Amida Scotland

January 2020 sangha meeting

We will meet on Wednesday 8th January

 

 

Updated 6 January

Newsletter - October, November and Bodhi Retreat

NB: UPDATED Thursday October 10th

AMIDA PURELAND BUDDHISM IN PERTH

Sangha evenings in Perth and Bodhi Retreat in Malvern

Our next sangha evening will be on

 Wednesday November 6th

Not Tuesday November 5th

Time: 7 - 9 pm
Venue: 'Taigh an t-Solais', 19 Fairmount Terrace
Barnhill, Perth PH2 7AS

Details of where to find us are :: here

Note: Meetings are open to all.



*****

The Bodhi Retreat in Malvern 
4 - 8 December.
This year I''ll be attending the Bodhi Retreat (for Buddha's Enlightenment Day) in Malvern, rather than hosting a retreat day here in Perth, as we held last year.
This is an ideal opportunity to meet Dharmavidya and other senior members of the Amida Order, to practice with the sangha at our main UK centre at Amida Mandala Buddhist Temple and to experience 24 hours of continuous Nembutsu practice.

Satya has written: Hi all - Kaspa & I have just designed the 2019 Bodhi schedule which has been approved by Dharmavidya. We'll hold the retreat space, with guest talks by Dharmavidya, Susthama and Kaspa, with a 24 hour continuous period of nembutsu, with ceremonies and lots of space for practice, small and large groups and informal connecting with the sangha (note 2 hour lunch breaks & a free Saturday afternoon).

We hope that you'll join us for some or all of it - each day is also stand alone. The theme is a surprise which we'll reveal nearer the time : )

We already have rooms booked. We do have space for a fold-up bed in the library (Sujatin - I have booked this), and there are 2 basic bunk beds - if you'd like these let us know. We can also ask our local congregation if they can put people up - let us know if you'd like us to ask.

(Contact Satya for the local accommodation list).

We're suggesting £10 a day donation for food plus £30 for dana for Dharmavidya and to go into temple funds. Khema has agreed to organise the food - we'll be looking for main & helper chefs nearer the time.

So, if you haven't already do let us know you're coming (or if you're a maybe) so we can begin to plan.

Looking forward to it,

Namo Amida Bu, Satya

*****



NAMO AMIDA BU

Sujatin

:: link

Meeting on 3 September 2019

Newsletter :: here

News: July and August 2019

:: link

AMIDA PURELAND BUDDHISM IN PERTH

This email includes
a) links to some of Dharmavidya's short pieces of writing

b) the date of our next sangha meeting in Perth

c) an invitation to join a practice session on-line
and
d) a reminder of the on-line Introduction to Pureland Buddhism Course - and a note about the lessons we have covered in our Perth sangha meetings to date.

***
Many of Dharmavidya's short teachings and pieces of writing over the last 16 years can be found
:: here

You can find out more about our teacher :: here

*****
We are holding a sangha evening in Perth on

Tuesday August 6th

Time: 7 - 9 pm
Venue: 'Taigh an t-Solais', 19 Fairmount Terrace
Barnhill, Perth PH2 7AS

Details of where to find us are :: here

Come along and join us - and bring your friends! 

Our meetings are held in the shrine room of our 'home temple', overlooking the Kinnoull-side garden. All meetings include Pureland Buddhist practice, Evening Service, time for questions and to check in with each other. 

Our Pureland practice includes chanting, sitting, a Pureland service - no experience is necessary and an explanation will be given for each element of the evening. There will be plenty of time for questions.

Note: Meetings are open to all.

:: link
*****
I'm offering another opportunity to join me for some Pureland practice on-line via Zoom on
Thursday 18 July 18th

from 7:15 - 8pm 

Zoom is an online video conferencing service similar to Skype.



*****
The online

Introduction to Pureland Buddhism course
.
The Introduction to Pureland Buddhism Course is suitable for those completely new to Buddhism or more experienced practitioners. It will introduce you to the basic teachings of our tradition and go on to explore concepts in more depth. The course has 15 lessons each accompanied by a self-test and more in-depth discussion questions. Each student is allocated a personal tutor, who will guide and support their learning for the duration of the course. 

The on-line course fee is £30. However if this makes the course difficult to afford, reduced rates are available.  

If you have any questions or would like more details, please get in touch with
:: Sanghamitra 
the course administrator.

We have studied some of the lessons during our sangha meetings here in Perth and will continue in the future. Should you wish to attend, let me know
 
and I will send you the lessons we have covered so far. 

