Amida News

For the love of studying - The Amida Trust relaunches Vow22 on Amida Academy (the new education site)

The Amida Trust vow22 programme is an online distance learning course set up and created by Dharmavidya David Brazier and developed by former residents of the Buddhist House community in Narborough and members of the Amida sangha.

It has been up and running for several years and is a wonderful resource for those interested in furthering their knowledge of Buddhism from an Amidist perspective.

Starting January 2013, the Vow22 programme will be made available for anyone who wishes to learn aboutthe dharma in its many presentations, for example, Buddhism as a theology, a pscyhotherapy, as well as living faith and ministry, with a rich history and many colourful characters. 

For more information please go to Vow22 on Amida Academy  or join us for general discussions on Vow22 on Friends of Amida.

For more information please contact susthama@amidatrust.com.

21 February: Dharmavidya visiting UK for two weeks

Dharmavidya spent the period from mid-December to mid-February teaching in Spain

Dharmavidya has returned to UK after a successful visit to Hawaii

Dharmavidya has returned to The Buddhist House after travelling to the Big Island of Hawaii to give teachings and meet the members of the Amida sangha there. He was was present for the inauguration of Amida USA as a church registered in the state of Hawaii, conducted an admission ceremony, and led a seminar on Buddhist psychology.

After leaving Big Island, Dharmavidya visited the state capital Honolulu on the island of Oahu where, as the guest of Clyde Whitworth, he had joyous reunions with leading Pureland Buddhist author Al Bloom, and with Jodo-shu priest Yubun Narashiba, and also met a number of new friends including the remarkable Rose Nakamura who runs the Project Dana charity.  

Dhamavidya will now be in UK through the up-coming period of retreats, until mid-December. He also has a book launch for his new poetry book on 11th November at The Grange in Malvern

Dharmavidya has just arrived in Hawaii for a two week visit

Lectures, meetings, Buddhist practice and teaching.

Dharmavidya goes to Korea on 3rd returning to Spain on 26th August

Dharmavidya is currently in Gran Canaria

Dharmavidya is now at the Garrison Buddhist Teachers Conference in USA

Dharmavidya returns to UK today

...after a successful visit to the Belgian Amida Sangha, following ten days at Amida France.

Dharmavidya now in France

Dharmavidya and Sumaya are currently at Amida France.

Groupwork Programme Launched & Buddhist Psychology Website Updated

We sare pleased to announce that David and Caroline Brazier will be running a new training programme in groupwork starting November 2011

We have also been updating the web site at www.buddhistpsychology.info. Please check out our new look site

April Pilgrimage to Japan in Memory of Honen Shonin 800th

Dharmavidya is currently in Japan visiting Shinto and Buddhist sites and giving lectures in memory of the 800th anniversary of the death of Honen Shonin and offering support to people affected by the recent national disaster.

Adventures in Ecotherapy programme launched

Adventures in Ecotherapy

31st March: Dharmavidya gave a talk at TBH on Genshin (942-1017)

Genshin is one of the ancestors of the Pureland tradition. He was a dedicated scholar as well as a painter and visionary.

A new Amida group is meeting in Nuneaton

Nuneaton Amida Group Hi every one the Nuneaton Sangha will meet once a fortnight on Saturday mornings.From 10.30am till 12 noon.We will have a small service,including chanting,and meditation,followed by a buddhist reading and an open discussion.then tea and biccies or cake. anyone welcome.The address is 17 farriers way nuneaton cv11 6uz.hope to see you Namo Amida Bu.

31st March Deployment

Dharmavidya, Susthama, Sumaya and Aramati are at The Buddhist House. Later in April Dharmavidya will be in Japan.

Prasada is on her way to Amida France

Modgala is at Amida London: Sukhavati

Sujatin is at Amida Sanctuary, Newcastle upon Tyne, assisted by Kuvalaya.

