lotusinthemud

buddhism and animals

Based on a talk given at Quaker Concern for Animals, May 2005

by Dharmavidya David Brazier

Buddhism offers a religious vision at three levels. At the ultimate level, the Dharma refers to our existing in the midst of a limitless ocean of grace called the Dharmakaya that is beyond our understanding. This then appears in spiritual experience at the level called sambhogakaya - the "enjoyment body" - which corresponds with the mystical centring of our being upon the influx of spirit - the enjoying of the bliss of samadhi. Samadhi is the consummate vision, the light that illumines one's life when one dwells in the fullness of faith, setting before one the remembrance of those things that are sacred. This then appears in lived life as wholesome action, transforming oneself and transforming the world through right words, deeds and activities: the level of the nirmanakaya or transformations. Loosely, therefore, there is correspondence between dharmakaya and prajna (wisdom), sambhogakaya and samadhi (contemplation), and between nirmanakaya and sila (moral action). These three levels of manifestation must always all be taken into account in a Buddhistic approach.

In social life, the Dharmic level is indicated by the deep mythic structure that, mostly unperceived, underpins the society's collective life; and this manifests at the level of spirit as the mood or morale of that social group expressed in its potent symbols and the narratives that express the hidden underlying mythic structure. All this gives depth and meaning to the actual social acts carried out by individuals and groups. Those acts, in turn, feed back into the spiritual level and move the society toward or away from wholesomeness at the ultimate level.

If we consider the specific case of a society's treatment of animals, therefore, we need to think about the deep mythology of the society as well as the merits of specific acts. If we are intent upon improving the lot of animals, then we will want to act in ways that have impact at all three levels consistently. This means ideally that we ourselves must be integrated at these three levels. If our concern is grounded in our whole spiritual life then it will not burn out or get defeated by the inevitable frustrations at the level of practical action because one will not be inwardly conflicted. Further, our mode of action will not just take into account the righting of a local wrong by any immediate means, but will naturally choose means that tend toward the transformation of society as a whole.

a visit from dharmavidya to amida newcastle

We were very pleased to have a visit from the head of our Order, Dharmavidya, to our Amida Newcastle sangha meeting yesterday evening. The sangha were introduced to the '1,000 nembutsu' chanting practice and Dharmavidya talked about Pureland practice in terms of relationship. It was a very warm and touching evening with the meeting up of long-term friends and our newer members.

pakistan to preserve 2,400-year-old buddhist caves in capital

Plan to protect the caves - ::read here

dharmavidya visits newcastle on 19th october 2010

We are delighted that Rev Dharmavidya David Brazier, head of the Amida Order, will be visiting Newcastle and attending our Amida Newcastle sangha meeting on the evening of 19th October.

Note: The meeting will be held at Amida Sanctuary, from 7 - 9 pm. Find us ::here

::link

entering paradise - a vision of love

Kaspalita writes:

Imagine a beautiful world. A world in which everyone is loved, and treated with equal respect. A world in which racism and sexism are meaningless words. A world in which everything shines, the way things shine when our hearts are full of love. A world which we are constantly falling in love with, and being loved by, over and over again.

This was the vision of the Buddha, a world of peace.

This is the vision that is described in The Larger Pureland Sutra, it is outlined by the 48 Vows Amida makes, a world in which each being shines with a natural beauty, and naturally long to be compassionate towards others.

::continue reading here

1903 photos that showed tibet for the very first time to be auctioned

An incredible set of pictures taken during the controversial 1903 British Mission to Tibet has come to light - the first ever photos to come out of the mysterious country.

The rare snaps were taken by an officer during the campaign - the first time the British were given access to the country.

They depict the haunting beauty of the secluded country and brought images of Tibeten landscapes including Mount Everest to the west for the first time.

The 72 stunning pictures show local people, buildings and even a group of nuns gathered to smile for the camera.

The pictures date from the notorious expedition of Edwardian adventurer Francis Younghusband in 1903-04 and gave the western world their first glimpse of life in the hidden kingdom

 

The photographs were painstakingly pasted into an album and stored carefully, passing down through his family over the years

 

The Council of four in the Potala palace. The fleeing Dalai Lama left these officials behind to negotiate with the British

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317360/Tibet-1903-photographs-secret-kingdom-auctioned-off.html#ixzz11P56mCv6

3.10.2010: planning for the conference on 'culturally engaged buddhism

From Dharmavidya:

I had a meeting today with Diane who is co-ordinating the planning of the 6th Living Buddhism Conference 12-15 May 2011 which will be on the theme "Culturally Engaged Buddhism" and will include presentation of all aspects of work associated with the Amida international sangha. We were looking at the best ways to publicise this event which takes place every three years and would like to hear from anybody who might like to help. The conference is now open to bookings and proposals for presentations of papers or workshops. 

via amidatrust.typepad.com