Amida News

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 returns to UK today

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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