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Amida Shu in Delhi: An Introduction and a Request for Help with Funding: Whispers From The Bamboo Grove, Amida News #45

Introducing Amida Shu in Delhi: A Request for Support

Reverend Jnanamati writes:

I’d like to tell you about the Amida sangha in Uttah Pradesh, Delhi.

The sangha began over 10 years ago, when Rev Sahishnu and Acharya Modgala were invited to go to Delhi to carry out an educational programme which taught English to Dalit children on the streets of Delhi. The Dalits – or so-called ‘Untouchables’ – are the lowest caste in the Indian system and are subject to the most extreme prejudice, seen as less than human, worthy of no respect and restricted to work regarded as unclean. Dalits generally live in great poverty and often fear for their lives, especially if they challenge the system. Learning English is an essential first step to improve the prospects of Dalit children.

The educational programme was a great success, teaching English to many dozens of street children and their Dalit families, and helping to gain respect from the local authorities.

The Delhi sangha grew as the fruit of this work. Children and their families asked for classes in Buddhism and then became Buddhists, inspired particularly by the legacy of Dr Ambedkar’s Dalit Buddhist Movement, which sees Buddhism as a way out of the Dalit predicament.

When Rev Sahishnu retired 3 years ago, Rev Suvidya, a local member of the Dalit community, was ordained as a full minister and took over the leadership of the project, to great success. A local organisation, the Amida Buddhist Association (ABA), was set up at the same time and now oversees the work of the project. Last year, new premises were rented to become the sangha’s first Dharma centre.

Rev Suvidya runs three busy weekly children’s classes in three different locations, teaching English and Buddhism, as well as leading two adult/mixed family services. He also makes regular pastoral visits to Buddhist families and others needing support.

You can read more about his work here :: Amida India



For the last three years, Amida Trust* has supported Rev Suvidya in his work by providing him with a modest allowance and paying the Dharma centre rent. However, the Trust now needs to find additional donations to maintain the level of financial support needed to sustain this wonderful project. We are fundraising and have a team concentrating efforts on new ways of attracting donations, but………

We need your help. 

Please help us to support Suvidya, Suando, Sudoshin and the community by making a donation today. 

No matter how small, your contribution will make a difference and help us secure the future of this project. 

We would particularly welcome regular monthly contributions.
Even £5 per month would have a significant impact.

You can make a donation online

In the UK - use this link ::CAF Donate

Based outside the UK - you can donate in euros, USD or CAD using PayPal or by card at the bottom of the page :: here
*****
Follow Amida India on :: Facebook

* Amida Trust is a registered charity in the UK. The Trust supports the work of the Shu in the UK and Delhi. It supports people to come to the dharma, to learn and practice and to open their hearts to give and receive loving kindness.

NAMO AMIDA BU

Amida Newsletter #43, announcing a retreat in the UK

Summer Retreat - Dwelling in Entrustment

13th - 18th August in Holland House, Worcestershire, UK



A residential retreat

Spend a week learning to trust, 'lean in' and be held on this Pureland Buddhist retreat led by priests with the Amida Order:
 Rev. Kaspalita, Rev. Jnanamati and Rev. Satyavani.

The perfect opportunity to deepen your connection the sacred. Dharmavidya is not running any retreats in France this year, so come and join us at this beautiful location in the UK. 

This retreat will include silent contemplation, chanting, personal enquiry through the creative process (including writing, poetry and visual art), group sharing and dharma talks. The retreat is open to all - Pure Land Buddhists, Buddhists from other traditions or other spiritual practitioners interested in learning experientially about the Pure Land way and a more faith-based tradition of Buddhism. 

This retreat is an opportunity to enter more deeply into the Pure Land practices. Dharmavidya has referred to Pure Land Buddhism as refuge Buddhism, and explains that rather than being a tradition that encourages the cultivation of practice Pure Land invites us, over time, to deepen our refuge. The various practices we engage in are devotional and are in this context ways of deepening our refuge in Amida Buddha. They are also ways of opening to the grace of tariki or Other Power of the Buddhas.

Venue: The retreat will be held at Holland House near Evesham in Worcestershire, a beautiful retreat centre with lovely gardens with a great kitchen. The cost includes all accomodation, delicious food and dana for the retreat leaders.

Cost: A £40 deposit is required to book your space - this deposit is non-refundable. The earlybird fee (until end Feb 2017) is £365, after this the fee £395. Unwaged fee £345. Payment by installments is also an option. For details of how to pay your deposit and secure your place, contact Satya: [email protected] 
Phone 01684 572444. 

You can read more about the retreat leaders below, read more about the Amida-Shu school of Buddhism at www.amidashu.org, or more about the Amida Mandala temple at www.amidamandala.com. 

Namo Amida Bu

The Retreat Leaders
Rev. Kaspalita runs the Amida Mandala Buddhist Temple in Malvern with his wife Satya. He is a practising psychotherapist and offers mindfulness classes as a part of Mindfully Whole. He co-runs Writing Our Way Home, a mindful writing company, with Satya. 