:: https://mailchi.mp/3d4987dffcc1/amida-in-scotland-july-and-august-2019

Amida meeting in Perth on 2 July

Amida Pureland Buddhism in Perth Next Meeting: Tuesday 2 July 2019

We extend a warm invitation to you to join us for our next Pureland Buddhist meeting in Perth

Date: Tuesday 2 July  Time: 7 - 9 pm Venue: 'Taigh an t-Solais' 19 Fairmount Terrace, Barnhill, Perth, PH2 7AS :: link for directions

a) Our sangha meeting on 2 July will include a mixture of some walking meditation, sitting meditation, chanting, a Dharma discussion and time for any of your questions.  We will give an explanation as to what we are about do before each section of the evening. There's no pressure to 'do it it right'  - just follow everyone else! Perfection is never expected - to be realistic, perfection is never possible.  What we hope is that you feel comfortable and welcomed, soak up some of the atmosphere, gain some understanding and get a taste of what Amida Pureland Buddhists' practice is.  ***** b) Also it's not too late to join an on-line session of chanting on Tuesday 25th June - details are in our previous newsletter :: here ***** Here's a :: link to some facts about Amida Shu (the Amida Pureland Buddhist School). Here are a few short posts by Acharya Kaspalita and Reverend Satyavani, of the Amida Mandala temple in Malvern - the main Amida Shu temple in the UK: :: How does Buddhism help? :: What is Amida Shu Buddhism? :: A further explanation about Amida Shu Buddhism  :: The Essence of Pureland Buddhism If you have any more questions before you come along, you can get in touch with Reverend Sujatin :: by email We'll also discuss simple practices you can do at home. Do invite any friends who you think might be interested or who might appreciate developing some peace in their lives. All are welcome - those of other faiths, seekers, Buddhists with other traditions or anyone who is curious. You are welcome to come along to every meeting, every once in a while or just the once to see what we are up to here in our 'Home Temple' in Perth. There is no cost for the evening - however, we suggest a donation of £5 or whatever you can afford, whether more or less - we want everyone to be able to attend regardless of their financial circumstances. Donations support the work of Amida Shu.

Amida meeting in Perth on 11th June

1) NB our next sangha meeting in Perth
will be on the evening of
Tuesday 11 June, not 4th 

2) I will be offering
Nembutsu practice on-line on Tuesday 25th June from 7:15 - 8pm via Zoom

This is an online video conferencing service similar to Skype. If you would like to join please let me know by email
:: here
and I will send you an invitation beforehand so you can join the session by email. If you haven’t got zoom, then please spend a little bit of time beforehand downloading the zoom app before you join us. It is very quick and easy to do

*****

3) If you would be interested in occasional teachings and discussion via
a WhatsApp group,
please let me know
:: here

https://mailchi.mp/973244065423/amida-in-perth-june-2019-postponed-meeting-2-on-line

Amida in Perth: May meeting and news of Buddhist Action Month

NB Update: May meeting cancelled!

 

Our latest newsletter:

Amida Shu   in  Scotland     May 2019 meeting   in Perth and news  and resources for   Buddhist Action  Month AMIDA PURELAND BUDDHISM IN PERTH We are holding a sangha evening on Tuesday May 7th Time: 7 - 9 pm Venue: 'Taigh an t-Solais', 19 Fairmount Terrace Barnhill, Perth PH2 7AS Details of where to find us are :: here Come along and join us - and bring your friends!  Our meetings are held in the shrine room of our 'home temple', overlooking the Kinnoull-side garden. All meetings include Pureland Buddhist practice, tea and biscuits, time to check in with each other.  Our Pureland practice includes chanting, sitting, a Pureland service - no experience is necessary and an explanation will be given for each element of the evening. There will be plenty of time for questions. We will be discussing and planning for Buddhist Action Month Acharya Kaspa is facilitating Buddhist Action Month on behalf of the Network of Buddhist Organisations UK. He writes: Last year groups from around the world took part. Buddhist Action Month is June and the theme is 'Climate Action - Personal Action'. I've just released the handbook for 2019. If you want to get involved download the handbook (below) and plan how you or your group will take action in June. Namo Amida Bu  The BAM 2019 Handbook is here Download it now: BAM 2019 Handbook The handbook explains the theme: Climate Action - Personal Action. It suggests Buddhist ways of engaging with the theme and thinking about climate change, including avoiding polarisation. There are suggestions of personal and group actions, and other groups that you can join with. It's all you need to know about Buddhist Action Month 2019. Download it now. Do forward this email on to your group leaders and Buddhist Action Month champions and enthusiasts.....and to anyone that wants the link. Warmest Kaspa Thompson NBO Membership Secretary and BAM 2019 facilitator ***** Note: Meetings in Perth are open to all. :: link ***** NB:  Amida Privacy Policy unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences  NAMO AMIDA BU Sujatin

