to any previous conference in this series and we were all well pleased with it. The “fringe” began a week before and went on a week after with specialist meetings on a variety of subjects, not least our work overseas. Plans have emerged for the year ahead, a year of reaching out together. The conference demonstrated how there are now many people who feel a sense of investment in our collective venture. This is a sign of immense importance and promise. Now is the time to wave flags and fill the firmament with Dharma banners.

On the Sunday morning of the conference two more good people John Zulu and Cordelia Grimwood became members of the Amida-shu. We bid them a deep and warm welcome. We have also become engaged in a consultation about the responsibilities and limits of Amida-shu membership and this is leading us into deeper reflection upon our mission. That mission is essentially to bring the message of Honen Shonin to the contemporary world. It is good that we are thinking deeply what this means in practical detail. It is perhaps one of those bitter-sweet ironies of the spiritual life that we who are by some accounts the most other-worldly of all Buddhist schools are yet noted for being the one most concerned about the fate of this world. We and what we are doing is of real use to this world precisely because it is firmly grounded faith in a way that few dare entertain. Simply by being so we make it possible for others.

My mother was ordinary. I am ordinary. You are ordinary. We all love one another. We are creating a community of love together. There is nothing more precious in all the world. I hope we find the courage and faith to see it through. Each of you can find local ways to advance this vision and I hope to be able to stand by you, just as my mother always stood by me.

Namo Amida Bu
Dharmavidya

Welcome to Amida France

David Brazier — 2006-05-27T10:43:48+02:00

Start of this year's French programme:

Sr Modgala has now arrived at Amida France and Leo will join her within a few days. The French centre is, therefore, now open to visitors. This is a wonderful time of year there and, no doubt, they will have an excellent time receiving guests and preparing for the summer opening. Dharmavidya and Prasada will go to the centre on 8th July and give teachings on the Larger Pureland Sutra until the end of July. The first thee weeks of August, Prasada will lead the Arts in France programme for individuals and families. This year the centre will also stay open into the autumn.

Hello from modgala

Modgala — 2006-05-09T18:01:33+02:00

Dear all,

I am just trying to get the hang of using blogs. So taking this opportunity to say hello and hopefully be able to communicate better when I am in France. I hope to go early next week along with Leo to start planting and get the place ready for visitors. I am now anticipating being in France for the longer term once we have trained some volunteers in September.

Love to all

Namo amida Bu

modgala

Buddhist House Breakfast

David Brazier — 2006-05-02T19:15:22+02:00

Sudana, Sujatin, Dharmavidya, Prasada, Susthama, Mieko, John, and Ray

Conference Success

David Brazier — 2006-05-02T09:20:30+02:00

The Order and most members of the School have been together over the last week participating in the 4th Living Buddhism Conference. This has been the best attended conference in this sequence and it was, in effect, spread over a longer period of time. Pre-Conference Events commenced on Saturday 22nd April. On 23rd there was a memorial service for Amrita Dhammika. Saturday to Monday were officially retreat days, and it proved joyous time for gathering and reflection together. Tuesday we visited temples of other religions in Leicester - Central Mosque, Hari Krishna, Synagogue, Jain Temple, Cathedral and Sikh Gurudwara. Wednesday there was an outing. Thursday evening those involved in Amida overseas projects led a public seminar and this marked the start of the conference proper. Friday, Saturday and Sunday there were workshops and plenary sessions. Order and School meetings also took place. On Sunday morning therewas a ceremony in which Cordelia Grimwood and John Zulu were admitted to membership of the Amida-shu. Monday and Tuesday there were special interest groups about organisations and Amida overseas work. The whole event seems to have been universally acknowledged as a great success.

Pre-Conference Visits to Other Faith Communities

sujatin — 2006-04-26T23:49:01+02:00

Yesterday we went visiting Other Faith Communities in Leicester. Susthama had organised a great programme for us: Leicester Central Mosque, the Hare Krishna Centre, Leicester Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, the Jain Centre and the Guru Nanak Gurdwara. We were warmly welcomed wherever we went and pleased to be making friends with members of other faiths. A fascinating and enjoyable day. photos

Amrita's sangha and friends offering incense

sujatin — 2006-04-24T22:50:21+02:00

At the conclusion of the Memorial Service we offered incense to show respect and love
photographs

Memorial Service for Amrita Dhammika

David Brazier — 2006-04-24T22:00:46+02:00

Thirty people gathered at The Buddhist House for a memorial service to honour Amrita Dhammika, member of the Amida Order, who died on 26th March in Zambia. The service also included an ordination. Amrita was a chapalin in the Order and it seemed fitting to complete her full ordiantion as a minister post-humously. Her spirit will continue to inspire the Order for as long as it continues.

Amida Hawaii on Track

David Brazier — 2006-04-22T08:23:54+02:00

The latest planning meeting of the Amida Island Project planning group was a happy affair ironing out many of the practicalities for the first on-going Amida presence on Big Island to commence in June this year.

Pre-Conference Retreat

David Brazier — 2006-04-22T08:20:59+02:00

This weekend is our Pre-Conference Retreat. The approach of the Conference is now the major pre-occupation here at The Buddhist House. Guests are starting to arrive and it is exciting to see old friends from afar.

Amrita Dhammika Funeral and Memorial Service

David Brazier — 2006-04-02T12:50:02+02:00

We, here at The Buddhist House, have just been communicating via Skype with our friends in Zambia. The funeral of Reverend Amrita Dhammika took place yesterday morning. She was buried with full ceremony. For two nights prior to the ceremony there was

dancing around her coffin and lamentation. The ceremonial which took several hours was a mix of Buddhist and local custom. Sr Modgala and Willemien Hoogendoorn took a central role in the proceedings which were appropriate in all respects. Well over one thousand people attended. Amrita was dressed in her Ngoni costume and her Buddhist robe when her body was laid to rest. The inspiration that Amrita has given to the people of this afflicted part of Africa is immense. She was an indefatigable worker for compassion to all sentient beings - a true bodhisattva - and she gave her life for them. It now seems that the cause of death was in fact malaria rather than asthma as originally reported. Communication with the Tithandizane Centre is difficult, telephone reception being intermittant, but we were very pleased, after many attempts, to have had a successful conference this morning. Modgala will remain in Zambia for three weeks more, returning before the 4th Living Buddhism Conference. Willemien will stay on in Zambia for some time to ensure that the work Amrita commenced continues on a reliable footing. There will be a memorial service for Amrita here at The Buddhist House, 12 Coventry Road, Narborough, Leicestershire, on Sunday 23rd April at 12 noon. All who wish to attend, R.S.V.P. to susthama@amidatrust.com. The three days 22-24th April constitute a period of retreat one week prior to the Living Buddhism Conference. Bookings for the retreat may similarly be communicated to Sr. Susthama. Thank you. Namo Amida Bu.

