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 has just arrived in Hawaii for a two week visit

Lectures, meetings, Buddhist practice and teaching.

Dates of Dharmavidya & Prasada Visit to N America

The schedule for Dharmavidya and Prasada's visit in January and February to the USA and Canada are now published on Friends of Amida

New Buddhism & Zen Therapy published in Portuguese

Details

More News from California

Dharmavidya and Prasada are currently in Redding, north California, offering workshops for psychotherapists and members of the local Buddhist sangha. A small team of good friends are hosting them in a warm and hospitable manner and the work is well received. Today there was a workshop for therapist's on the opening phase of the therapeutic encounter and yesterday a gathering for experienced therapists to work on personal issues together.

News from California

News from Reading, from Prasada:

We just did our first event - a session on Buddhism/ practice centred round offering. Much to their surprise here 16 people turned up (Its open to the students but the staff were afraid as it was theur day off they might not come) and we had a lovely time doing meditation and experimenting with experiences of offering that were based on body sense (which we thought would appeal to healing people) we also had a stone passing which was a great revelation to them here - something they just don't do. It was a lovely open sharing. Meantime the woodpeckers are demolishing the telegraph pole outside. they make holes and put acorns in them to breed maggots which they then eat.

Dharmavidya & Prasada in San Francisco

Dharmavidya and Prasada are currently visiting Zen Center, San Francisco, before travelling to north California.

Professor Alfred Bloom sends New Year Message

Professor Alfred Bllom sends the following message to all at the Amida sangha: "hope you all have a good new year with good health and that peace and justice will soon become more of a reaility in our lives. Thank you for your friendship over the years. Gassho - Al Bloom"

News from Amida Hawaii

Paul and Judy are moving to Malu Aina, an organic farm. Several of the Amida Waimea group joined Malu Aina to march in the Honokaa Hongwanji's peace day parade. We had a very good "entry" and our photo actually made the front page of the paper. Paul gave testimony as part of a hearing to determine if a particular weapons system should be stationed in Hawaii speaking about concerns about the effects of the militirization in Hawaii on the Buddhist communites and in particular on our Buddhist Children. Buddhism does, after all, have a very strong ethic against killing and warfare. The media caught these comments and paraphrased them in an article on the hearings. The Waimea Group has plans for actions to support monks in Burma. Martha Hennessy, granddaughter of Dorothy Day, will be spending some time at Malu Aina starting in November. Marha attended the Waimea Group a week ago, and gave a nice talk about the Catholic Worker movement and Dorothy Day. This led to a good discussion.

Esalen Event Announced

Dharmavidya and Prasada at Esalen, California, 27 Jan to 1 Feb 2008