:: link

Dharmavidya's latest book

My copy has just arrived:

 

Meeting in March 2019

Inviting you to join us in Perth on the evening of Tuesday 5 March 2019 from 7 - 9pm Come along and join us in the shrine room of our Home Temple. This is an opportunity for you to get to know us, to learn some of our Pureland chants and to ask any questions - no matter how basic or complicated - about Buddhism, Pureland Buddhism in particular, our practice and the Amida Shu (Amida School). All are welcome, newcomers, the experienced, the curious! If you'd like to find out more, you can follow these links: :: Who We Are :: A Brief Introduction to Pureland Buddhism :: Nembutsu: A Simple Home practice NAMO AMIDA BU Sujatin Acharya Sujatin Johnson, Minister with the Amida Order :: The Amida Scotland Home Site and on  :: Facebook

Bodhi Day - 8 December 2018

We will be celebrating
Bodhi Day 
(The Buddha's Enlightenment Day)
on

Saturday July December 8th

(Note There won't be a sangha evening on the first Tuesday of December)

You are most welcome to join us, ideally for the whole day. 

NB. Booking is essential

 

- via the link in the newsletter ::here

BODHI DAY SCHEDULE

This is the probable timetable although there may be some slight tweaks between now and then.

 If there's anything here you're unsure about, confused by, have forgotten how to do, have never done, fear not - all will be explained at the time! 

Acharya Sujatin will be acting as both celebrant and bell master and you'll have an Amida service book to consult so there is nothing to memorise - just join in, sit back and immerse yourself. There are cushions and kneeling stools in the shrine room - if you need a chair let us know.

Do bring along biscuits or cake to share during the breaks.


10: Arrival, coffee

10:30: Morning Service, including Summary of Faith and Practice

11: 15: Brief group check in, reading about Refuge

11:45: Pureland Practice (walking, sitting) followed by Sange Mon and Renewal/Taking of Refuge)

1: Light lunch - vegan soup, rolls, cheese, vegan pate

2: Afternoon Service and chanting to mokujo :: link

3: Dharma talk followed by tea and discussion

4: Nembutsu chanting - walking and sitting

5: Nembutsu sharing circle

5:30: Evening Service

6: Close 

This will be followed by optional supper at a restaurant in the city. 

Time: 10 am - 6 pm
Venue: 'Taigh an t-Solais', 19 Fairmount Terrace
Barnhill, Perth PH2 7AS

 Details of where to find us are :: here

There is no cost for this retreat.
However donations towards our projects in the UK and India are most welcome 

- see more :: here

NAMO AMIDA BU

Sujatin

*****
Dharmavidya: Meditation with Nembutsu 

:: Dharmavidya writes

Meditation is a natural expression of spiritual liberation. When we are swimming in grace, the heart lifts and sings. In following the Dharma one is filled with joy and gratitude that Buddha’s appear in the world. The traditional way to express this is through one or other of the formulas of Refuge, and especially nembutsu.

Meditation in Buddhism reaches its full form in keeping Buddha ever in mind and the nembutsu is a simple way to express this. The actual form of words varies a little from culture to culture - “Namo Amida Bu”, “Amitabhaya”, “Namo Omito Fo”, and so forth.

A most natural form of meditation, therefore, is to, as they say, mount the words upon the breath. Thus one can sit for a time and be aware of the breathing and with each in-breath and each out-breath, say the words… Namo Amida Bu;  Namo Amida Bu.

To sustain this for a period one needs to maintain a certain balance. The mind is such that other thoughts, images and feelings will arise. Thus it is possible for the mind to wander or even for sleep to supervene. If you are happy to fall asleep, no problem. In fact, this can be a fine way to end the day, entering slumber with the sacred words in mind.

However, if you want to maintain your practice, it is important to learn to let the intruding mental impulses enter but not dominate. To do this one should not let them get a grip upon the mind, but allow them to fragment even as they are forming. Then the nembutsu remains centre stage and other thoughts become like a background of white noise, gently pulsing in and out of awareness, but never so strong as to carry one away.