Sahishnu is in Derbyshire having recently returned from India

Sundari & Bhaktika are in Sheffield

Jnanamati is in India and soon to return to the Buddhist House. Later in April he will be in France.

Kaspalita is in Malvern

Vimalashri & Pundarika are in Tel Aviv, Israel

Prajnatara is in London, Ontario with the Amida Mosaic Sangha.

Padmaghosa is in south London

Kusumavarsa is in Atherstone

Jayata is in Loughton, London

Maitrisimha is in Den Haag, Netherlands

Sudana is in Leicester

23rd-27th March: Ojo Sange Sesshin held at TBH

This retreat, led by Dharmavidya, was the first event in the series of Five Sesshin. It was held in our Ojo Period when we remember important figures connected with the Amida Order who died at this time: Gyomay Kubose Sensei, Gisho Saiko Sensei, and Rev Amrita Dhammika. Sange means contrition. On this retreat participants addressed themselves to a series of self examination questions in order to make a life review. There was a gentle atmosphere throughout. The next event in this series will be the Anjin Sesshin 4-8 July at Amida France. There is a group on Friends of Amida for people interested in doing the Five Sesshin Training.

20th March: Hussam al Nawab admitted to Amida-shu

... at a ceremony at The Buddhist House conducted by Dhrmavidya

13th March: Caroline Screen admitted to Amida-shu

...at a ceremony conducted by Dharmavidya,

12th-20th March: Spring Buddhist Psychotherapy Intensive held at The Buddhist House

The staff team for this event was Dharmavidya, Prasada, Bhaktika and Liz Burnham. Liz and Bhaktika were new to the staff team so this was a first run of the new expanded staff group. It all went very well.

9th March: Dharmavidya & Prasada lectured at Leeds Metropolitan University

Caroline (Prasada) Brazier lectured on "Buddhist Psychology"

David (Dharmavidya) Brazier spoke on "Spirituality and Psychotherapy"

Dharmavidya & Jnanamati are in India working for emancipation of the oppressed

Dharmavidya is paying a visit to Amida Delhi where Sahishnu is working with Suvidya and other Indian Amida members leading English teaching and Buddhism classes for children from some of the poorest areas. The establishment of an Amida sangha here led by people from impoverished groups is a big step forward. This visit by the head of the order helps to build morale for this group working very much at the coal face of the "Buddhist revolution". 

Buddhism in India is a socio-economic and political force as well as a religious one. Dr Bimrao Ambedkar who died in 1956 was the leader of the untouchables at the time of Indian independence. He fought hard to end the caste system and led his followers into conversion to Buddhism as part of this movement. We are continuing the work of this great bodhisattva of the modern age.

Amida Buddhists work in India without salaries, helping the poorest of the poor. Because of the respect that this work has gained among the deprived people, a number have themselves become Amida Buddhists. This development is a big step forward as it means that the work in India can be more self-sustaining. It also means that the Amida sangha internationally has the benefit of the voices of these people who know from hard life experience why the principles established by Shakyamuni are of such importance to the future of the world. 

 

Transfer of Merit to Teresa's mother and Massimo's father

Dear all,

The practice of giving merit away is a special one in normal circumstances and one that we do once a month during Sunday Service. Today I would like to share this ceremony with you because of two good friends who have recently lost a parent each. The ritual of dedicating merit is usually done in a group, however I am hoping that we can translate it onto the web so that we can continue to acknowledge our efforts in our practice and then transfer it to others in a more public forum.  

The following is the verse that we recite after transferring merit to specific individuals, groups, or causes and below it are the obituaries of the two people who have passed away:

With the practice of this meritorious chanting of sutras and the Holy Names may we dedicate ourselves to repay what we owe to our parents, teachers, friends and predecessors who have done all they could for our sake. May we earnestly pray that those who are living shall continue to rejoice in happy and prosperous lives for all time, while those who are no longer living shall be released from suffering and be reborn into the Land of Utmost Bliss.