Death of Amrita

David Brazier — 2006-03-29T11:11:09+02:00

Amrita Dhammika, chaplain of the Amida Order, died on 26th March 2006, from an acute asthma attack while on a humanitarian mission in Zambia

Rev. Amrita Dhammika, M.Ed., M.Phil., spent her life working for the destitute, the sick, and for animals. She was born as Linda June Dolan in Eccles, Manchester on 30th June 1955. She died on Sunday 26th March 2006 at 11am local time in Zambia where she was overtaken by an asthma attack during a humanitarian mission. She leaves a husband, adopted daughter, elderly mother, and one brother.

Her most important work was done in Africa where she was universally known as Linda. However, she also did significant work in Thailand and Sri Lanka. Her mission culminated in the foundation of the Tithandizane Primary Health Care Project at Kamulaza in Eastern Province, Zambia, which she built up from nothing to a thriving centre serving 72 villages. For this centre, the senior chief Nzamane IV made available 5 hectare of land. Grants were found from a variety of charitable foundations. A team of Zambian people was assembled. Local villages made bricks and contributed labour and five buildings were constructed. The centre provides medical care, training, counselling and a variety of community services.

Linda trained and worked as a laboratory technician then as a teacher, obtaining a B.Ed. in 1978. She went to Nigeria on V.S.O. from 1981 to 1983 and was deeply affected by the disease and destitution she encountered there. She saw the importance of primary health care and community involvement to empower people to take control of their own welfare. In 1985 she worked at Balaka Leprosy Hospital in Malawi. In 1986-7, back in UK, she worked as a community worker with the elderly in Salford. From 1988 her work focussed on Zambia. There she married Jack Edwards on 30th March 1994 and adopted her daughter Perry, who was born on 29th April1989.

She became a Buddhist, adopting the name Dhammika, early in her adult life, inspired by the Theravada monks, Ven. Bodhidhamma and Ven. Kassapa. She was, for many years, Projects Officer for the International Buddhist Relief Organization under Ven Kassapa’s patronage. In 1998 she met Dharmavidya David Brazier, a Pureland Buddhist priest. In the July of that year she took vows with him and became a member of the Order of Amida Buddha. In 2004 she received a further ordination becoming a chaplain in that order. In this capacity she conducted marriages and funerals, offered spiritual counselling, education and other support to the local people in Zambia. IBRO and Amida Trust supported her. She also received assistance from a number of other religious and secular welfare organizations including the Beit Trust, The Lions, St Albans School, Rotary, Pax Christie, Amaravati Monastery, the Canadian Government, and many others.

Amrita Dhammika’s Buddhism took particular shape in an intense concern for animals. She was a strong campaigner for vegetarianism, cared for animals wherever she went, was not averse to sharing her living accommodation with adopted baboons or other rescued creatures, and was, throughout her life, a walking example of kindness and harmony between species.

In addition to the founding of the Tithandizane Centre, she, in 1993, began the first rural self-help group for HIV positive people in Zambia, in 1996, a free nursery school in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, in 1996 worked to help AIDS victims in Thailand, and in January 2005, she, a Buddhist, travelled with a Moslem friend to northern Sri Lanka to help Hindu victims of the tsunami in a demonstration of inter-faith solidarity. In Africa, she organised projects to create bore holes in rural areas, conducted immunization, dental, eye care, family planning, and health information campaigns, distributed famine relief, effected improvements in nutrition, sanitation and education including introducing craft training workshops, and introduced beneficial crops. In 2001, on the 150th anniversary of the founding of Manchester University, she was awarded the John Owens Award for her outstanding work in Africa.

She was remarkable for the extent and intensity of her concern for her fellow creatures, which she attributed above all to the love shown her by her grandmother and the inspiration she received from her religion. She was a forceful personality, innocent, imaginative and deeply caring. Her achievements will be long remembered especially in her adopted land.

School Admission Ceremony

David Brazier — 2006-03-14T15:21:00+01:00

A ceremony was held at The Buddhist House at midday today to admit Yaakov and Orna to the Amida-shu sangha.

We accept the membership of this School - the Amida-shu - with great joy, appreciation, and with a feeling of responsibility. We hope it will strengthen us in our way and that we will succeed to help others by making them acquainted with the ideas of the Pure Land. We want to thank you all for being such a supportive, accepting, inviting and loving sangha to us. We are leaving after this retreat much more enriched than when we came. Namo Amida Bu. - Orna & Yaakov Matri

New Special Interest Group

David Brazier — 2006-03-05T15:59:14+01:00

A new special interest group has been formed called Green Amida

Free Speech Debate

David Brazier — 2006-02-28T17:16:01+01:00

The Amida group played an active part in the debate on Free Speech that took place as part of Cultural Exchanges at De Montfort University. The panel included Alan Drury and Steven Lowe.

Life in The Buddhist House

Prasada brazier — 2006-02-23T22:16:48+01:00

A busy few weeks. Last week we held the spring psychotherapy course block. This week catching up with various pieces of work before the FEB block next week. Yesterday John Zulu arrived from Zambia, today it snowed. Poor John has never been to temperate regions before, and he's cold!