Rev. Jnanamati is a Pureland Buddhist Priest with the Amida Order. He works as an art therapist and also does chaplaincy work in health care settings. He is the Amida-Shu representative for the Worcestershire Interfaith Network. 

Rev. Satyavani is a Pureland Buddhist Priest, psychotherapist in private practice and a writer. She co-authored 'Just As You Are: Buddhism for Foolish Beings' with Kaspa and has written several novels.

See the Facebook event or get in touch for more information.

:: link

Amida involvement in India - the early days

Recently some of the information from the website I made some time ago has been transferred by Reverend Kaspalita to the much cleaner-looking  Amida India website.

However, as some of the history of how the Amida Order came to be involved have been condensed, here are some of the stories:

Dharmavidya ~ The beginning: How Amida became involved

Dharmavidya and Suvidya in Shanti Nagar

Back in the 1990s sometime I was at a meeting concerned with our work in Africa when a bhikkhu gave me a letter from a Chakma refugee in India. I replied to the letter and thus began our involvement with the Chakma tribal people in the North East. In due course this led to visits by representatives of the Chakmas to Amida trust in the UK. One of these was another bhikkhu, Anomadharsi. He urged us to start a project in India and advised that it would be best to do so in Delhi. In due course Amida people, including Acharya Modgala, were on their way to Delhi to set up an educational project. The scheme worked with children of impoverished families and focused on the teaching of English. Language teaching, however, also provided a vehicle for examination of social attitudes and an attempt to introduce an approach to education that is non-violent and inclusive. The project was a success, but we certainly had to learn a lot ourselves about the local culture and possible ways of proceeding. In due course a disciple of Modgala, Reverend Sahishnu, a minister in the Amida Order, took over the leadership of the project and with a notably creative and imaginative style was able to increase the outreach of the project to more groups living in even greater degrees of deprivation. Later Jnanamati, an Amida amitarya, also became involved and has given support to the Delhi project and also to the work of the Tathagata Trust in Assam with whom we have latterly established good connections. Modgala, Sahishnu, Jnanamati and numerous volunteers have done courageous work with minimal resources and the projects in Delhi and Assam now, in addition to teaching English, also provide important support to those in India who wish to return to traditional forms of Buddhism as a basis for community development, social advancement and the spread of wisdom and compassion.

 

Beginnings - Modgala's Story

Sahishnu with her teacher Modgala (right)

In July 2004 Dharmavidya asked me to go to India. Previously I had said no but this time I said yes, because Anomadharshi, a Chakma monk, who had co-founded the Maitri project in Delhi, convinced me of the need and I learnt that there was already an excellent experienced volunteer on board – Joy Marston*. The request was to provide teaching of English as a foreign language to people of the disadvantaged and oppressed Dalit community, as the ability to speak English in India is seen as a distinct advantage in the job market.  There was also a need for Buddhist teachings, because many Dalits are Buddhists, their families having been followers of Dr Ambedkar and converting to Buddhism in the 1950s. 

In November 2004 Joy, Cathy (another volunteer) and I went to join Anomadharshi in East Delhi where the Maitri project had rented a large apartment. This was to give us accommodation and provide teaching spaces. The Chakmas (monks and lay people) advertised our presence and we did wonder if anyone would come. Initially only two teenage boys turned up, but they spread the word and soon we had over 50 children and young people, so that we had to set up a waiting list for daytime classes and provide evening sessions for the older students.
 
In the beginning there were struggles around discipline with our students. They were used to learning by rote and had never experienced our teaching methods. It soon became clear that it would be vital to set up a code of conduct.  This was practical and effective and helped students realise a new way of living and learning in a gentler but lively, structured and disciplined atmosphere.
 
Joy, an experienced teacher, inspired the younger ones, Cathy set up classes with older students, and I held conversation classes as our students started to be able to speak some English. In my classes, we discussed the many difficulties that faced young people and the activities they enjoyed – particularly cricket!. Ultimately we were able to talk about preparing for exams, interviews and the world of work. This demonstrated our students’ growing confidence. As our experience grew, we decided that the classes worked best for 15 to 25 year olds, we put in place an active programme of encouraging female students and we also welcomed students of all faiths.
 
Requests came for Joy to teach in Buddhist temples where there were predominantly younger students. We were also asked to go to Shanti Nagar where there was a Buddhist community on the outskirts of Delhi. I will never forget the look on the women’s faces at Shanti Nagar when they first experienced Joy’s teaching and realised that they too could learn some English. They had thought it was impossible. This is another important aspect of the project – learning instills confidence and faith.
 
