Amida Sheffield

New Blog

This web log is being replaced  by:

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This will allow us to update the blogroll and links page regularly. There is also an option to create additional pages relating to Amida Sheffield's activities and interests.

Latest news

Three months have passed since the last post which detailed the break up of our group in its original form. Since there have not been further posts, we may have given the impression that there has been little activity here. Not so!

A smaller group continues to meet weekly for a pureland service and shared meal. We have also been studying a series of talks entitled "Characteristics of the Amida School".

The Cathedral Meditation continues each monday lunchtime, with Julian, Sundari and Bhaktika. Nick Howe has left for Stockholm and there are currenly discussions taking place to see if a suitable person representing the cathedral will also lead these meditations. A change in my own working circumstances has allowed me to attend a number of these sessions and it has been good to maintain some contact with other former group members who continue to support this venture, often meeting for lunch afterwards at the excellent Blue Moon Cafe. This is just one example of how the informal support amongst the wider group has continued since the decision to change focus in February.

Our links with Narborough feel strengthened since we refocused, with three of us attending the recent 4th Living Buddhism Conference and with Sue joining us for the Memorial Service for Amrita.

After some discussion this week, we have decided to experiment with a new site through Wordpress.com This should give us more flexibility to post extra material about the activities of the group members, and to keep a diary of events up to date. Please call back soon, when I will hope to post a link to this new site.

Namo Amida Bu

~ray

group winds up in its present form

At the monthly meeting of the Amida Trust Sheffield group today we made the decision to dissolve the group.  There were six of us present - Gina (Sundari), Heather R, Michelle, Mike (Bhaktika), Ray, Shad - and several others had sent their apologies, needing to be elsewhere, but had made their views known.

The group began some 9 years ago as a local network group of the Amida Trust.  In that time much has changed, but it was commented that a continuous experience throughout the life of the group has been a sense of Buddhists of all religions and none being welcome, and that it was a place where one could genuinely be who one was, not having to 'put on a good show'.  The decision to wind up now is thought to be the right one because the Amida School and Order have come into being in recent years, some ATS members have aligned with this, and are looking to deepen their practice in this direction.  Others have formed the Gaia House sitting group and are active in developing this group.  The original idea of an eclectic group of 'Buddhist sympathisers' does not have the motivation and drive it originally had for many of us.

The group and its associated links also had other functions and we don't want these to disappear.  These are:

1. A friendship network that has grown up among a dozen or more active members.  This is now strong enough to continue informally and through other activities - see below.

2. A commitment to engaged Buddhism and peace.  We have taken a lead in Sheffield in ensuring a Buddhist presence at vigils and demonstrations (Wars with Afganistan, Iraq, G8 meeting in Sheffield).  Some other buddhist groups have been with us, but disappointingly few.  We will continue this, as part of the activities of the Amida School and by linking up with other Buddhist groups locally.

3. In order to support Buddhist co-operation in Sheffield we plan to contact other local Buddhist groups to see if they are interested in jointly setting up a Sheffield Buddhist Information egroup.  This will be to exchange information about activities etc - possibly it could evolve into a local forum for Buddhists but we will let it find its own form.

4. We will continue with two existing activities - the monday lunchtime guided meditations at Sheffield Anglican cathedral and the Friday morning silent meditations at mike & gina's house.

5. The Amida School has a growing presence in Sheffield and will continue to develop its activities - at present a weekly Monday evening Pure Land service followed by a meal and a monthly Saturday morning Pure Land service and study group.  We will also hold occasional Brunch & Buddhism gatherings on Sunday mornings and special events (retreats, meetings, informal gatherings).

6. The Gaia House group continues with its Tuesday evening sitting group and its new study group.

There was a sense of energy released for new intiatives, a feeling of appreciation for what has been experienced and achieved over the years - and good will for what will unfold next.  We ended with a tea ceremony with a difference (ask someone who was there!) - it was in keeping with the culture of the group, keen on sharing food and drink together, a little irreverent, and much humour.