Today Sudana is visiting, and will stay for the FEB block. We had lectures in our Vow22 series. Tomorrow I go to Birmingham for a chaplaincy meeting and on Saturday to Amaravati for a meeting of Network of Buddhist Organisations. The ministry team meet on line tomorrow morning, and we have two house visitors arriving. Susthama and Lisa have gone to the training session for hospital chaplains tonight, and Susthama does her hospital visits tomorrow (they both went to the University group yesterday). Dharmavidya went to the Faith Leaders Forum yesterday. Tuesday I was at the Parish Council. Leo has been on retreat. I between we are making crafts for the stall at the conference, which will raise money for India (I'm making cushion covers, Susthama is making jam) and of course there's.... Life is certainly full, but we have some good fun too.

Family Day at Lotus Lake

Prasada brazier — 2006-01-30T16:51:37+01:00

During our weekend retreat at Lotus Lake we enjoyed the family service. Concentrating on the Chinese New Year, we began by inviting the children to find pebbles in the garden and to use them to accompany our nembutsu chanting. After telling them about how we had chanted with mokujo in Chion-in before the service, we then talked about beginnings and the Chinese New Year, and the role of dragons as temple protectors. Making a dragon images with our stones, we played a circle game, passing the red "Amida" bird from person to person with the call and response chant Omito-Quan Shi Yim- Namo Fo, Nam Fo. One person starts, Omito, throwing the stuffed toy bird to another person who responds Quan Shi Yin, then we all chant Namo Fo. Finally all the children (with some adult help) made dragon masks out of boxes. We finished by calling the dragons with a lot of noise and letting them dance.

Dharmavidya & Prasada in Tallahassee

Prasada brazier — 2006-01-24T21:19:08+01:00

This week Dharmavidya and Prasada are at Tallahassee, guests of the Lotus Lake Buddhist Community. Organised by Paul Normann, our visit has been an opportunity to meet lots of old friends. We have run one retreat already and have another scheduled next week end. Sadly today our visit coincides with an execution in Florida so tomorrow we will be joining the vigil which marks this occasion. Hard to believe a country that considers itself even half civilised can behave in this way. We will be participating in an interfaith discussion on Wednesday evening

Dharmavidya and Prasada in Vancouver

Prasada brazier — 2006-01-16T00:49:19+01:00

Dharmavidya and Prasada talking in Vancouver Public Library last Friday as part of their visit to Vancouver. 140 people attended this talk. They have also been running Pureland retreats and workshops.

And meeting with members of the Vancouver group

Willemien to Zambia

Marian Kim — 2006-01-15T22:35:13+01:00

In two days, Willemien will be flying to Zambia to join Amrita in Tithandizane for five months. Tithandizane - the name of the centre- means 'we help each other'. .........

In two days, Willemien will be flying to Zambia to join Amrita in Tithandizane for five months. Tithandizane - the name of the centre- means 'we help each other'. It is a primary health care centre, pureland temple, farm, and will soon be a funeral home and more.

It has been exciting just helping her pack and making sure that she doesn't go over her weight limit. All in all, she has about 15 kg of medicines and then 10 kg worth of clothes, books and the spinning wheel. Amrita has been waiting patiently for the spinning wheel which will be used to spin the wild cotton growing in the fields.

We've also received a letter from Amrita saying that she's just planted lots of vegetable seeds and at the moment it's cold and wet. The cows are knee high in filth and she is very concerned about them.

There is alot of work with people with HIV and others with malnutrition and she is looking forward to Willemien's help.

Ordination Photographs

sujatin — 2005-12-21T10:49:57+01:00

Here are photographs of the Ordination of Sundari and Bhaktika

Completion of Bodhi Retreat & Ordinations

David Brazier — 2005-12-10T20:40:46+01:00

Today the Bodhi Retreat came to its finale with the ordination of Michael Fitter and Georgina Clayton as chaplains in the Amida Order. They received the Dharma names Amita Bhaktika and Amita Sundari respectively. We wish them every success in their new role. The ceremony was a very joyous occasion crowning a particularly vibrant retreat which has, in effect, also functioned as the first full gathering of the Amida School since its inception. The new chaplains then hastened back to Sheffield where the local monthly meeting was about to take place. The Retreat ended with a community gathering and the traditional celebratory meal. A fitting conclusion to a fine week.

Growth in Amida School

David Brazier — 2005-12-06T15:25:39+01:00

Today, on day four of the annual Bodhi Retreat, we held an Admission Ceremony at The Buddhist House. Joan Court from Cambridge, Tony Danford from London, Patricia Obrgon from Hertfordshire, and Lisa Urbanic from Toronto became members of the Amida School.

This brings the number of Amida-shu members to 25 in total including 12 Order members. Of these, 19 will have been present at the Bodhi Retreat this year. This gives this event a wonderful feeling.

Who's Where Now?

David Brazier — 2005-11-19T11:40:39+01:00

Right now: Dharmavidya, Prasada and Susthama are at TBH. Dharmavidya is much occupied with the ministry training programme, Prasada with the psychology programme, and Susthama with chaplaincy duties in Leicester. Sujatin is in Newcastle also much taken up with ministry work. Modgala and Joy are back in India where there are now once again a team of Amida folk including five young volunteers. They have taken on an additional house and already have even more students enrolled than last year. The volunteer training programme at The Buddhist House took much energy this autumn and there is much satisfaction that they are now in the field. Amrita is also out on the front line, back in Zambia after a longer break in UK this time. Now back in Africa, she has acquired a new and much needed vehicle for the Tithandizane Project and work is starting on a mortuary. Mike and Gina are in Sheffield. Earlier this month they started a Pureland Study group. Gina has been doing a lot of work in connection with visa applications as we have so many people going to and fro these days and migration restrictions become ever more complex. Madrakara and Joan continue to co-ordinate Amida activities in London. Leo has had an extended stay at Amida France and returns to TBH today. The Amida France web pages have, incidentally, been recently revamped.

Ministry Training

David Brazier — 2005-10-25T20:58:07+02:00

Amida Order offers training in Buddhist ministry. A programme is offered when there is a suitable cohort of appropriately prepared students. The latest programme commenced at the beginning of this term and is now well underway with 15 students who are all either full time trainees here at The Buddhist House or members of the Amida comunion around the world who have a view to ministry in the future. The students are enthusiastic and a large amount of internet interaction goes on. Three lecture series here at TBH cater directly to the programme which occupies about five hours per week for an average student, tho some do more and some can only spare a lesser period. A creative and productive initiative.

