Amida Buddhism Newcastle

Rachel Abel has become an Amida-shu member

On the evening of 1st July 2008 Rachel Abel became a member of the Amida School, Amida-shu at a ceremony held at Amida Sanctuary. She also took the Five Precepts in the Amida-shu form of the Five Prayers of Upasikas.

The celebrant was Rev Sujatin, Bellmaster Sophie Williams and the congregation included Rachel's mother, husband and a friend, regular sangha member Jackie and long-term friend of Amida, David.

Amida Courses Newsletter

April 2008

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Welcome to our Amida Courses Newsletter. This spring has been a busy and creative time at The Buddhist House, with a lot of fun and enthusiasm being expressed in various Amida ventures. This newsletter is just intended to give you a flavour of what is on offer. More detail of most things listed can be found on our web sites at www.amidatrust.com and www.buddhistpsychology.info or you can email us at courses@amidatrust.com

 

2008/9 PSYCHOTHERAPY COURSES

Our course callendar for 2008/9 is now on the web at http://www.buddhistpsychology.info/calendar%2004to05.htm If you wish to apply for any of our courses, please do send your applications in good time as it takes a while to arrange references. The is still time to join the programme at the next course block in May/June, though we would only advise joining at this particular course if you have some prior experience. Contact us if you have questions about this.

amida france is opening in may + news of dharmavidya's teachings, 10 - 30 july

Susthama and a couple of members from The Buddhist House will go to France in mid-May (2008) to open it up for the summer season. The retreat centre has been closed for the winter period and so there will be alot of work initially; getting the place aired out and clean, digging the garden to get the beds ready for planting, clearing paths for outdoor walking meditation and also to make a way to the meditation hut ready for anybody interested in doing a solitary retreat in the woods.

It's a great time of year to be in France. If you're in need of space, fresh air, and a retreat atmosphere then do come along.

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During the three week period of the July Retreat,
Dharmavidya & Prasada
will give lectures on
Pureland Buddhism and its Application in Society, Culture and the Arts

* 12 lectures over the three week period

There will also be

* periods of Pureland practice
* introductory seminars for the less experienced on the basics of the Pureland approach
* seminars and coaching for the more experienced related to Buddhist chaplaincy and ministry

As usual there will be plenty of opportunities for outdoor life, community living, discussion and sharing with stimulating company, and good vegetarian food, much of it from the centre's own garden.

::link

5th living buddhism conference - an update

The 5th Living Buddhism Conference

"Breaking the Mould: Buddhism Comes West & Gets Engaged"

Narborough, Leicestershire, UK in April - May 2008

• 26 - 27 April: Pre-Conference Gathering: Practice, Discussions, Gatherings

• 28 - 30 April: Pre-Conference Events: Monday Outing; Tuesday & Wednesday Mini-conferences "Buddhism & Arts", "Amida Around the World", "Buddhism in a Multi-Faith World", "Buddhist Education".

• 1 - 4 May: Conference Proper: Keynote Speakers, Plenary Sessions, Presentations, Workshops, Exhibitions, Bookshop, Entertainment.

• 5 May: Post Conference Meeting: "Buddhism in Organisation Development"

Website - http://amidatrust.typepad.com/conference2008/

A message from Susthama:

Dear Friends,

With the Amida conference approaching fast we need your help to get the word out. If you would like to help, please circulate information on any networks you know, put notices on notice boards, and, above all, tell people. Word of mouth is what helps most. If you can distribute publicity material please do and if you need more, please let Mudita or me know.

Dharmavidya on Creativity

Qu: Can u tell me about creativity at The Buddhist House?
Dh: Well, TBH is a creation in itself. I don't mean the fabric of the building - tho that did involve a lot of repairing and painting and the usage of the rooms is a flexible ever changing evolution. I mean more the community itself.

::read more

Instructions in Nei Quan and Chi Quan

by Dharmavidya, in response to requests for further instruction on dhyana practice in the Amida Pureland School

Buddhism is practice and this practice cannot be separated from faith. People practise what they have faith in and their faith is only real when it manifests in practise. Practice is of two kinds, concrete and symbolic. Both are vital. Symbolic practice connects us with the meaning of our life. Concrete practice applies that meaning in daily action. Without symbolic practice, daily life becomes trivial. Without concrete practice our meditations are impotent. Meaning cannot be arrived at intellectually. It must be lived in both ways.