The ATS monthly group ended with sadness about things that pass, but also a sense of new beginnings.

with metta,

Namo Amida Bu, Bhaktika (mike)

beginning anew

The last few weeks seem to have been very full indeed. At the December meeting we had a number of longer periods of meditation. It was getting near to the solstice, and having some quiet at the dark time of year seemed appropriate. Having said that, in the middle of the meeting, Mike, Ray and I returned from a far from silent retreat, having been at the Amida annual Bodhi retreat for eight days. We chanted a lot of nembutsu in that time, including a 24 hours continuous chant of which we did a substantial period though not all. This was a truly amazing experience. It was a superb way to begin a retreat. It gave the depth of concentration that a long period of meditation might have given. Interestingly it also gave rise to all the experiences that people often have during meditation, so there were plenty of familiar hindrances. However, it felt very collective. partly because we had to co-operate to keep the chant going.  At the retreat, Mike and I were ordained as chaplains in the Amida Order, and given dharma names of Sundari (me) and Bhaktika (Mike). So we came from a retreat which had felt a bit like an intense house party into a group of silent meditators in Sheffield! This was actually a lovely way to return. It was a good homecoming, and nine of us sat round to a meal together.

At our next meeting, January 14th, we shall be focusing on the new year theme of beginning anew. We'll look at what this means to us, and do some Nei Quan style meditation. In the morning there will be a Pureland study group, listening to a recorded talk by David Brazier (Dharmavidya).

Gina

Impermanence and December meeting

Last Saturday we had a lively and interesting afternoon, led by Michelle and Shad, talking about impermanence and our experience of this.

The next meeting on December 10th will be a DIFFERENT FORMAT FROM USUAL - AS BELOW:

1 to 2.30pm - 2 periods of silent meditation

2.30 to 3.30 pm Mike, Ray and Gina return from winter retreat in Narborough. Check in from all.

3.30 to 4.30 pm. Meditation.

4.30p.m. Festive Solstice meal

6p.m. End.

Gina

Pureland study

Our first Pureland study group will meet tomorrow morning. We shall be doing some Pureland practice and sharing some of our responses to Pureland teaching, focusing particularly on Dharmavidya's first talk of the summer series of this year, which is about the 3 samadhis in the Pureland tradition.

The group will continue in 2006.

Gina

Women and Buddhism

Our autumn study group on Women and Buddhism began a month ago with a lively session on what the subject meant to those of us there.

In the second session Mike and Gina introduced 'male and female perspectives on practice'. We talked about our aspirations and how these might have a gender dimension, and about how the way we hear and understand Buddhist teaching is affected by how we already treat or regard our own experience - and that this may be affected by whether we are men or women. We talked too about the socialised deferent behaviour that can grow up in religious groups and the important difference between self-deprecation and humility.

More to come - the sessions are fortnightly.

Sudana, Sue & Ray

It was a lovely morning. Thanks to Mike & Gina for hosting it, Sujatin for officiating, and especially to Shad, Lucy and Michelle for attending the service as well.

Namo Amida Bu

refuge ceremony

On Saturday October 8th we had our first refuge ceremony in Sheffield when Sue, Ray and Sudana became members of the Amida School. Sudana is a longstanding member of Amida who took refuges many years ago, and renewed them, becoming a School member. For Sue and Ray it was their first taking of refuge. For Mike and me it was exciting and and wonderful that this took place in our home. Sue and Ray have become close and much valued friends over the three years we have known them, and we have known Sudana over time and respect him as a friend in the dharma. Preparing the room for the ceremony for these three good people was a real joy- especially as it also involved setting up a new place in which to set a statue representing Quan Yin and photos of Mike's mum, who died the week before and from whose funeral we had come the day before preparing for the ceremony. It felt like making a beautiful space for people we love. With Quan Yin and the photos of Mike's mum I also put a candle holder carved by a good friend, in the form of a hand that holds and sustains. All the flowers in the room (and elsewhere in the house) had been given. The whole experience of making the space ready was of basking in love and generosity. Thank you, Ray and Sue, for wanting to have your ceremony here!

Sujatin came from Newcastle to conduct the ceremony, which felt like a real strengthening of the bond of friendship. Thank you, Sujatin, for travelling to stay with us and preparing and conducting such a light and joyful ceremony.

For a personal account of the ceremony, see Sue's blog 'Wild geese'.

