Amida News

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.

Approaching Enlightenment Day

December 8th is Enlightenment Day, the celebration of the founding of the Buddhist religion. At The Buddhist House members of the Amida sangha are gathered in retreat. Highlights of the retreat have been and are being broadcast using the video facility on the Friends of Amida ning site. These have included the 24 hour nembutsu chanting on 1st-2nd, ceremonies and teachings by Dharmavidya and Prasada, and will include an ordination on 7th December at 9.00 GMT, further teachings and practice. The ordination of a new member of the sangha is something particularly precious in this age and society where the vital ingredient of personal commitment is often rare. It is a gift to humanity. It is also entry into the most wonderful life.

The retreat marks the end of a full year for the Amida sangha and, perhaps, a cusp in the ethos of society at large where economic difficulties and political change are at a particularly acute stage. This is a time to reach out. The advent of an as yet primitive broadcasting facility is focussing minds upon how to further improve the connection between activity at The Buddhist House and those who are connected but unable to be physically present and how to enable Amidists around the world to play a full part in prctice and propagation of the Dharma. Amida activity overseas seems once again to be increasing after a lull. Concern for the distant and sometimes unseen other is a valuable aspect of Buddhist training and therefore a by no means inappropriate concern for a week dedicated to awakening. Our community is centred on faith and in our faith community, the sangha jewel, plays a particularly important role. As the connections within our sangha intensify so the influence of Amida Buddha shines more and more brightly in this afflicted world; when we have faith in the Buddha's principle of concern for the other miracles happen of their own accord. Namo Amida Bu.

The Amida Buddhist Centre in France

2008 - 2009 Guide to Retreats and Events in Amida France

Get your own - Open publication

New Year's Retreat at Amida France

Roots and Soil Retreat - Led by Susthama

Come and start the New Year with practice.

The retreat begins Wednesday 31 December and finishes Sunday 4 January. 

Exile and Return Retreat

We are holding our annual 'Exile and Return' retreat in commemoration of the founders of Pureland Buddhism in Japan who were exiled at the beginning of the thirteenth century. This retreat is a short period of intensive practice.
Read: Alena, Kaspalita and Dharmavidya.

Autumn Issue of The Running Tide

Get your own - Open publication

8th-9th March Intro Retreat.

This weekend at the Buddhist House is our March Introductory Retreat. This introductory retreat is open to all. We will introduce some basic concepts found in the Amidist approach to Pureland Buddhism and spend some time practising together.

Honen Memorial Retreat

This weekend members of the Buddhist House are joined by Ray, from Amida Sheffield for our annual Honen Memorial retreat, this is a time when we remember the teachings and life of Honen Shonin, founder of Jodo-Shu, the first independent pureland school in Japan.

Friday evening, the anniversary of Honen's death we remembered him, through reading about his death, and the signs and omens that predicted his birth in the Pureland, and through practicing nembutsu in our evening service.

In today's seminar we compared the teachings of Honen and Shinran, looked at the One Page Document, Honen's final teaching, and thought about the significance of the nembutsu to 12th C. Japan, and to our own society.

Dharmavidya Returns from Nine Day Solitary Retreat

Dharmavidya has been on solitary retreat for the past nine days in a remote spot in the north of England. He is now returned to The Buddhist House.

Flying West Free Form Nembutsu Video on You Tube

Flying West. This is the second little film to emerge from the Bodhi retreat - a free form chanting session to accompany pictures from a flight west. Voices by the retreat community, pictures by Prasada.