May we also pray that Joan Bryant and D'Alessandro will be born into Amida Buddha's Land and receive the boundless blessing.

Massimo wrote this morning to say that his dad passed away around 10 am Italian time. He spent all day and night and then went home to rest at 6.30 am. The hospital phoned him after he'd left but he did not manage to arrive in time to see him die.

From Massimo, 'All friends and relatives are expressing their su:port. My father was a good man and many people have loved him ...'

Teresa wrote yesterday that her mom passed away at 5:21am.  Below is the notice that will be in the paper tomorrow:

Joan Bryant

Surrounded by love, Joan Bryant, at age 71 died peacefully on Sunday April 25, 2010 at Parkwood Hospital.  Joan is the beloved wife for 53 years of Kenneth Bryant of Dorchester. Devoted mother of Teresa Bryant and Shannon Bryant. Cherished daughter of Kathleen Mennell and Bert Mennell (deceased). Loving grandmother of Kathleen Schreurs, Peter Schreurs, Gregory Schreurs, Laura-Marie Schreurs and Francis Ruarte. She dearly cared for her sister Donna Mennell (deceased) and is loved by her sisters Gayle Brooks and Noreen Legresely. Joan will be fondly remembered by her sons by marriage; James Schmeiser, Fernando Ruarte, Frank Schreurs and Andrew Cornies and will be sadly missed by a caring circle of friends and extended family members. Visitors will be received at the John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, London on Tuesday, April 27th 2010 from 2-4 and 7-9 o'clock. A memorial Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Hope Chapel, 21 Grosvenor Street , London on Wednesday April 28th at 11:30am. Private family interment in St. Peter's Cemetery. 

Namo Amida Bu

Running Tide Winter issue 20

To view the latest issue of the running Tide with news and update plus a look at events at Amida, please click Running Tide  <object style="width:420px;height:297px" ><param name="movie" value="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true&documentId=100211175535-c98e71c1dc5a436db1f2849a9a2522d9&docName=colourfinal&username=Susthama&loadingInfoText=Running%20Tide%20Winter%20Issue%2020&et=1266446653692&er=99" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><embed src="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" menu="false" style="width:420px;height:297px" flashvars="mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true&documentId=100211175535-c98e71c1dc5a436db1f2849a9a2522d9&docName=colourfinal&username=Susthama&loadingInfoText=Running%20Tide%20Winter%20Issue%2020&et=1266446653692&er=99" /></object>

Modgala is Back from Sakyadita Conference in Vietnam

Modgala attended the international conference of Buddhist women in Vietnam at the beginning of January. Details.

Caroline Brazier in North America

Caroline Brazier is currently touring in North America. She has met with sangha in Massachusetts and Ontario and is traveling on to Texas, New Mexico and California. She is keeping a blog of her journey which you can read on Friends of Amida

Join us for 72 hour nembutsu chant & Bodhi Retreat

Every year during the Bodhi Retreat we chant the Nembutsu continuously for a period of time. This year we will be chanting the Nembutsu for 72 hours and would like to invite you to come and participate/experience some or all of it. The aim will be to keep it going for 72 hours between all of us therefore we do not expect anyone to chant continuously without taking any breaks. The practise will be shared and so people are welcome to dip in and out according to their needs for rest and food.              

 

It would be lovely if you could join us. Along with the three days of chanting there will be a special enlightenment day retreat on the 8th December and ceremonies on the 9th.

 

Click here for the details of the event.

Culturally Engaged Buddhism

During the recent Conclave and Order Meeting, Dharmavidya introduced the term 'Culturally Engaged Buddhism' as a response to thinking about 'Socially Engaged Buddhism'

Watch a video discussion of this talk, and join the conversation of Friends of Amdia

Running Tide - Autumn Issue 19 plus supplement

Open publication - Free publishing - More magazine

Open publication - Free publishing - More poetry

Distance Learning Programme in Buddhist Psychology

WE ARE NOW REGISTERING STUDENTS ONTO THE DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMME IN BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY. PLEASE EMAIL susthama@amidatrust.com to enrol onto this stimulating and inspiring course.