In the afternoon we had an Amida Sheffield meeting on the subject of refuge. As a number of local sangha members had come for the ceremony in the morning there was quite a carryover into the afternoon of the sense of specialness. We explored the meaning of refuge - just touching into it really. It seems like such a big subject one could explore it for a lifetime.

Gina

summary of activities

At our meeting last Saturday we had a good discussion about the group's activities, particularly the value of the Saturday afternoons as a kind of intimate Buddhist forum. Following this, I sent this summary of current and forthcoming activities to a mailing list in Yorkshire:

Amida Sheffield is a local group of the Amida Trust which has been running for just over seven years. These are the things we are doing as a group:

Second Saturday of each month 1p.m. to 5.30p.m: a meeting for people who want to explore together issues of Buddhist practice as they relate to our lives. People who attend may or may not call themselves Buddhists, but have an interest in Buddhist practice, of whatever kind, and draw upon this in their lives. We start the monthly meetings at 1pm with a shared vegetarian lunch. Then meditate together, 'check-in' about how we are right now, explore the theme for the session, have a tea-break and then 'business' items, planning further meetings etc, and perhaps a final meditation.

Weekly, Fridays, 8.15 to 8.45 a.m. Silent meditation

Weekly, Mondays, 12.30 to 1p.m. with and at Sheffield Cathedral Guided meditation

Termly study groups, fortnightly for five or six meetings Next study group: Women and Buddhism, beginning October 18th 2005 continuing on November 1st,November 15th, November 29th and December 13th.

Pureland activities

Second Saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to 12.30 Pureland practice and shared study, looking at the experience and meaning of Pureland practice. Not on December 10th 2005 Weekly, Mondays, 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm Pureland practice followed by a shared meal. Not on October 3rd 2005

You would be welcome to join us for any or all of these activities. Usually, apart from the Monday meditations, they take place at the home of Mike Fitter and Gina Clayton: 118, Broomspring Lane, Sheffield S10 2FD. It’s helpful to know in advance if you are coming. Occasionally plans change. Please phone 0114 272 4290

UPDATE

Dear all
August has made us a little slow on communications - a pleasant change - but apologies that the monthly update has been a bit slow coming out.

Ray's blog - http://amidaray.blogspirit.com - which, under the heading 'reservoir cows'  gives a lovely account of our annual picnic. The wettest day in an otherwise sunny August week.

There will be no Pureland practice as well as no cathedral meditation next Monday 29th, August Bank Holiday.

Everything (cathedral meditation, Friday morning meditation, Monday Pureland) resumes the following week beginning September 5th.

Advance notice - there will be no Pureland practice on Monday October 3rd.

We planned for September 10th to pick up the subject we deferred earlier in the year: 'Real Buddhists meditate?' This gives an opportunity to look at the fundamentals of practice. What do we mean if we call ourselves Buddhists? What do we mean if we use Buddhist-type practices but not that label for ourselves? What is the role of meditation in our practice? What is its place in Western Buddhism?

These issues could easily extend into more than one weekend, and are at least very suitable for the October meeting (October 8th), on which day we shall be having a refuge ceremony led by Sujatin.

Ray will (if time allows) circulate some further thoughts before the September meeting.

By the way - do we want an atumun study group? We have a proposal currently for a subject of women and Buddhism. Other thoughts have been floated and then floated away again but there may be more out there. Please share any you have, and perhaps we can settle this at the September meeting.

love, gina & mike

FORMAT FOR MONTHLY MEETINGS (second Saturday of month)

The format for the monthly meetings is:
Begin with a shared vegetarian lunch, meditate together, 'check-in' about how we are right now, explore the theme for the session, have a tea-break and then 'business' items, planning further meetings etc, and perhaps a final meditation.
Most monthly meetings will be preceded in the morning (11.00am to 12.30) by a Pure Land practice group for those who want to participate.

It helps to know a little in advance who plans to come to the monthly events.  Please phone or email Gina or Mike on 0114 272 4290 or gina@amidatrust.com or mike@amidatrust.com

Buddhas everywhere

On Saturday, six of us listened to one of Dharmavidya (David Brazier)'s taped talks from last summer in France - Valley Sounds, Mountain Colours. During the check in time we had shared our experiences and feelings arising from the bombings in London, and the talk was particularly relevant in reminding us that it is our human darkness that we see the light of the Buddhas. It is on the one hand difficult to know how to live with the pain and destruction in the world, and on the other, it is the only way to live.

