Amida Buddhism Newcastle

amida france retreat centre - events summer 2008

Details of events and booking information, what to bring with you etc to our wonderful retreat centre in the middle of France.

Amida France Retreat Centre - Events Summer 2008

Details of events and booking information, what to bring with you etc to our wonderful retreat centre in the middle of France.

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.

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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.

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Social Engagement

An explanation of the function of social engagement in Amida Pureland practice.

Amida Pureland Buddhism is a practice for those who have been touched by the compassionate spirit. Compassion, however, is not something that is practised just, or even best, in the confines of a hermitage. It has implication for how one organises one's life amidst other people. Spirituality has practical consequence.

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An explanation of the function of social engagement in Amida Pureland practice.

Precepts

Precepts of the Amida-shu and Amida Order

Buddhism offers ethical guidance in the form of precepts. Members of Amida-shu are enjoined to live ethical lives, but, in recognition of human nature and the diversity of life circumstances of people living regular lives in society, only a minority of lay people in this school formally commit to the keeping of specific precepts. It is better to do one's best to live an ethical life than to commit to specific rules and then find for various reasons that one is not fulfilling one's commitment. Those who do wish to take the five lay precepts or the ten Mahayana precepts may discuss the matter with a member of the Order.

Ordained members of the Order live according to a religious rule. In the case of Ministers and Chaplains this currently includes 156 precepts and for Amitaryas and Novices, a further 82, making 238 in all. These precepts do not follow the traditional vinaya. They are designed to regulate the life of a mobile, socially engaged sangha living in the contemporary world yet grounded in faith and devotional practice.

More details here

Precepts of the Amida-shu and Amida Order