Of course, for this to be successful, one must not deem anything more important than the nembutsu itself. This can mean that a very slight effort is required as each thought or image enters, to let it drop down in importance. This is because one has already established many habits of prioritising certain ideas. If something that seems particularly important comes into one’s mind, one might need to inwardly smile and say, “Later,” and set it aside just for now. Meditation is substantially a matter of giving the object of meditation absolute priority for the time of the exercise.

I was recently a subject in a piece of research in which measurements were made of the wave patterns in my brain while meditating, and I was using this method. I am told that the results showed an unusual degree of stability in my concentration and in the presence of a steady rhythm of alpha waves. I was very interested in this. It seems that the repetitions of nembutsu do not show up in the way that thought does, but serve rather to stabilise the contemplative exercise.

I find this much more satisfactory than such methods as counting the breaths. Counting has no devotional element and is merely mechanical, whereas the nembutsu is essentially a love song and its repetition is like the beating of the heart.

Many people like to meditate and find it beneficial. We should not, however, regard it purely as a psychological self-help technique. If you meditate, do it in a way that deepens your spirit and connects you with the universal grace. I, therefore, recommend this practice. A period of sitting quietly centring all upon the nembutsu is a beautiful way to deepen one’s life.

:: link

October 2018 meeting

AMIDA PURELAND BUDDHISM IN PERTH
Inviting you to join us on
Tuesday 9th October
from 7 - 9pm

Please note the change of date - our next evening meeting  has been postponed from 2nd and will now be on October 9th Time: 7 - 9 pm Venue for all events: 'Taigh an t-Solais', 19 Fairmount Terrace Barnhill, Perth PH2 7AS Details of where to find us are :: here Our meetings are held in the shrine room of our 'home temple', overlooking our Kinnoull-side garden.  Pureland Buddhist practice includes chanting, sitting in meditation and a Pureland service. No experience is necessary and an explanation will be given for each element of the evening. There will be plenty of time to check in with each other and for questions. During our Tuesday evening meetings we are currently studying the Introduction to Pureland Buddhism course  Note: Meetings are open to all. Come along and join us - and bring your friends!  And remember, we'll be celebrating  Bodhi Day (Enlightenment Day)  here in Perth on Saturday 8th December. You'd be most welcome to join us. Let us know :: by email, if you'd like to come or are not sure whether you will be able to, but are interested. We can make more concrete plans once we know who will be here and whether you would prefer morning, afternoon, all day. We will update you with news nearer the time. It would be lovely to see you on this auspicious date!

 

:: link

Amida Pureland Buddhism in Perth, Meeting on June 5th

AMIDA PURELAND BUDDHISM IN PERTH


 Inviting you to a gathering on

Tuesday June 5th

Time: 7 - 9 pm
Venue: 'Taigh an t-Solais'
19 Fairmount Terrace
Barnhill
Perth
PH2 7AS

Details of where to find us are :: here

Come along and join us - and bring your friends! 

Our meetings are held in the shrine room of our 'home temple', overlooking the Kinnoull-side garden. 
 

All meetings include Pureland Buddhist practice, tea and biscuits, time to check in with each other. 

We have begun looking at the

Introduction to Pureland Buddhism course (see below*). 

 

You can join at any time - we can let you have notes of any previous lessons.

Our Pureland practice includes chanting, sitting, a Pureland service
 

- no experience is necessary and an explanation will be given for each element of the evening.
 

There will be plenty of time for questions.

Note: Meetings are open to all.

:: link

* The Introduction to Pureland Buddhism course is suitable for both beginners and more experienced practitioners. It will take you step-by-step from broad concepts and simple practices toward more subtle points and more advanced methods. If you are new to Buddhism, you will find everything you need here in order to get a quite thorough understanding of the basic teachings.  The course draws upon all the main writings and traditions of Buddhism, considering them from a Pureland perspective.
 

NAMO AMIDA BU

Sujatin 

Amida Scotland Newsletter 36: Meetings in April and May 2018

The next dates for your diary -
inviting you to come along to sangha meetings in Perth. 
These will be held on the evenings of
Wednesday 18 April
and
Tuesday 1 May 2018

Time: 7 - 9 pm
Venue: 'Taigh an t-Solais'
19 Fairmount Terrace
Barnhill
Perth
PH2 7AS

Details of where to find us are :: here

Come along and join us - and bring your friends!