One person present who is more versed in the Tibetan tradition found much correspondence in the talk with Tibetan thinking - this was an unexpected connection and pleasure in sharing a language.

We began to make plans to have a refuge ceremony here on October 8th, for current members who want to take refuge in the three jewels, Amida and the Pureland, and become members of the Amida School. Keep it free for a day of celebration and exploring the meaning of refuge!

Gina

Pureland Practice

There is a regular Pureland practice beginning at 118 Broomspring Lane on Monday July 4th at 6.30 pm. This will involve walking nembutsu, sitting meditation and chanting from the Nien Fo service book. If you'd like to stay for a pot luck supper afterwards you're welcome.

If you are interested in learning more about Pureland buddhism, Modgala is leading a beginners' Pureland retreat at the Buddhist House in Narborough on the weekend August 13th and 14th.

security in Sheffield

We had at first planned to print the Karuniya metta sutta on the back of our G8 leaflet, and although we abandoned that plan, it would have had an interesting element we did not consider at the time. The translation I have includes the words 'may all beings be happy and secure'. It was the Justice and Security ministers who were in Sheffield these last three days, and the city centre has been subject to extraordinary security measures.

From Tuesday onwards there have been police convoys everywhere. Yesterday evening four of us from the Amida group walked into town, wearing red, carrying our banner 'Sheffield Buddhists for Security through Friendship'. We greeted the many police officers cheerfully and had friendly conversations with all. They had been drafted in from all over the country under the mutual aid policy, which enables forces to call on each other in exceptional situations. They were from Northumbria, Lothian and Borders, West Yorkshire, and more. The city centre was closed to traffic from 4pm - the buses and trams stopped. The area around where last night's G8 dinner took place was closed to pedestrians from about 6pm. We got into the only area where protesters were permitted to be. One of the many curious features of this whole event was that we discovered that the political groups had been in negotiation with the police and local authority about where protest would be permitted. Orders were in force under the Public Order Act prohibiting processions and gatherings of 20 or more people under certain conditions. There was nothing unlawful about the four of us assembling somewhere else if we wanted to. We considered this, but as we did not know the route to be taken from the hotel, and as we thought that diversity in the visible protest was important, we decided to go to the same place as everyone else. Numbers were few. It seemed that many people had been put off by the rumoured impossibility of getting within a visible distance of the dinner venue and perhaps by some scuffles and arrests that had happened the night before. We had heard many first hand accounts by now of very rough police behaviour - mainly verbal but some pushing and shoving also and a young lad pinned to a kiosk by a large officer. By many accounts the police were extremely jumpy. We discovered that the mutual aid officers in Sheffield were those who are going to Gleneagles. Perhaps this partly explains the apparently disproportionate closures of the city centre and extremely intense policing - they were practising for July. People who lived near the hotel had to have passes to get to their homes, city businesses were instructed to close, and a school near the hotel was taken over.

The main experience, because of the sheer numbers of police and our distance from the venue, was the relationship with the police. This was very odd in this way as an experience of protest. The dinner guests will have seen and heard us (unlike the night before at a different venue when they arrived by an underground tunnel and the sound of protest was masked with a brass band), but only quite remotely. The chants of the protesters were quite creative and positive on the whole. It did not seem appropriate to chant in what would have looked like opposition to them, but we rang our bell very vigorously in time with their chanting, and the effect (we were told by one police officer) was, if you excuse the pun, striking. The sound of the bell carried further than almost anything, and did create a different kind of energy in the protest.

We had good conversations with the police, and a senior officer agreed to take a bundle of our leaflets with a note for Charles Clarke from Amida Trust Sheffield. We hope they got there.

A significant benefit of being out last night was the number of people who stopped us as we walked through town to ask what it was all about. We had conversations with people including a child and a homeless woman. It seemed that many people did not know the G8 was here or who they are. Inspired by this, I went back to town this morning and handed out the remaining 400 of our leaflets to shoppers in the city. There was some slight interest from security officers and the police helicopter which has droned overhead for three days hovered close for a bit but I experienced no hassle or aggression at all, and not a single leaflet was dropped in the street.