-----------------------------------

Amida Trust offers a distance learning programme in Buddhist psychology. Intakes take place every September for the October start. If you plan to join the programme, you should contact us during the summer, and certainly before mid-September.

The course consists of two years training, each made up of nine units grouped in three modules. (click here to view course outline) The codes to access the units on-line are issued monthly to the students through the academic year, starting each October. Each unit includes theoretical material and experiential exercises. Year One covers basic theory. Year two covers applications. Comparative material with Western psychology is also included. Learning support and contact with other students is encouraged. Students submit work and take part in discussions on a private and dedicated site so should have regular access to the internet. This programme will suit those interested in Buddhist psychology and its therapeutic applications, whether in one to one psychotherapy, or in other settings. It is not itself a full psychotherapy training, but will compliment practical training with Amida or elsewhere. 

The course is of interest to practising therapists wishing to integrate a Buddhist approach into their work and others with a general interest in the subject. There are opportunities to reflect on case material and to get feedback on client work. The course offers both theoretical grounding in Buddhist psychology and a wide range of supporting practical exercises. Each unit consists of a pack of about 30 pages. Students are expected to complete a series of journal exercises and to discuss the learning from these on the student e-group. Each module culminates in a written assignment of between 2000 and 3000 words in total. 

The Distance Learning course may be taken on its own, or may form the theoretical core of the Amida Trust's Psychotherapy Advanced Certificate programme for which it is also a requirement.

WEBSITE DOWNTIME: MONDAY 31ST AUGUST

The Amida Trust homepage www.amidatrust.com - may experience some down time on Monday 31st August, due to  change in domain name server.

Hopefully the site will remain online, but if it does go down, please don't worry, we'll be back online shortly.

Please accept my apologies if this does happen.

Namo Amida Bu

New Amida Center in Hawaii opens

The Amida Sangha on Big Island of Hawaii announce the opening of the Amida Hawai'i - Pureland Buddhist Dharma Center in the town of Waimea. An official opening ceremony will take place in february 2010 during the visit of Dharmavidya and Prasada. The center is, however, now open for services and events. Full announcement.



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Midgley Endorses New Brazier Book

For full story, see <a href="http://amidatrust.typepad.com/braziersbooks/2009/08/midgley-endorses-brazier-book.html">Amida Books</a>. 

Dharmavidya and Prasada will be in New Zealand in November

Dharmavidya and Prasada will visit family, friends and sangha in New Zealand in November returning to UK on the 19th.

Audio Lectures: Faith and Ethics

Dharamvidya and Prasada, this week, are delivering a series of five lectures on Buddhist Ethics in Amida France.

Audio files of the first three lectures are now online at Friends of Amida

Two new books

News clip about Joan Court's new book and Caroline Brazier's new one.

On Monday 1st June a meeting took place between Dharmavidya, head of Amida-shu and Sangharakshita, head of the Western Buddhist Order. Dharmavidya thanked Sangharakshita for referring to his work in the latter's testament interview called What is the Western Buddhist Order? The meeting ranged over topics of doctrine, organisation and purpose. The two leaders found a great deal of common ground and a good spirit prevailed throughout the encounter.

This is the first of four talks on refuge. The others should follow on or can be accessed at http://amidatrust.ning.com/group/purelandbuddhism

Joan Court, age 90, patron of Amida Trust, originally a midwife, then a social worker who brought the issue of child abuse to public attention, subsequently a formidable campaigner against the cruelty perpetrated by humans upon other animals, has now brought out her second book: The Bunny Hugging Terrorist published by Selene Press with a preface by Tony Benn. The book includes references to the ork of many organisations and individuals on behalf of animals, including Amida Trust. 120 pages, £9.99 plus P&P. Copies obtainable direct from the author, via Amida Trust. Joan's first book, In the Shadow of Gandhi, is also still available.