After the INEB Conference

sujatin — 2005-10-19T10:55:31+02:00

I look beyond my computer to a sea of mud and a lorry taking away the awnings that were supposed to protect the Dalai Lama and his followers from the sun. The monsoon lingers on and more hardships face those who struggle to go beyond poverty and oppression. As we waited for the Dalai Lama I looked at the faces of the large group of Tibetans from a local refugee community, waiting for him patiently. I remembered how many refugees there are around the world and how we in the West treat them.

The conference has been an amazing experience for me. I had been somewhat daunted at sharing space with some of the greatest names in Engaged Buddhism. What do I know? Yet, as we came together and shared stories of our work and discussed issues in our workshops. I think we all learned much in a rich and friendly environment. This was greatly helped by the energy, enthusiasm and friendliness of the TBMSG team at Nagaloka. Mangesh and Priyadarshi seemed to be everywhere, and always students were on hand to help and feed us (very good food too!). It was lovely to go back at night to the women’s hostel to chat and relax with the children and staff as well as women from other parts of India and abroad. Ojogeeta and her team did a grand job and the children entertained us at a delightful cultural evening. Lokamitra gave a stirring keynote address introducing us to the basic story of Dr Ambedkar’s movement and finishing with a call to look together at the barriers to transcendance within and without, to hold hands together in the spirit of the Dhamma, the spirit of the bodhisattva.

I was also nervous because I had to present a rather challenging paper at the pre-conference workshop, Transcending Barriers, where amongst other things I was challenging the treatment of women, encouraging the study of Sanskrit texts and calling out the need for all Buddhist groups to hear the plea of Dr Ambedkar to take Dhamma teachings to his followers. I found my voice. Afterwards I found many men thanking me alongside the women. In the next workshop I fear Dhammarati discovered I had developed quite a strong voice, as we debated issues that had arisen from the varied presentations on the impact and relevance of Dr. Ambedkar. We came up with some very practical and useful ideas that could help us all overcome some of the results of the greed, hate and delusion that muddy our lives, and convert them to love, compassion and wisdom. There were many excellent presentations and debates, but sadly very few female voices.

The INEB conference focused on Buddhism and Social Equality. Ven Samdhong Rimpoche, the Prime minister of the Tibetan people in exile gave the first keynote address. He questioned the meaning of equality, saying all things in the universe are unique. Is equality a man made law or a natural law? He spelt out that comparison and competition are the root causes of the destruction of social equality in today’s society. He particularly targeted globalization and consumerism, pointing out how human greed is easy to exploit. He also maintained that the political systems of modern democracy lead to an organized brain washing of people by an elite few. For equality the current economic system needs to be demolished. He pointed out however, that all sentient beings want to be happy, free from suffering, to find peace. We need to vocalize this and express it physically. Also that all have the basic potential to grow and be enlightened, be free. We are all interdependent and in the diminishing of one’s ego and understanding of universal responsibility and morality, equality can arise. He went on to answer some questions. One response, to the question of women’s ordination being a privilege, did leave some of us feeling rather uncomfortable. The Dalai Lama however gave a fuller, more positive response when asked a related question later in the week.

The issue of women remains with me, there were a few female presenters and one of the eight sections was devoted to women’s participation in social action. However we were still very under-represented. In our group three women presented very positive details of their work and study. The ensuing discussion demonstrated how in many countries women are exploited and oppressed and how oppression is internalized to build a culture of fear where women’s’ voices are not heard. We discussed and suggested many ways that this can be overcome through the spreading of Dhamma in new, relevant and accessible ways. Creating lay and monastic training and study for women, promoting education, co-operation and confidence.

A second group was devoted to education. The first presenter was from Kalimpong School where many Tibetan children are taught. The Dharma is taught mainly via prayers and textbooks and as an integral part of the curriculum as it receives no government funding and has more freedom. They use actual situations to teach the Dharma and use simple stanzas to feed the mind. In the ensuing discussion we recognized the differing problems of rural and urban schools and the need for extra curricular teaching for many and that teaching of values is absent in government schools. We then heard about the Sujata Academy funded by the Jumto society and staffed by dedicated, unpaid volunteers from India and Taiwan. At first students had the wrong mind-set, but by working with them, their families and communities, within four years the dropout rate reduced from 35% to less than 1%. They also managed this through an interesting curriculum with song, dance and speech contests with awards for attendance etc. Also they provided clothes, food and health care. But above they went to the mothers with young children, hearing their stories, building relationships, telling stories of the Buddha and starting the small children in kindergartens. We all discussed the problems faced in providing education and encouraging the very poor to take it up, especially girls who can find it difficult to find a husband if they have higher education, or are forced to marry early and on going to the grooms house have to leave school. Overall most felt that mainstream education feeds wrong views, being global and dualistic, separating man and nature.

There were nine other groups with presentations on: Discrimination and caste prejudice, Inequality, Human rights, Calamities and conflict, Using funding, Social work, Leadership and Ecology. All had deep and energetic discussions, looking at the Buddhist perspective and social action in their arenas. I have, in the little time I have to write, just focused on the ones I was involved with. I am still digesting the feedback from the moderators of the other groups and am certainly more aware of the diverse issues we face in our modern society that many are at odds with Buddhist values.

Sulak Sivaraksa presented the second keynote address. He focused on the importance of environmental balance, and how western modernity/globalization

/development has robbed the common people from the industrial revolution onwards. He sees how it would be easy to retaliate but bad deeds have bad consequences. He strongly advises us to swim against the mainstream currents of thought and “I buy therefore I am”. He spoke of creating a culture of awakening. In response to one of the many questions he spoke of development as evil, just a replacement of colonialisation. He also spoke of the western style of education needing to be replaced. Even a Buddhist education starting with proper breathing, peace inside and the five precepts is not enough, we must learn from those who suffer.

The scorching sun of the first few days gave way to torrential rain, however it did not dampen our spirits as we listened and debated and learned with and from each other. Debates continued beyond the meeting rooms into the corridors and dining hall, while eager students from thirteen states of India looked for our attention and promises to visit and help. Plans were made between participants to meet and share information and new friendships blossomed.