See Sue's blog 'Wild Geese' - I've just seen her account of last night too.

Gina

G8 meeting leads to Sheffield - Vancouver twinning proposal

In Sheffield yesterday (Saturday) there was a march / procession of assorted Peace and anti-capitalism groups protesting at the visit this week to Sheffield of the G8 ministers for Home Security and Justice.  The Amida Sheffield group had a day retreat already arranged so we used our gathering to join the events.  We were joined by Brenna and Saille from Vancouver and by Joy from Chesterfield.  In total there were 10 of us.  After some preparation we walked chanting the Nembutsu to join up with a group of some 500 people, including a few other Buddhists.  We walked behind a banner saying "Sheffield Buddhists for Security through Friendship" and handed out leaflets offering a Buddhist perspective on poverty, greed, international development, security and friendship.  There was a large police presence, because of the impending G8 visit and several E.G.s (evidence gatherers) who were keen to film our leaflet, all giving ample opportunities for demonstrating friendliness, mostly well received.  Towards the end of the march we resumed chanting the Nembutsu with bell.  This attracted friendly attention as it had earlier.  We learned that in the outdoors we need to chant much louder, and from a deeper place, to have a presence in open space.

The march processed to an annual event 'Peace in the Park', and gathering of a multitude of local groups.  We left to complete our day retreat - lunch then debriefing, metta and tonglen meditations, followed by tea.  In the evening some of us returned to Peace in the Park and saw a performance by an inspiring troup of clowns 'The Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army' (www.labofii.net) whose show included a social theory analysis of the historical role and future potential of disobedience from a stance of love - all done in a highly engaging and interactive way, for children of all ages.

Although we wouldn't want to support everything they did - there was for instance a strong notion of 'the enemy' as 'they' - the performance set us thinking about discussions during the recent Activists week at Amida France about a Buddhist Social Theory.  We left feeling inspired to develop a form of social engagement using clowning and street theatre based on Buddhist social theory.  Saille and Brenna are already experienced in street actions, it being Saille's main work in Vancouver, so we plan to continue with these ideas when Saille returns to the UK in the fall.

A further piece of the jigsaw, that arose during our debriefing session, was to propose that the Sheffield and Vancouver Amida groups together form a group that over time can become an Amida Order convocation.  This will clearly require futher dicussions at both ends, but the meeting between Vancouver members and the existing Sheffield group feels like a fertile relationship. It was good that Ray was there, who, we hope, will soon take refuges and thus formal membership. In addition Saille, Gina and Mike plan to take part in the Ministry training and anticipate that the 'Amida Foolish Beings' might develop some clown action as part of the training - Dharma for Dunces, Dharma for Disobedience, Dharma for Dignity (the noble path).

mike & gina

practising living with the devil

We have just held the last of our study evenings on Stephen Batchelor's book 'Living with the Devil'. One major theme of the book is that 'Mara follows every step' - i.e. that the arising of our potential for love and our potential for harm are inseparable. We cannot achieve a 'clean' position whereby our actions and thoughts are somehow outside conditions. I'm paraphrasing this rather roughly, but on the same day as the last study group I was having a rather strong experience of this truth, and of the realities we studied in our last study group on ecopsychology. The story follows.

There has been a long-standing planning application on land behind our house, which is currently wild, and home to a badger who visits us daily. My heart is with keeping the land wild and opposing all development. However, the site also is home to some lovely old (derelict) mesters' workshops - a particular feature of Sheffield - and they are listed buildings. Because they are listed the Council has obligations to ensure they are maintained. This means that no development on the land is not an option. It might have been possible to create a swell of community interest and money so as to create a viable scheme of conservation, allowing some public access, preservation of the historic buildings and also of the wild space. We made some moves in this direction, as did a couple of local groups. However, no-one put a lot of energy in, which would have been required, and it didn't happen. The Council has reasons why the land is not suitable for that purpose too.

