WELCOME

Amida Network is the weblog for the Amida Trust and its associated activities. This site works in association with the Amida Home Page which gives access to a matrix of Amida sites and weblogs. If you would like to be updated by e-mail when items are added to this weblog, please enter your e-mail address in the subscription box on the right. You will find similar boxes on other Amida weblogs enabling you to receive updates of everything that is going on.

Amida Trust is a charity (non-profit organisation) registered in England and extending internationally. The Trust exists to promote Buddhist faith in a form appropriate for the contemporary world. There are three main dimensions to the work of Amida Trust: religious, educational and socially engaged.

Religious Aspect
In its religious aspect, AT is affiliated to the European Buddhist Union and the Network of Buddhist Organisations as the sponsoring body for Amida-shu, a Buddhist denomination led by the Amida Order practising Amida Pureland Buddhism. It has close associations with Pureland Buddhists in other countries, especially Japan and Vietnam, works for co-operation amongst Buddhist sanghas and between faith communities.

Educational Aspect
In its educational aspect, AT is affiliated to the World Buddhist University and supports the European Buddhist Union Academic Board and provides a range of public courses including
training in Buddhist psychology
training and development for Buddhist chaplains and ministers
training for volunteers
short courses and retreats

Socially Engaged Aspect
As a vehicle for socially engaged Buddhism, AT has mutual affiliation with the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and supports the Network of Engaged Buddhists and the International Network of Engaged Buddhists. AT's socially engaged work falls into sections:
Campaigning: AT members have campaigned for peace, for an end to the arms trade, for freedom of movement and better treatment for refugees, and for an end to cruel treatment of animals.
Aidwork: AT works with the Universal Maitri Foundation in India where a community work and literacy project has been developed, with the Tithandizane Project in Zambia where a health and education centre has been created, and with Niet Banh Pagoda and other groups in Vietnam to support relief work and child support.
Volunteering: The Trust has its own scheme for training and deploying gap volunteers to Amida projects and similar ventures around the world.
Green Work: The Trust has an interest in ecology and gardens through the Irene Brazier Memorial Fund. See also the Green Amida weblog.

MEMBERSHIP of Amida Trust is open to all, irrespective of faith affiliation. Pureland Buddhism is a universalist form of spirituality, but you do not even need to be a Buddhist or have any spiritual affiliation at all to become involved in Amida activities. Members include writers, artists, therapists, religious, and people from all walks of life.

The home base for Amida Trust is The Buddhist House in Narborough, Leicestershire, UK. Do visit: phone 0116.2867476 or e-mail office@amidatrust.com; and do join Friends of Amida, an e-mail list that costs nothing (just click the link to generate an e-mail and press send: you can unsubscribe easily, too). To become an Amida member, please use the support form

Thank you and welcome. We look forward to friendship and co-operation.