Caroline Brazier's new book Listening to the Other on listening skills is now published.

On 13-14 June Dharmavidya will lead a weekend retreat at The Buddhist House on the theme The Feeling Buddha - a significant opportunity for teaching, practice and discussion.

Sangharakshita, the leader of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order has issued a transcript of an interview called What is the Western Buddhist Order?. In it he refers for support to David Brazier's The New Buddhism as well as to the Critical Buddhist book Pruning the Bodhi Tree. He is quite forthright about what he regards as acceptable and non-acceptable positions for members of WBO. This will be seen by many as an attempt to restore the original vision to a movement that, perhaps, has drifted somewhat from its original course.

The Amida Trust forum at

http://amidatrust.ning.com/group/criticalbuddhism

and

http://amidatrust.ning.com/group/future

has become the epi-centre of current debate in English on the questions raised by the Japanese 'Critical Buddhism' movement. Are 'Buddha nature', 'non-duality', 'interbeing', etc all non-Buddhist ideas? Join 

http://amidatrust.ning.com

to join in the discussion.

Dharmavidya and Prasada presented lectures about Buddhist Psychology and about Psychotherapy and Spirituality at Leeds Metropolitan University. Dharmavidya's paper on Psychotherapy and Spirituality is available for reading and discussion.

Open publication - Free publishing - More amida

The Ojo Retreat at The Buddhist House starts tomorrow morning. Preliminary materials are already available. This retreat can be followed by attending at TBH or by following along via the internet and practicing at home. New materials will appear each day for the eight days of the retreat. If you want to join in sign up at...

OJO Retreat

Enrolled participants can also give feedback and engage in discussions of the emerging themes or contribute writngs, poems, etc.

This is our first attempt to lead a retreat via the internet and there has been a very pleasing response. The idea has generated a lot of enthusiasm and we hope that this will not only enable individuals to practice more intensely on their own, but also to feel part of the community and make a contribution to the cohesion and purpose of the sangha.

Thank you all very much. Namo Amida Bu

Members of the Amida Order met over the weekend of 7-8 March to take stock of current developments in Amida-shu. There was a generally bouyant atmosphere and considerable enthusiasm for the possibilities that seem to be opening up for spreading the Dharma more widely. The meeting was also greatly cheered to receive news of the refuge ceremonies that took place on the Sunday in Delhi and a Skype link enabled those present at the Order meeting to talk with the Order members who are in Delhi.

Caroline Brazier's latest book, GUILT, is published this week. There is also a group on Facebook associated with this book.

Feburary 20th at The Buddhist House

Bill Karelis founded the Shambhala Prison Community in 1996 to propagate education, and in particular Buddhist-derived meditation, in criminal justice systems at all levels, internationally. He also travels the world to present meditation generally, and in recent years has given hundreds of programs in meditation centers, as well as public talks in university and other public venues. His lineage belongs to the Kagyu and Nyingma streams from Tibet, as well as the Shambhala tradition, as expounded by the great master Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Mr. Karelis enjoys the practices of poetry, photography and calligraphy and lives with his wife, Brigitta, in Boulder, Colorado in the United States.

Click here for more information

Dharmavidya-Sangharakshita Meeting

On Monday 1st June a meeting took place between Dharmavidya, head of Amida-shu and Sangharakshita, head of the Western Buddhist Order. Dharmavidya thanked Sangharakshita for referring to his work in the latter's testament interview called What is the Western Buddhist Order? The meeting ranged over topics of doctrine, organisation and purpose. The two leaders found a great deal of common ground and a good spirit prevailed throughout the encounter.