I would have loved to take a simple position of just opposing all development on the site. However, if nothing happens on it, the buildings will fall down completely, and then it is more likely that a less sympathetic planning application will be made. After years of correspondence, meetings and investigations the current plans are less invasive to us than might be the case, and provide for a wildlife tunnel for badger to keep visiting us. We have engaged in discussions with the developer, with the Council, with community groups and with our neighbours. I have felt acute discomfort about the selfishness of protecting the integrity of our garden, which we have done - but recognise that the seclusion, protection and tranquillity of our house and garden is something from which many people benefit, and those who follow us will too. It is also good to protect something beautiful in and for itself.

When it finally came to it, I spoke at the Council meeting this week, recognising the benefits of the detail that had been worked out, requesting further amendments (which were made) and saying that for myself I would prefer that the land was left wild. When asked if I was for or against the application I had to say that I was neither, but commenting, so that the decision would be made in knowledge of what I had to say. I felt as though I had betrayed the wildness and my badger friend. I have felt desolate and sad over recent days at the prospective loss of the wildness and the disruption to badger (who has to accept a new sett for the whole thing to go ahead). And I know that if I had just refused to discuss the detail we might now be in a worse position. I still feel contaminated, but think that this may be the price we have to pay for effective engagement. We can oppose, but if from a position of opposition we do not talk and relate, then I don't think it is fully engaged Buddhism. Or have I been bought off?

For those of an academic turn of mind -  this is the discomfort with which Stephen Batchelor's book ends. I seem to be embodying it.

Gina

May Meeting

We met for our monthly Amida Sheffield meeting last week. Mike and Gina were away, and therefore there was not a Pureland practice in the morning. Shad stepped in as host and we enjoyed a lovely lunch together around a large wooden table.

There were nine people at the meeting, three, Bob, Wynne & May, who were attending for the first time. After lunch, we began with our usual sitting meditation and a “check-in” to give people the opportunity to say how things are for them, and what they are bringing to, or hoping from, the afternoon’s meeting.

Ray facilitated the theme for the day based on a booklet entitled “What is engaged Buddhism?” written by Ken Jones, a member of the Network of Engaged Buddhists.

In groups we explored three themes: what we thought Engaged Buddhism was or was not. What engaged Buddhists do, and what do engaged Buddhist organisations look like?

Ken Jones has written, that “socially engaged Buddhism extends across public engagement in caring and service, social and environmental protest and analysis, non-violence as a creative way of overcoming conflict, and “right livelihood” and similar initiatives toward a socially just and ecologically sustainable society. It also brings a liberal Buddhist perspective to a variety of contemporary issues, from gender equality to euthanasia. It aims to combine the cultivation of inner peace with active social compassion in a practice and lifestyle that supports and enriches both”.

One exercise we used was from an article written by Peter Singer, a utilitarian philosopher and author of many books including “Animal Liberation”.

This explored the issue of whether it is wrong to live well without giving substantial amounts of money to help people who are hungry, malnourished, dying of easily treatable diseases like diarrhoea. A hypothetical situation was described where a man has to choose whether to save a child’s life by diverting a runaway train onto a siding, at the end of which, unfortunately, is parked his prize Bugatti classic car. The car, he is hoping, will see him financially through his retirement. He chooses not to divert the train, and saves his car. His decision was roundly condemned by our group.

Singer then lays down the challenge that we could all save a child’s life, right now, by making a donation to a reputable charity, After discussing with experts, he came up with the figure of $200. In the article, he challenged people to stop reading and go make that phone call. Alas, in the next paragraph, he challenges those who did donate, to think again, and donate another $200 to save another life. Where do you stop? Is there a moral line? Our group had an interesting discussion about an individual’s responsibility versus the governments, and how we each come to terms with these dilemmas. The response of many charities to try to help people connect in a more personal way, e.g. was discussed, e.g. both OXFAM and CAFOD had great success in getting people to give goats as "presents" to one another last Christmas, the receiver being sent a certificate to say where the family that was benefiting from the donation, was living. It is ironic that the two most popular presents given last Christmas were goats and iPODs ! Other charities e.g. PLAN enabled you to sponsor a child, and to have some contact via letter with her family.

We also discussed the Make Poverty History campaign and the upcoming G8 meeting in Sheffield.

The afternoon ended with a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh, and a short meditation.