Finally after fears for his health the Dalai Lama arrived. His first talk cancelled in favour of a question time with the conference participants where I found his practical and inspiring answers very encouraging. The next day was a public session where he encouraged us to open up to suffering and our negative emotions and look at them from the wisdom aspect to oppose the angry emotions. He spoke of the evil of wrong view especially in the arenas of reification and denigration. He spoke about the problem of seeing things that are non-existent as existent and the importance of seeing beyond appearances into reality and the two truths - conventional and ultimate. He continued with a long and detailed talk encouraging us to study the original texts. He spoke of the work of Nagarjuna, Asanga and Vasubandu and the investigation of Dependant Origination as an introduction to the Sanskrit teachings and enjoined us to study the Sanskrit texts as a balance to the Pali cannon. He spoke touchingly of the need for India to hold onto the Sanskrit tradition, as sadly it was likely to die out in Tibet.

However what remains for me, after sitting in front of the Dalai Lama for several hours is the way he looked at us. His interest and smiles and compassion for all. I will also remember his people just waiting. I will also never forget being with a million Ambedkarite people celebrating the forty ninth anniversary of Dr Ambedkars conversion in Nagpur. One of the happiest crowds I have ever joined. Namo Amida Bu

Returning to a Vibrant Community

David Brazier — 2005-10-01T15:16:38+02:00

Prasada and I (Dharmavidya) returned to The Buddhist House yesterday. En route we collected two close friends from the USA at Gatwick. They are visiting for the weekend to discuss future developments in Amida Trust's work, not least in Hawaii where plans are gradually evolving. When we got back to TBH we found

the community bubbling with energy. The trainee volunteers preparing to go to India later in the year are already well into their studies and a good team spirit is apparent. This has also brought alot of "young energy" into the house which is stimulating. Other members of the household were also in good form and nothing too wild seems to have happened while we were away!

Right now the Amida Order is disposed as follows:
Dharmavidya, Prasada, Modgala, Susthama are all at TBH.
Amrita is back in Zambia and likely to remain there for about ten months.
Sujatin is in Newcastle where there are now two other Amida School members.
Mike and Gina are in Sheffield but are at TBH fairly frequently and will be hosting the trainee volunteers soon in Sheffield for a unit of their training. Also there is a ceremony (to be conducted by Sujatin) for admissions to the Amida School scheduled for the near future in Sheffield.
Marakara and Joan continue to co-ordinate Amida activities in London.
Joy is frequently at TBH as she is also much involved in the Volunteer training and she herself will be returning to India beforre the end of the year.
Leo is having a period at Amida France - solitary reteat among the autumn mists.
In addition to Order Members we currently have six trainee volunteers, three Buddhist trainees and one other resident, plus four cats, living at The Buddhist House, plus guests and students.

The Autumn term is just getting under way. There is a healthy intake of students for the Buddhist psychology programe. On Monday we start studying the Lotus Sutra in our Sutra Study Class. On Wednesday I will commence an on-going lecture series on "Characteristics of the Amida School" and on Thursday another on "Ethics and the Religious Life".

The Buddhist House is getting a facelift as all the outside painting is being redone. There is scaffolding up around some parts. Michael, our professional painter, is working hard and the trainees are also learning new skills working alongside him.

The household having expanded, at least temporarily, we have all experienced changes in role - either as newcomers arriving and learning the ropes or as old hands relinquishing things we used to do, accommodating new inputs from others and getting acclimatised to a more complex system. This is all good for Buddhist training as we learn to co-operate in new ways.

Prasada and I have come back to a small mountain of correspondence so if you have e-mailed me recently and not yet had a reply, I hope you will be patient a little longer. I have already had time to see that we have had quite a bit of positive feedback about the new format for Running Tide magazine which was distributed while we were away. Readers seem to like the new style, finding it clear and informative. We certainly appreciate hearing from readers and hearing your views. Namo Amida Bu. Dharmavidya

Mary Midgley: Moral Missionary

sujatin — 2005-09-20T20:00:41+02:00

Mary Midgley is a patron of the Amida Trust and internationally known author and philosopher of ethics. Here is an article about her in today's Guardian Education section -

The only really dangerous ground in
philosophy is the middle ground.
Arguing the esoteric and contentious
defines you as a star player, while
striving for consensus tends to
mark you out as thoroughly second division.

link

Preparations for the Autumn Term

David Brazier — 2005-09-16T11:56:53+02:00

Prasada and I are now travelling again. Today I will give a talk at the Dana Sangha in Gent in Belgium, this weekend we will offer a retreat for the Amida Belgium group, next week we will travel through Germany and next weekend we will be at the European Buddhist Union Meeting and then the Buddhist Teachers in Europe Meeting in Poland. Over the last two weeks since we

got back from France, Susthama has done her Hundred Thousand Nembutsu Retreat, we have welcomed new members to the community at The Buddhist House, there has been a prodigious amount of tidying, cleaning and sorting since everybody in the community except Willemien have changed or are about to change rooms. Amrita has gone to Zambia, arriving safely at the Tithandizane Project. We are in process of registering new students for the Distance Learning and attendance courses in Buddhist Psychology and there seems to be a healthy intake this year. Our computers have all been upgraded and our computer network revamped thanks to Matthew and Willemien, we have had a very pleasant visit from Mahanama Bhikkhu, accompanied by Anomadharshi who is otherwise currently on retreat at the Ambedkarite sponsored vihara in Wolverhampton. Michael has got on very well with the outside paintwork so The Buddhist House is now looking spic and span inside and out. Modgala and Susthama conducted a funeral. A good deal of planning has been done. Many visitors and relatives have come and gone. Modgala has been symultaneously planning the Volunteer Training Programme and preparing to depart for the International Network of Engaged Buddhists annual conference in India. The latest edition of Running Tide has been completed, published and distributed - we still have copies if you want one. Susthama spoke at an event of the Leicester Council of Faiths. Leo and Derek havebeen looking after Amida France. Several of us have been sick and recovered. The cats continue to be lively enjoying the last of the summer weather. We too have found time to sit in the garden occasionally. Altogether a not untypical period in our tranquil life at TBH.

