THE TEAM
David Brazier is the son of Irene Brazier. He wrote about her death in the book Who Loves Dies Well. He is the inspiration behind the Eleusis project. He is also president of the International Zen Therapy Institute, head of the Amida Order, a doctor of philosophy and author of eight books. He is an authority on Buddhist psychology and gives seminars in many countries including Korea, Japan, Canada, USA, and several in Europe. He speaks frequently at international conferences and has given workshops in many countries. An innovative thinker, Dharmavidya has brought many new perspectives in his contraversial discussion of the arts, spirituality and culture, notably his interpretation of the Four Noble Truths in his book The Feeling Buddha (Constable Robinson 1997) and his writings on love Love and its Disappointment (O-Book 2009). He has three children and four grandchildren.
Jnanamati Williams Jnanamati is a Novice Amitarya an engaged full time with Amida Order work. He is also anArt Therapist registered with the Health Professions Council. Jnanamati has a primary responsibility in the Eleusis project. Prior to commencing spiritual training with the Amida Order he worked in the fields of adult mental health, forensic psychiatry, family services and child and adolescent mental health services. Jnanamati manages the ITZI Buddhist Psychology Distance Learning Programme. He also spends time in the winter working with impoverished communities in India.
Maitrisimha Leo Kouwenhoven is a member of the Amida Order who has spent a good deal of time in France over the years, helping with the gardens and buildings and practising art. An accomplished painter, Mairisimha now lives in the Hague and devotes his time to art and study and is now a member of the Eleusis team.
Annetta de Quaasteniet is a heartwork-massage therapist and has many years experience working with women in community groups in Netherlands. Mother of three children, she lives in a co-housing situation in which she takes an active role, facilitating gatherings, meditation and mediation. She is also involved with a hospice in The Hague where she works on a regular basis.
Katrien Sercu has been formed by a long meaningful life: by her not easy motherhood, by an intense connection with and deep instinct for nature and spirituality, by her quest for the meaning of Life, by her interests in body, movement, and dance, and working as a remedial educationalist, psychotherapist (Gestalt) and group psychotherapist and by all the people, groups, friends, intimates... that she met and still meets. She's active in Belgium as a sangha member in two Amida Buddhistic groups and in the Silent Movement. She is a boardmember of ITZI, a lay member of the Amida Order and has opened her home in Belgium as a little buddhistic sangha house, where she works closely with Dharmavidya and Jnanamati.
ASSOCIATED STAFF
Susthama Kim is an ordained member of the Amida Order and is active in developing the Trust's therapeutic and other work in London. In the past she has been a hospital chaplain supporting patients with mental health problems. She is a qualified counsellor. She also has an interest in the arts and healing and has worked with a number of women's and young people's groups.
Sumaya Budkovska is an ordained amitarya in the Amida community. She has spent a considerable amount of her time in France leading the community and supporting trainees and volunteers. A trained archetect, she has creative and practical skills which she uses to good effect in managing community activities. Sumaya has taken a major role in the development of Amida's community drop in in Leicester and has been personal assistant to David Brazier. She is now community leader at the Sukhavati, the Amida Trust community in London, England.
Kaspalita Thompson is ordained in the Amida Order and has led the drama programme at Amida France for the past two summers. He studied drama at Aberystwyth and has directed plays with community theatre groups and led theatre workshops with young people and adults. He is currently training in Buddhist psychology. “Kaspa's remarkable ingenious directing to produced a complex and moving piece... We learnt a lot... I certainly did.” Dharmavidya on the 2010 Amida France theatre workshop
Fiona Robyn is a novelist and blogger and has written novels and ‘A Year of Questions: How to slow down and fall in love with life’. She works as a therapist in private practice. She is an Amida Order member. She is interested in how we can use writing to become more engaged with the world, and writing as a spiritual practice. “Fiona’s writing is at once grounded, imaginative, humorous, gentle and gracious.” Peter Stephens of Slow Reads