“Buddhism means to be awake – mindful of what is happening in one’s body, feelings, mind and in the world. If you are awake you cannot do otherwise than act compassionately to help relieve suffering you see around you. So Buddhism must be engaged in the world. If it is not engaged it is not Buddhism”.

Next Monthly Meeting

The next Amida Sheffield meeting will take place on saturday 14th May at Gina and Mike's house. As usual, we will begin with a shared vegetarian lunch at 1 p.m.

I hope to facilitate the afternoon. The topic has changed a little from that previously advertised. I have managed to obtain some copies of Ken Jones' new booklet "What is engaged buddhism?" and I thought it would make an interesting discussion for our group. I am particularly interested in exploring people's views on:-

*What is engaged buddhism, and what is not?
*What is an engaged buddhist, and what is not?
*What is an engaged buddhist organisation, and what is not?

I will present some of the ideas in the booklet to begin the discussion, and i have a few exercises that may be helpful.

All welcome

Ray

DIARY

The format for the monthly meetings is:
Begin with a shared vegetarian lunch, meditate together, 'check-in' about how we are right now, explore the theme for the session, have a tea-break and then 'business' items, planning further meetings etc, and perhaps a final meditation.
Most monthly meetings will be preceded in the morning (11.00am to 12.30) by a Pure Land practice group for those who want to participate (not before the May meeting).

It helps to know a little in advance who plans to come to the monthly events.  Please phone or email Gina or Mike on 0114 272 4290 or gina@amidatrust.com or mike@amidatrust.com

#

14th May 1.00 to 5.30pm
Topic: 'Real Buddhists meditate?'
Led by Ray - details to follow

#

11th June 10.00 to 5.30pm
DAY RETREAT

Led by Gina

#

9th July 1.00 to 5.30pm

Topic: A David Brazier (Dharmavidya) taped Dharma talk and discussion.

#

WEEKLY EVENTS

Monday lunchtime Guided Meditation in Sheffield Anglican Cathedral (12.30 to 1.00pm)

Friday morning meditation at Gina&Mike's house from 8.15 (prompt) to 8.45am.
{Neither take place on Bank Hols and occasionally other dates, check if you haven't been for a while).

UPDATE

At the monthly meeting the topic was an Introduction to Process Work from Mike, who with Gina had recently spent a month in Portland, Oregon training in this way of working (developed by Arnold Mindell and sometimes known as Process Oriented Psychology).  Gina, who was away at an Amida Trustees meeting, arrived back unexpectedly in the middle of this and immediately got conscripted into the process, in the true spirit of Process Work, arriving as a field phenomenon.  This led to a certain amount of chaos and excitement, and hopefully some helpful learning about the unfolding of processes.

In the morning Mike (core belief about being tone deaf with evidence to support view) had led the Pure Land practice group without the benefit of Gina to keep the chanting in tune, but ably supported by Shad and Michelle.

In the Parish Notices section of the monthly meeting we confirmed the topics for meeting up to July (now regulaly on 2nd Saturday of month) and further discussed plans on how we could be involved with other Buddhist groups in Sheffield when the G8 Justice and Home Affairs ministers meet in Sheffield on 15 to 17 June.  We thought of a gathering of all groups interested to take place at or near where they will meet, with the theme of "Security through friendship".  We also thought of giving out copies of the Metta Sutra. 

We agreed to find out if other local Buddhist and Peace groups are interested in this, making contact as follows:

FWBO (Gina), Zen - John Darwin (Mike), Gaia House group (Julian), Sokka Gakkai & White Plum (Ganden?) NE Derbys Interbeing (Ray), Sheffield Interbeing (Heather R), Quakers (Helen), Hope Valley Peace Group (Heather R).

Heather R also agreed to email us about the Sheffield Social Forum who are taking a co-ordinating role.

We considered a silent vigil and wearing distinctive colours .

Amida Sheffield

We are a local group of the Amida Trust. We hold a monthly meeting and Pure Land practice, a weekly guided meditation at Sheffield Cathedral, and a morning meditation once a week, a study group and other activities from time to time. Events are open to anyone with an interest in Buddhist teachings and practice. We have a commitment to engaged action and an interest in Buddhist Psychology.