I have been working on a version of the Larger Pureland Sutra for use in our novitiate and ministry training programmes and making preparations for lectures starting in October on "Characteristics of the Amida School" and "Ethics and the Religious Life". I have also been reading some of Sangharakshita's works. I was particularly struck by his observation in his book on ritual that the Christian Churches, "even the Roman Catholic church" have become overly secularised and that we should ensure that Buddhism not go down that route. It made me wonder what many Western Buddhists would think about a Buddhism that was less secular than the Roman Catholic Church - though I have to say that, whatever the truth of his observations about Christian organisations, I completely agree with him that secularisation is a serious danger to Buddhism. In secularised countries like those of Western Europe secularised Buddhism may get larger audiences in the short term but secularisation of Western Buddhism dilutes the central purpose of the Dharma. No doubt we will have discussions about this in Poland. By intention, life at TBH, though it may appear to casual observation to be easy going is, in fact, an intense religious training and an undiluted religious life. What makes it all flow? Faith. That is the whole secret. Namo Amida Bu.

Discussing Diversity in Sheffield

Gina Clayton — 2005-09-14T23:40:54+02:00

We had a very good monthly meeting on Saturday. Ray, assisted by Mike, led us in some sharing of our various practices and the start of an examination of their meaning. This is something we envisage will continue over the next couple of months, with the theme of refuge next month following the ceremonies. We were struck by the richness of people's practice. We all found out things about each other that we did not know, and there was an intimacy in talking about the ways in which we support our practice.

We had an important discussion on the value of the diversity of approaches represented in the Saturday meetings, and talked about something almost like a relaunch - putting out some publicity material to let more people know that these meetings are a forum for sharing issues of Buddhist practice. We decided to make sure other Buddhist groups in Sheffield know this. We do have representation and crossover from a number of groups, but this could be taken further, we thought.

We have decided to add to the Saturday morning Pureland practice with some regular study and examination of the meaning and experience of Pureland practice. We are enjoying the Monday evening Pureland practices followed by a shared meal and often a lot of hilarity.

We agreed on our autumn study group - Women and Buddhism, and this will begin on October 18th.

We have since sent a note of all our activities together with the Running Tide mailing to members of Amida Trust in Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, in the wider world, Mike and I have been actively involved in the preparation of a possible open forum in Leeds in November, as previously mentioned. Last night four of us went up to Leeds and met people there who may be interested in supporting the idea. At the same time we listened to Richard Rohr, a visiting Franciscan teacher. Much of his teaching had elements in common with Buddhism in general and Pureland in particular. I also found differences, which may help when I participate in an inter-faith event this coming Sunday in Leicestershire.

And on the very domestic front - we have a new member of the household. Bracken is a one year old cat who was living a few doors up the road. He and his brother were fighting so badly that the situation became untenable and he hs moved in with us. He is confident, cuddly, into everything, and an accomplished killer. We are getting much less sleep than we are used to!

Gina

Amida in the South East - 3/4 Sep 05

Amita Madrakara — 2005-09-04T16:39:25+02:00

Amida Hertford (in Stevenage) 3 Sep 05 Patricia, Criag, Colwyn and myself met for lunch followed by an afternoon of practice and sharing. After a period of reflection in Patricia's beautiful garden, we did walking nembutsu followed by sitting meditation. We then shared our thoughts about a chapter taken from The Feeling Buddha entitled 'The Big Story'. This led to some interesting discussion and we finished with a stone passing. The next meeting will be at John's house in Hertford (date TBC), email NUGENTS4@aol.com.

Brunch and Buddhism, Sukavati in Finsbury Park 4 Sep 05 Modgala was joined by Joan, Phil, Cordelia, Catherine, Leo and myself for Brunch and Buddhism this morning. We started with a short service including walking netbutsu and prostrations, before enjoying a shared brunch together. Modgala talked about her forthcoming trip to India to continue the project started last year (http://www.amidatrust.com/page5.html). It was an opportunity for old friends to catch up, and also for new people to find out about Amida. The next event is on 9 October, contact 07968 953908 for more information.

Running Tide 7 is coming

David Brazier — 2005-08-16T22:18:20+02:00

The next issue of Running Tide, magasine of the Amida School, will be distributed at the end of August - it is in the press. Its 28 A4 pages include....

much material about practice:- dynamic nembutsu, innovative liturgy, and Amitarya training;
news and events:- towards an Amida charter, developments in India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam;
articles by Jaques Scheuer and David Brazier and shorter pieces by Amida members;
a new section:- "Know your Amida Buddhism"; and
coming events.

If you would like to receive a copy, please send your name and address to
runningtide@amidatrust.com

Hearing all sides

Gina Clayton — 2005-08-12T14:25:02+02:00

Like many people, we have been trying to understand what is going on in relation to the bombings in London and their aftermath. We are deeply troubled by what in our society causes such extreme action and what can be done to address the suffering on all sides. And we are aware that the insecurity and fear felt by some people in London now is normal in many parts of the world. These events surely tell us that we are part of an international world order.

As part of the process work community, Mike and I have been involved in discussions attempting to explore all the human sides of the situation. These discussions are ongoing, and we are part of a group planning an event in Leeds in November to explore the issues in an open public forum. This is at an early stage, and we are still investigating feasibility, but if and as it develops we'll keep you posted.

Gina

Modgala leading events at Sukhavati 6 & 7 August 05

Amita Madrakara — 2005-08-08T17:38:51+02:00

We have had a full and interesting weekend of activities at Sukhavati, Amida's London home in Finsbury Park. Sr Modgala stayed over the weekend to lead the events, as follows...

Day Retreat 6 August 05

On the 60th anniversary of the atomic bomb attacks on Japan, Modgala used this theme for the retreat to encourage participants to explore and share reactions to these horrors. While it is difficult to comprehend a mindset that would 'press the button' to launch an attack on that scale, we could all identify elements within ourselves that could lead to negative consequences in certain conditions. Several participants expressed gratitude that we are supported in our lives in a way that means that we don't have to commit such acts. In contrast to the despair felt in reaction to the atomic bomb attacks (and subsequent regular masacres and genocides), it was seen as important to hold up an alternative ideal and provide a space where we can provide mutual support in creating small pure lands within the vision of the big Pureland. Modgala was joined by Tony Danford, Angella, Joan McCann and myself.