The Humanity of Buddha

Four Talks on Refuge

This is the first of four talks on refuge. The others should follow on or can be accessed at http://amidatrust.ning.com/group/purelandbuddhism

Joan Court's New Book

Joan Court, age 90, patron of Amida Trust, originally a midwife, then a social worker who brought the issue of child abuse to public attention, subsequently a formidable campaigner against the cruelty perpetrated by humans upon other animals, has now brought out her second book: The Bunny Hugging Terrorist published by Selene Press with a preface by Tony Benn. The book includes references to the ork of many organisations and individuals on behalf of animals, including Amida Trust. 120 pages, £9.99 plus P&P. Copies obtainable direct from the author, via Amida Trust. Joan's first book, In the Shadow of Gandhi, is also still available.

Listening to the Other

Caroline Brazier's new book Listening to the Other on listening skills is now published.

The Feeling Buddha

On 13-14 June Dharmavidya will lead a weekend retreat at The Buddhist House on the theme The Feeling Buddha - a significant opportunity for teaching, practice and discussion.

Sangharakshita's Testament

Sangharakshita, the leader of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order has issued a transcript of an interview called What is the Western Buddhist Order?. In it he refers for support to David Brazier's The New Buddhism as well as to the Critical Buddhist book Pruning the Bodhi Tree. He is quite forthright about what he regards as acceptable and non-acceptable positions for members of WBO. This will be seen by many as an attempt to restore the original vision to a movement that, perhaps, has drifted somewhat from its original course.

Critical Buddhism

The Amida Trust forum at

http://amidatrust.ning.com/group/criticalbuddhism

and

http://amidatrust.ning.com/group/future

has become the epi-centre of current debate in English on the questions raised by the Japanese 'Critical Buddhism' movement. Are 'Buddha nature', 'non-duality', 'interbeing', etc all non-Buddhist ideas? Join 

http://amidatrust.ning.com

to join in the discussion.

Psychotherapy & Spirituality

Dharmavidya and Prasada presented lectures about Buddhist Psychology and about Psychotherapy and Spirituality at Leeds Metropolitan University. Dharmavidya's paper on Psychotherapy and Spirituality is available for reading and discussion.

Running Tide Magazine - Spring Issue 18

Open publication - Free publishing - More amida

OJO Retreat Starts: Our first web intensive

The Ojo Retreat at The Buddhist House starts tomorrow morning. Preliminary materials are already available. This retreat can be followed by attending at TBH or by following along via the internet and practicing at home. New materials will appear each day for the eight days of the retreat. If you want to join in sign up at...

OJO Retreat

Enrolled participants can also give feedback and engage in discussions of the emerging themes or contribute writngs, poems, etc.

This is our first attempt to lead a retreat via the internet and there has been a very pleasing response. The idea has generated a lot of enthusiasm and we hope that this will not only enable individuals to practice more intensely on their own, but also to feel part of the community and make a contribution to the cohesion and purpose of the sangha.

Thank you all very much. Namo Amida Bu

Order Meeting

Members of the Amida Order met over the weekend of 7-8 March to take stock of current developments in Amida-shu. There was a generally bouyant atmosphere and considerable enthusiasm for the possibilities that seem to be opening up for spreading the Dharma more widely. The meeting was also greatly cheered to receive news of the refuge ceremonies that took place on the Sunday in Delhi and a Skype link enabled those present at the Order meeting to talk with the Order members who are in Delhi.

GUILT published

Caroline Brazier's latest book, GUILT, is published this week. There is also a group on Facebook associated with this book.

An Evening with Bill Karelis : Founder of the Shambala Prison Community

Feburary 20th at The Buddhist House

Bill Karelis founded the Shambhala Prison Community in 1996 to propagate education, and in particular Buddhist-derived meditation, in criminal justice systems at all levels, internationally. He also travels the world to present meditation generally, and in recent years has given hundreds of programs in meditation centers, as well as public talks in university and other public venues. His lineage belongs to the Kagyu and Nyingma streams from Tibet, as well as the Shambhala tradition, as expounded by the great master Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Mr. Karelis enjoys the practices of poetry, photography and calligraphy and lives with his wife, Brigitta, in Boulder, Colorado in the United States.

Click here for more information