Amida News

Inauguration of Leicestershire Interfaith Forum

Leicestershire is establishing an interfaith forum. The Amida Trust representative will be Amida-shu member Tony Stellmacher, one of the Trust's trustees who lives in the county.

Dharmavidya, Prasada & Kaspalita to France

Dharmavidya, Prasada and Kaspalita will travel to France on Thursday 3rd July to join other members of the Amida community there. Teachings will commence on 10th July.

Sunday Service 18th May: Honen, the Samurai and the Prostitue

This week Rev. Kaspalita led the Sunday Service. The readings were from Traversing the Pure Land Path, and the dharma talk is now online, at Friends of Amida.

I hope that none of us spend our days literally on the battlefield, sword in hand, taking life upon life, and I’m fortunate that my profession doesn’t ask me to do that, but when we look honestly at our lives, who among us can say that we haven’t, at least, swung a metaphorical sword in someone’s direction?

Conference photos now on Friends of Amida

Some photo's from the 5th Living Buddhist Conference are now online at Friends of Amida.

Pandramatics - Let's Act! 24th May

Pandramatics is an arena for improvising and experimenting with action, dialogue, and ritual, using ordinary things as a springboard for creativity. You don't need experience in acting to take part. It is both serious and fun.

This day workshop will be led by Dharmavidya, in Leicester, UK, see the events homepage or email kaspalita@amidatrust.com

Book Now for 5th Living Buddhism Conference

Book now to secure a place at the 5th Living Buddhism Conference using the pdf booking form

Highly Stimulating Arts & Culture Presentations

The arts and spirituality week has continued in a remarkably stimulating way and we all feel quite elated with it. Do continue.....

Presentation at De Montfort University

David and Caroline Brazier presented a session as part of the De Montfort University Cultural Exchanges Programme 2008 called "Writing Abour Spirituality in a Secular Age". Caroline read an extract from the manuscipt of the new book that she completed writing this week.

David read some of his poetry. Both talked about the history of their involvement in writing and the influences of spirituality, psychology and the arts on their work. The session was chaired by Kaspalita Thompson.

An Active Day of Cultural Critique

We are well into the process of our Cultural Critique week: being and thinking creatively. Yesterday was a stimulating and interesting day – started off with a check-in and discussion about arts and spirituality followed by a presentation on some of the dub poetry by Lynton Kwesi Johnson and Jean Binta Breeze  who we will be going to see tomorrow. In the evening we had a viewing of short films and music video that were used as a springboard for discussions that were both personal and universal - in particular, the themes of the struggling artist and the mystery behind art.

Culture, Connections and Society: 23rd Feb - 2nd March

For the third year we will explore contemporary culture through the eyes of leading voices the arts and political arenas. This course block is timed to coincide with De Montfort University's Cultural Exchanges Programme, which offers a rich diversity of presentations by interesting contemporary figures. As a group we attend some of these presentations, interspersing the events with our own group sessions for discussion and exploration of the topics raised
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Arts + Spirituality : Storytelling

Amida Kai and the Maitri project present The Art of Storytelling

Old as language itself, perhaps older - [stories] were our first expression of spirituality. Stories bind us to something deeper than everyday life, they connect us with, and can help create a shared culture. For hundreds of thousands of years people have told stories, to remember their roots, to inspire and to question; Who am I? And what is truth? Love?

 

Stories connect us to something greater in the world.

led by Kaspalita                                more information

Dharmavidya on Radio Leicester

John Florance from BBC Radio Leicester  called the Buddhist House and interviewed Dharmavidya live,
during the 24 Hr Nembutsu ( 1st/2nd Dec.) for this week only you can listen again on the BBC Website

Whirling Dervishes

Members of the Amida community last night attended a performance organised by the Anatolian Cultural and Educational Society that included a display of derishe dancing and many other aspects of Anatolian culture.

Celebrating Diwali

Gareth, Susthama and Jing Dung were supporting Leicester colleges faith awareness day. Speakers from the Hindu, Jain and Sikh traditions made presentations to students and staff about their different perspectives of Diwali.

Diwali is a five day festival, the second of which - today - is Diwali day: Dipawali ki shubhkamnayan!

Members of the Buddhist House community plan to attend celebrations in Leicester this evening.   

Prasada Speaks at Christians Aware Event

Rev. Prasada, deputy head of the order, spoke on "Dharma" at a meeting of Christians Aware this evening.