Brunch and Buddhism 7 August 05

Several prospective volunteers joined some of the regulars for a service from 9.30 and a shared brunch from 10.30. Modgala took the opportunity to outline her plans for Amida's Delhi project, and several people shared their experience of travelling - partcularly in India. The question of motivation was raised, and in particular to what extent volunteering was done for oneself or others. It was generally seen as a complex picture with motivation providing to be difficult to 'pin down', but with the emphasis on doing some good without having to resolve the whys and wherefores in advance. We are foolish beings and we do our best. Modgala was joined by Tony Jones, Robert Glanfield, Pam Findlay, Tammy, Frank and myself.

The next Brunch and Buddhism in London will be on 4 September and you are more than welcome to join us. Contact Madrakara on 07968 953908 for more information. In addition the next meeting of the Hertford group (in Stevenage) is planned for Saturday 3 September.

Inter-faith learning

Gina Clayton — 2005-07-11T11:56:26+02:00

Last Wednesday I partcipated in the chaplaincy training at the Islamic College in Markfield. They have a chaplaincy training programme which is popular. There were about 30 students, roughly equal numbers of men and women and of a wide range of age and experience. The day I attended was an opportunity for students to hear about chaplaincy in other faiths. It's an interesting time for chaplaincy in Buddhism, as it is established in prisons but otherwise in an early stage of development, at least in formal terms. I wondered if we might get into some of the discussion that has happened about the question of chaplains to the armed forces, but the main need was for an introduction to Buddhism. This took me well away from what I had prepared, and was mainly a fast question and answer session for about 45 minutes.

Probably a main benefit of my visit was progressing the relationship between the college and Amida Trust. This was a tantalisingly brief opportunity for inter-faith discussion, and I'm sure there is much scope for mutual exchange and learning.

Gina

Brunch and Buddhism/ Gardening at Amida London

Amita Madrakara — 2005-07-05T13:30:39+02:00

Joan, Cordelia, Frank, Tony, Angela, Carmen and myself met on Sunday 3 July for Brunch and Buddhism. After tea and introductions we had an hour of practice inluding half an hour of walking and chanting, and half an hour of sitting meditation. We then shared a lovely brunch where Gary and Isabel (who live at the centre) generously offered some food in addition to what we had brought. We ate very well and discussed a range of issues including:

Gardening and ethical issues such as should we remove/ kill the slugs that eat our crops
Angela shared some of her experiences of Buddhism from when she lived in China
Different kinds of Buddhism we had been involved with and the relationship between predominantly self- and other-power approaches

After brunch, several members of the group did some work in the garden including planting some new flowers and cutting back some vegetation so that the garden is more accessible. More work planned in the near future - to be organised by Joan.

The next Brunch and Buddhism is planned for 7 August and you are more than welcome to join us! Also, Modgala is running a day retreat on 6 August - details to follow shortly.

Amida School a Reality

David Brazier — 2005-06-21T21:10:08+02:00

As a result of recent admission ceremonies at Amida France and in Newcastle upon Tyne the Amida School now has 18 members in cluding the 12 Order Members.

My week in the Huang Son Pagoda

sujatin — 2005-06-18T17:35:46+02:00

June 12th: My temporary home is Huang Son Pagoda
in Vung Tau, Vietnam. I have been here for one week
and so far am enjoying the new environment. The
children, Tam Hanh and her master have gone out of
their way to make me feel at home. They are very
happy to introduce foreigners to their local specialities.
There are about 15 different kinds of local fruit available
at the moment, so far I've tried 11 of them. The
Pagoda/orphanage is in a Buddhist neighborhood,
almost every other building is a Buddhist temple.

Most take in street children but this one is the one
that everyone knows about and recommends to others.
Her master has recieved many honours from several
different humanitarian organizations for the charity
work he has done, the latest was a certificate from
an organization that protects the disable and the poor.

Tomorrow Tam Hanh, myself and the four youngest
children will set off for Dalat for a couple of weeks.
She has just acquired some land and has plans to
build another Buddhist monastery/orphanage plus a
medical center that uses herbal remedies only.

Security in Sheffield

Gina Clayton — 2005-06-17T22:13:31+02:00

We had at first planned to print the Karuniya metta sutta on the back of our G8 leaflet, and although we abandoned that plan, it would have had an interesting element we did not consider at the time. The translation I have includes the words 'may all beings be happy and secure'. It was the Justice and Security ministers who were in Sheffield these last three days, and the city centre has been subject to extraordinary security measures.

From Tuesday onwards there have been police convoys everywhere. Yesterday evening four of us from the Amida group walked into town, wearing red, carrying our banner 'Sheffield Buddhists for Security through Friendship'. We greeted the many police officers cheerfully and had friendly conversations with all. They had been drafted in from all over the country under the mutual aid policy, which enables forces to call on each other in exceptional situations. They were from Northumbria, Lothian and Borders, West Yorkshire, and more. The city centre was closed to traffic from 4pm - the buses and trams stopped. The area around where last night's G8 dinner took place was closed to pedestrians from about 6pm. We got into the only area where protesters were permitted to be. One of the many curious features of this whole event was that we discovered that the political groups had been in negotiation with the police and local authority about where protest would be permitted. Orders were in force under the Public Order Act prohibiting processions and gatherings of 20 or more people under certain conditions. There was nothing unlawful about the four of us assembling somewhere else if we wanted to. We considered this, but as we did not know the route to be taken from the hotel, and as we thought that diversity in the visible protest was important, we decided to go to the same place as everyone else. Numbers were few. It seemed that many people had been put off by the rumoured impossibility of getting within a visible distance of the dinner venue and perhaps by some scuffles and arrests that had happened the night before. We had heard many first hand accounts by now of very rough police behaviour - mainly verbal but some pushing and shoving also and a young lad pinned to a kiosk by a large officer. By many accounts the police were extremely jumpy. We discovered that the mutual aid officers in Sheffield were those who are going to Gleneagles. Perhaps this partly explains the apparently disproportionate closures of the city centre and extremely intense policing - they were practising for July. People who lived near the hotel had to have passes to get to their homes, city businesses were instructed to close, and a school near the hotel was taken over.

