lotusinthemud

rachel becomes 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, the home of Amida Newcastle. 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, on a visit from Colorado, Rachel's husband Enrique and a friend, regular sangha member Jackie and long-term friend of Amida, David.

seeing the tashi lhunpo monks next week

I'm so looking forward to this and grateful to jackie for organising it

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, founded by the first Dalai Lama in the fifteenth century, and the seat of the Panchen Lama, is one of the most important monasteries in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Now re-established in exile in South India, the monastery is once again becoming one of the major centres of learning, best known for its artistic tradition of masked dances and sacred music. This performance features a mix of colourful dances, processions and prayers, with introductions to all the items. The monks will also be creating a beautiful mandala – a colourful design crafted from sand – on the Concourse from Monday 30th June.

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buddha’s teachings significant in troubled times: u.n. chief - vesak messages

New York - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his Vesak Day message said the Buddha’s timeless teachings of peace, compassion and love for all living beings should inspire the efforts to address the broader challenges confronting our world - in peace and security, in development and in the protection of our environment.

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china softening towards the dalai lama?

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A senior Chinese official has asked whether Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama would agree to attend the Beijing Olympics to ease recent tensions, a Tibet government-in-exile legislator said on Monday.

The Dalai Lama would consider going, the law maker said.

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japanese temple defaced after refusal to carry olympic torch

Zenkoji Temple in the city of Nagano was vandalized between Saturday night and Sunday morning with spray-painted graffiti, police said.

The 1,400-year-old Buddhist temple had declined Friday to serve as the starting point for the Japan leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay next Saturday, citing the crackdown on monks in Tibet as well as security concerns.

::link to Japan Times
::via ottmar liebert

paris honours the dalai lama

...but

China condemned on Tuesday Paris's decision to make the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen

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buddhist temple in japan withdraws from olympic flame relay

 

The Zenkoji temple in Nagano was to be the starting point for the Japanese leg of the Olympic torch relay. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

A famous Buddhist temple in Japan has been withdrawn from the Olympic flame relay over security concerns and anger at China's crackdown on Tibetans.

The Zenkoji temple in the city of Nagano said it had received 1,000 letters from across Japan calling for it to withdraw from the April 26 procession after the crackdown in predominantly Buddhist Tibet, where monasteries were raided and monks arrested.

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writing a ceremony

I've spent most of the afternoon writing a Buddhist funeral ceremony for a Chinese lady who died last week. I'll be the Minister at the funeral next Monday. Now I need to time it - I'll have 18 - 20 minutes and I think I need to cut it down a little but know what I need to keep and what I could prune.

the funeral of a man who will be sadly missed

Kit and Gillian Widdows

Yesterday I attended a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Rev Kit Widdows, the Master of St Thomas', in Newcastle city centre,who died suddenly on December 8th while giving a talk at another church. Kit was robustly involved in ethical action, enthusiastic about setting up the local inter-faith community and the Newcastle Make Poverty History group. He had a Fair Trade shop within his church. I held Kit in high esteem and with affection. ::link

amida's love

Here's a beautiful description of Susthama's experience of the 24 hour nembutsu chanting at the start of the Bodhi retreat:

The Bodhi retreat is the high point of my year. I spend all year looking forward to it and then when it comes I lap up all the love I can get from Amida, order members, school members, and newcomers. There is a certain atmosphere that is generated from the people who come to these retreats, especially in December when the weather is cold outside - and the days are short while the nights long. On the outside looking in, it looks wonderfully cozy and inviting; all huddled together with Amida, in a big room lit up with candles.
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