The core of Buddhism is refuge and the expression of refuge is Nembutsu. Symbolic nembutsu is to call out to Buddha from the fullness or emptiness of your heart. Concrete nembutsu is to have Buddha at your side in all the doings of daily life. Nembutsu expresses the relationship between the practitioner and the eternal spirit of Buddha, which we call Nyorai - the One Who Comes. The devotee calls out to Nyorai and Nyorai calls us to a life of trust and dedication. Who is Nyorai? I do not know, but I know what it feels like. Do you know who you are yourself? Have you looked to see? Nei Quan means to examine the nature of the caller. Chih Quan means to appreciate and experience the nature of the One who calls to you. This enquiry must begin from a place of unknowing in both respects. The Eye of the World looks upon you but only the one who has abandoned his or her castle of certainty is able to appreciate this gaze, let alone go forth in its light.

 

by Dharmavidya, in response to requests for further instruction on dhyana practice in the Amida Pureland School

Buddhism is practice and this practice cannot be separated from faith. People practise what they have faith in and their faith is only real when it manifests in practise. Practice is of two kinds, concrete and symbolic. Both are vital. Symbolic practice connects us with the meaning of our life. Concrete practice applies that meaning in daily action. Without symbolic practice, daily life becomes trivial. Without concrete practice our meditations are impotent. Meaning cannot be arrived at intellectually. It must be lived in both ways.

The core of Buddhism is refuge and the expression of refuge is Nembutsu. Symbolic nembutsu is to call out to Buddha from the fullness or emptiness of your heart. Concrete nembutsu is to have Buddha at your side in all the doings of daily life. Nembutsu expresses the relationship between the practitioner and the eternal spirit of Buddha, which we call Nyorai - the One Who Comes. The devotee calls out to Nyorai and Nyorai calls us to a life of trust and dedication. Who is Nyorai? I do not know, but I know what it feels like. Do you know who you are yourself? Have you looked to see? Nei Quan means to examine the nature of the caller. Chih Quan means to appreciate and experience the nature of the One who calls to you. This enquiry must begin from a place of unknowing in both respects. The Eye of the World looks upon you but only the one who has abandoned his or her castle of certainty is able to appreciate this gaze, let alone go forth in its light.

by Dharmavidya, in response to requests for further instruction on dhyana practice in the Amida Pureland School

Do Amida Buddhists meditate?

DHARMAVIDYA: Yes and no. Firstly it depends what one means by meditate. Secondly it depends whether one is asking about the core practice of Amidism or about what Amidists might or might not do in general. The core practice of Pureland Buddhism is nembutsu. Nembutsu has a narrow and a broad significance. The narrow significance is to recite the name of Amida Buddha. The broad significance is to life the whole of one's life in the attitude of knowing that one is loved, accepted and graced by Amida Buddha. ::read more

Special Features of Amida Buddhism

Dharmavidya has written a concise guide:

What's special about Amida Pureland?

Amida Pureland Buddhism is about

• remembering and celebrating Buddha rather than trying to be him
There are basically two approaches in Buddhism. One approach (self-power) is about following in Buddha's footsteps, perfecting various practices, and thereby becoming Buddha oneself. The other (pureland or other-power) approach is about encountering Buddha, remembering and celebrating what that encounter brings or brought into our lives, but not trying to be Buddha oneself.

 

Ceremonies at The Bodhi Retreat

This morning Rev Master Dharmavidya and Rev Minister Sujatin were celebrants at a ceremony at The Buddhist House, during which Sally, lately of Newcastle, became an aspirant. This means she is following training to ordain as a chaplain/minister.

At the same ceremony Gareth became a postulant, following training to ordain as an amitarya.

Following this, Lisa Urbanic and Sudana Edwards, both residents at TBH, and Tony Danford from London, all Amida-shu members, were admitted to the Order of Amida Buddha as lay members. This admission creates a second convocation of the Order.

Yesterday Angela Dietrich from London, Judy Walker from Hawaii, and Ngi Yi from Leicester became members of Amida-shu in a ceremony at The Buddhist House conducted by Rev. Sujatin

Summary of Faith and Practice

By Dharmavidya, inspired by Honen’s Ichimai Kishomon

For those having a karmic affinity with Amitabha Buddha wishing to practise a religious life in truly simple faith, freeing themselves of sophistication and attachment to all forms of cleverness, the method of opening oneself to Amitabha’s grace is the practice of Nien Fo with body, speech and mind, particularly verbal recitation of “Namo Amida Bu”. This is not something done as a form of meditation, nor is it based on study, understanding and wisdom, or the revelation of deep meaning. Deep meaning is indeed there for the nembutsu is a window through which the whole universe of Buddha’s teaching can be perceived in all its depth, but none of this is either necessary or even helpful to success in the practice. Rather such study cultivates secondary faculties to be held separate from the mind of practice itself.