The main experience, because of the sheer numbers of police and our distance from the venue, was the relationship with the police. This was very odd in this way as an experience of protest. The dinner guests will have seen and heard us (unlike the night before at a different venue when they arrived by an underground tunnel and the sound of protest was masked with a brass band), but only quite remotely. The chants of the protesters were quite creative and positive on the whole. It did not seem appropriate to chant in what would have looked like opposition to them, but we rang our bell very vigorously in time with their chanting, and the effect (we were told by one police officer) was, if you excuse the pun, striking. The sound of the bell carried further than almost anything, and did create a different kind of energy in the protest.

We had good conversations with the police, and a senior officer agreed to take a bundle of our leaflets with a note for Charles Clarke from Amida Trust Sheffield. We hope they got there.

A significant benefit of being out last night was the number of people who stopped us as we walked through town to ask what it was all about. We had conversations with people including a child and a homeless woman. It seemed that many people did not know the G8 was here or who they are. Inspired by this, I went back to town this morning and handed out the remaining 400 of our leaflets to shoppers in the city. There was some slight interest from security officers and the police helicopter which has droned overhead for three days hovered close for a bit but I experienced no hassle or aggression at all, and not a single leaflet was dropped in the street.

See Sue's blog 'Wild Geese' - I've just seen her account of last night too.

Gina

Susthama in Vietnam

Prasada brazier — 2005-06-13T14:01:40+02:00

The day starts early however the rythm of life here is gentle and fun for me and the children aged 6 and younger. We are taken care of by the other older children and nuns so that we don't really have to worry about much. We wake up at 3.45 have service and then a work period then breakfast then another work period all before 7 am. It seems the children and other nuns are not expected to join in for the early morning service but this is only my observation from being here for three days. The children usually wake up by themselves and then slowly join us in the dining room for breakfast which is at 5.30am. They are very sweet and if they are too tired to eat by themselves then one or two of the older ones will feed them. I have been asked to teach english to some of the nuns and monks which is a great challenge because they are complete beginners. So far, we have covered half the alphabet and a couple of action songs. When I'm not teaching English I'm either taking part in their service, eating delicious Vietnamese food or playing with the kids and trying to learn Vietnamese. The place is wonderful, at the moment the cicadas are screaming almost as if they are competing against the sound of the young nuns (teenagers) reciting sutras. Love - Susthama

G8 meeting leads to Sheffield - Vancouver twinning proposal

Mike Fitter — 2005-06-12T14:57:45+02:00

In Sheffield yesterday (Saturday) there was a march / procession of assorted Peace and anti-capitalism groups protesting at the visit this week to Sheffield of the G8 ministers for Home Security and Justice. The Amida Sheffield group had a day retreat already arranged so we used our gathering to join the events. We were joined by Brenna and Saille from Vancouver and by Joy from Chesterfield. In total there were 10 of us. After some preparation we walked chanting the Nembutsu to join up with a group of some 500 people, including a few other Buddhists. We walked behind a banner saying "Sheffield Buddhists for Security through Friendship" and handed out leaflets offering a Buddhist perspective on poverty, greed, international development, security and friendship. There was a large police presence, because of the impending G8 visit and several E.G.s (evidence gatherers) who were keen to film our leaflet, all giving ample opportunities for demonstrating friendliness, mostly well received. Towards the end of the march we resumed chanting the Nembutsu with bell. This attracted friendly attention as it had earlier. We learned that in the outdoors we need to chant much louder, and from a deeper place, to have a presence in open space. The march processed to an annual event 'Peace in the Park', and gathering of a multitude of local groups. We left to complete our day retreat - lunch then debriefing, metta and tonglen meditations, followed by tea. In the evening some of us returned to Peace in the Park and saw a performance by an inspiring troup of clowns 'The Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army' (www.labofii.net) whose show included a social theory analysis of the historical role and future potential of disobedience from a stance of love - all done in a highly engaging and interactive way, for children of all ages.

Although we wouldn't want to support everything they did - there was for instance a strong notion of 'the enemy' as 'they' - the performance set us thinking about discussions during the recent Activists week at Amida France about a Buddhist Social Theory. We left feeling inspired to develop a form of social engagement using clowning and street theatre based on Buddhist social theory. Saille and Brenna are already experienced in street actions, it being Saille's main work in Vancouver, so we plan to continue with these ideas when Saille returns to the UK in the fall.

A further piece of the jigsaw, that arose during our debriefing session, was to propose that the Sheffield and Vancouver Amida groups together form a group that over time can become an Amida Order convocation. This will clearly require futher dicussions at both ends, but the meeting between Vancouver members and the existing Sheffield group feels like a fertile relationship. It was good that Ray was there, who, we hope, will soon take refuges and thus formal membership. In addition Saille, Gina and Mike plan to take part in the Ministry training and anticipate that the 'Amida Foolish Beings' might develop some clown action as part of the training - Dharma for Dunces, Dharma for Disobedience, Dharma for Dignity (the noble path).

Vietnam

David Brazier — 2005-06-10T22:55:45+02:00

Sr. Susthama has arrived happily at Nirvana Pagoda, Vietnam, where she will be staying as a monastic and teaching children English for the next four weeks.

Developing Ministry

David Brazier — 2005-06-10T22:50:29+02:00

Eleven members of the Amida School, including eight order members, gathered in Sheffield at the home of Mike Fitter and Gina Clayton on Thursday evening and Friday to discuss the development of Buddhist ministry. On the Thursday evening we had a very productive workshop that went on until eleven thirty. Friday morning we had further discussions and a good spirit prevailed throughout. Mike and Gina were excellent hosts. Sujatin met Paul Normann who is visiting from Talahassee, Florida. Sujatin and Paul will co-ordinate a pre-ministry training programme that is being planned to commence in October. This training will be open to present and intending Amida School members. This was the first time we have held a meeting of this kind in Sheffield and it was certainly satisfying that it turned out to be such a success.