Our meetings are held in the shrine room of our 'home temple', overlooking the Kinnoull-side garden. All meetings include Pureland Buddhist practice, tea and biscuits, time to check in with each other. 

Our Pureland practice includes chanting, sitting, a Pureland service - no experience is necessary and an explanation will be given for each element of the evening. There will be plenty of time for questions.

Note: Meetings are open to all.



*****

A reminder - if you can't get to our meetings in Perth or would like to set up additional meetings at other times of the month, and you would like advice, mentoring and resources in order to do so:

Amida Shu Home Groups

We have an offering for people who would like to practice and study Amida Shu Buddhism in their local area - Amida Shu Home Groups. 

These are local groups which can be run by anyone who is interested in our form of Buddhism. Group leaders will be offered ongoing support from an Amida Shu mentor and a pack of resources, including a suggested script to make setting a group up nice and easy. 

If you are interested in starting one of these groups you can have a look at the resources here. ***** 





Amida Shu Pureland Buddhism:
Faith and World Peace 4

The Fruit of Faith

The Buddha said to Ananda: “The bodhisattvas born in that Buddhaland expound the right Dharma whenever appropriate and, because they are in accord with the wisdom of enlightenment, their expositions are infallible and free of error. In regard to the myriads of things in that land, they have no thought of possession or attachment. Whether going or coming, proceeding or remaining, their hearts are unattached, their acts are in accordance with their will and are unrestricted, and they have no thought of discrimination... In them there is no idea of self or others, no idea of competition or dispute. With the heart of great compassion to benefit all living beings and with tenderness and self-control they bear no enmity of grudge against anyone. Free of mental hindrances, they are pure in mind and without indolence. Unbiased, noble-minded, sincere and tranquil, their hearts can revere, appreciate and enjoy the Dharma.

Commentary:

In this approach to Buddhism we do not say that you must first behave in this wonderful way and then you will get your reward as a place in nirvana. We say, rather, that the ability to act in this way is the reward. Those who enter the Pure Land act this way naturally. They enter the Pure Land through having faith. In this case we may say, having faith in world peace. Our ability to work for world peace depends upon having faith that peace is already in our midst even while having knowledge of our own inadequacy. It is precisely because we know our own inadequacy that we will abandon the tendency to work by our own self-will and turn instead to reliance upon the Buddhas, the bodhisattva-arahats and their great vows. If we rely in faith upon their inspiration , then some of their great ability to bring peace to others will flow through us. The more sincere, deep and longingful our faith the more completely we will naturally partake in the description given by the Buddha of those who dwell in the Pure Land. In this way, the Pure Land of world peace will appear in this existential world.

~ Dharmavidya David Brazier, Head of the Order of Amida Buddha

NAMO AMIDA BU

 

:: link

Amida Scotland Meeting, March 2018

All sorts of meetings and events in the area are being cancelled due to this extreme weather - if you can't make it on Tuesday 6th you can join me via Skype 

Read the newsletter here

Revised date for February + date for March 2018

New date for the February Amida meeting in Perth:
Tuesday 13th

March date:
Tuesday 6th

from 7 - 9pm

Huge apologies - I have travelled back from East Anglia, bringing with me my sister's granddaughter's nasty fluey bug which I really don't want to share with you! So - third time lucky (I hope) - I've moved the date to next week.

If you are planning to come to either of the meetings, please email me :: here. Then, should fire, tempest or illness strike and plans need to change, we can contact each other one-to-one, rather than sending to the entire list.

:: we are here

Warmest of wishes. Stay healthy!

NAMO AMIDA BU

Sujatin

Amida Newsletter 33: Meeting on Wednesday 7th February 2018

Amida Scotland - next meeting in Perth: Wednesday 7th February Note - not a Tuesday this time! Time: 7 - 9 pm Come along and join us for an evening in the shrine room of our Home Temple. This is an opportunity for you to get to know us, to learn some of our Pureland chants, to sit in meditation, to hear a Dharma talk and to ask any questions - no matter how basic or complicated - about Buddhism, our practice and the Amida Shu Pureland Buddhist School.   :: You'll find details of the venue here You'll be most welcome! NAMO AMIDA BU Sujatin Acharya Sujatin Johnson, Senior Minister with the Amida Order

Amida Scotland meeting in January 2018, now 16th instead of 9th

 

New date for next meeting: Tuesday January 16th

We were due to meet tomorrow evening, 9th January.

However I have a virus which is leaving me with headaches, back ache and feeling dizzy.

I really don't want to pass this on to you!

• I'm postponing our meeting until next week
• Venue: 'Taigh an t-Solais', 19 Fairmount Terrace,
  Barnhill, Perth PH2 7AS :: here
• Starting and ending:  7 - 9 pm

 

 

:: link

Amida Scotland Newsletter 31: our first meeting of 2018

The next date for your diary - we will meet in Perth on the evening of Tuesday 16th January 2018

Update - change of date from 9th due to illness

At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance,
I can only say, there we have been: but I cannot say where.

~ T.S.Elliot 

At the turning of the year come along and join us for Pureland chanting, tea and conversation and also to reflect on the year that has been and that which is ahead of us.

Time: 7 - 9 pm
Venue: 'Taigh an t-Solais', 19 Fairmount Terrace,
Barnhill, Perth PH2 7AS
Details of where to find us are :: here

Note: Meetings are open to all. No experience necessary.
There's no cost for these meetings - we welcome donations for Amida Shu projects in Delhi and the UK. Suggested amount £2 - £5.
This is :: our website

*****
This is the latest Amida Newsletter
'Whispers from the Bamboo Grove #50,
with news of December's Buddha Retreat at Amida Mandala in Malvern - videos of Dharma Talks, news of ceremonies etc :: link

If you don't already receive this you can subscribe :: here

NAMO AMIDA BU

 

:: link

Amida Scotland Newsletter 30 - next meeting: 9 January, 2018

Amida Shu Pureland Buddhist Sangha in Scotland

Newsletter 30 Meetings at the beginning of 2018 The next date for your diary - the sangha will meet in Perth on the evening of Tuesday 9 January 2018 (Note - we will not be meeting in December 2017. The first Tuesday in January is a Bank Holiday so we are meeting the following week) Time: 7 - 9 pm Venue: 'Taigh an t-Solais', 19 Fairmount Terrace, Barnhill, Perth PH2 7AS Details of where to find us are :: here Note: Meetings are open to all. No experience necessary. There's no cost for these meetings - we welcome donations for Amida Shu projects in Delhi and the UK. Suggested amount £2 - £5. This is :: our website  *****   Amida Shu Pureland Buddhism: Faith and World Peace 3 Measureless Light Clouds and mist of greed and enmity Perpetually obscure the heaven of truth and faith Clouds and mist obscure the sun But the light is still there behind them And even below the cloud We still have the benefit of the light.  - Shoshinge Commentary: World peace already exists. Just it is hindered by war and oppression. This odd way of putting it has advantages. The Pure Land already exists. Its appearance in our midst is obscured by our greed, hate and delusion. Nonetheless, even though we are not bathing in bright sunshine, it is not pitch dark. We are living in the light even when we cannot see the sun directly. Indeed, looking directly at the sun may be too much for us. It is only at dawn or sunset that we can bear to do so. It is not so much that world peace needs to be invented from scratch as that it needs us to have the confidence to live in it, not just at our moments of enlightenment (dawn) and our moments of tragic extremity (sunset) but day in day out even when there are many clouds in the sky. Let us be citizens of the Pure Land now, no matter what may be going on all around. We are only beginners at world peace. What do we know about it? Not much. Nonetheless, we still benefit from the light of those who have known better than we. The Buddha organised his community in a way that was conducive to the greater appearance of the Pure Land in our midst. Speaking of the Vajjian tribe, the Buddha said: “As long as the Vajjians meet in harmony, break up in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony, they may be expected to prosper and not decline. As long as they do not depart from their ancient traditions... As long as they honour, revere, respect and salute the elders among them and listen to their counsel... As long as they do not abuse wives and daughters... As long as they honour, revere, respect and salute their shrines at home and abroad... As long as they make proper provision for the safety of arahats so that such arahats may come in future and live among them and those already there may dwell in comfort... As long as they do these things, the Vajjians may be expected to prosper and not decline.” [Digha Nikaya 16, Mahaparinibbana-sutta] He then went on to draw similar conclusions about the life of the sangha community, offering a wealth of advice for the proper conduct of social life. in particular the Buddha recommended that we show acts of loving kindness to one another; that we share with others whatever we receive; that we avoid all actions that will lead to sow strife in or or others’ hearts and that we continue in a noble view of life. Such is Buddhist faith. World peace depends upon healthy community life.   ~ Reverend Dr Dharmavidya David Brazier, Head of the Order of Amida Buddha Namo Amida Bu

Newsletter 29: our meeting in November plus the on-line 30 day nembutsu course

 

:: link