While we were in Delhi, the Tsunami happened and I was asked to visit and see the devastation and to see where Amida Trust could help. The worst affected were the very poor Dalits. I went around giving talks and meeting with people and distributing books and bags to the children who had lost everything. When we returned to India in 2005 we had nine volunteers who divided their time between the Delhi project and the children’s hostel in Tamil Nadu to help Tsunami-affected children recover from the trauma.
 
*The Delhi project was subsequently run by Joy Marston, who is now called Sahishnu, having been given this name when she ordained as an Amida Minister.
 
Acharya Modgala Duguid ordained as a nun in 1998 and is a senior teacher in the Amida Order.

 

Kaspalita reflects on his visits to Amida Delhi

I've been to the Delhi three times with Amida, the first time was just a flying visit when I went to support some refuge ceremonies there, the second and third time were substantial visits, about six weeks each, I think. At the most basic level, I went because I was asked to, but of course it was more than that. I was excited to visit another culture, and nervous too. I had been inspired by hearing Saishnu and Modgala talk about their time there and was eager to experience it for myself. 

Kaspa at Ambedkar Jyanti Celebrations

 

Each time I visited I was warmly received, and friendships grew. It is this warmth and friendship I remember most about my visits there, the open handed generosity with which I was treated. The vast amounts of tea I consumed, and the weight I put on from all the wonderful food my hosts provided. Basic food, but infused with love. All of this stands in contrast to the material conditions. Open sewers, hungry mosquitoes, families struggling to afford simple food and medicines.

The families we worked alongside were mostly Dalit families, and mostly converted to Buddhism because of Dr Ambedkar. There's plenty written on how difficult it has been for Dalit families in India, and it's a complex picture, but it's true that in my time in Delhi there were stories of violence coming from caste differences, and stories from the families we worked alongside that showed me castesim is far from gone.

It was a delight leading Buddhist classes for children, and assisting Sahishu with the English classes. We were exposing the children and their parents to a completely different culture of learning. Learning through playing and creating (transmitting) enthusiasm in a way I sensed doesn't happen so much in Indian schools.

 

Many of the children we work with are from families who can't afford colored pencils and a few sheets of paper and it's a real joy to see then learning to create art, and coming back the next year to see the same children growing and their work developing.

I made some great friends in India, who taught me a great deal. It would be wonderful if we can keep supporting them.

 

Jnanamati's visits to Delhi

I first visited Amida Delhi in 2010 shortly after joining the sangha of the Amida Order, then based in Narborough in the UK. Not only was I just starting out on a path of training where many things were new to me but also this was my first time in India and first time travelling outside of Europe.

I remember the first day distinctly, the warm welcome from Rev. Sahishnu, Prakash Nagar (now a Lay Order member) and members of the sangha, most of whom I met at the small flat Prakash rented for us. A gathering in my honour, that evening I had the pleasure to encounter the people who would subsequently become special friends, and dharma brothers and sisters.

In the weeks that followed I assisted Rev. Sahishnu as she conducted English classes with children in some of the poorest areas on the borders between Delhi and Uttah Pradesh. It was also a great pleasure to be invited to conduct Buddhist services with those who had decided to follow the Amidist way.

Jnanamati with Suando as she ordains

 I only have space for a short summary here, and anything I share will not do full justice to the project or the richness of experience I have received through my involvement. I have since returned to the project now on a number of separate occasions, either to assist the sangha directly or to visit friends when travelling to other parts of India. In that time I have seen the sangha move to new premises in Ashok Nagar, seen Dharma friends ordain and others advance in their roles in relation to the Amida Order and the Delhi sangha itself.

The generosity of spirit stands out amongst members in Delhi, and this despite the evident paucity of resources and conditions they must face in their daily lives. In fact our most senior community leaders, Suvidya and Suando live in a one room dwelling with their two grown up sons and dog, Jacky. Despite these challenges they give as much as they can and are dedicated to the development of the small group of Buddhists that make up their community. I am privileged to count many as my friends and to have been welcomed into the lives of some very special people. I have spent time teaching wonderfully open hearted children and now have had the opportunity to witness how many who have attended the classes have developed and grown through Sahishnu's efforts.

Amita Jnañamati, Amitarya OAB

Sujatin: Most of the photographs on this site are by Jnanamati for which, great thanks

 

Sahishnu - how I came to be involved with the project in Delhi

 

I had been a member of the Amida Sangha since the late 1990s, during which time I became a disciple of Modgala’s. When I heard about the proposal for work in Delhi under the Maitri project in 2004, I asked if I could go to India with Modgala as a volunteer and help her to set it up.  Back then, at the beginning, I had very little idea of how deeply involved I would later become.

Although the work of teaching English to people of the Dalit community was valuable, at the beginning I did feel rather like a service provider trapped in an authoritarian Victorian kind of school, where the teacher was the fount of all knowledge, with the task of merely prepping the students for their exams. I knew that the suicide rate is very high within the Dalit community, and I was desperate to do what I could to help change the mind set that led to the suicides. So while the work was rewarding, I still felt that we were not reaching the very poor Dalits (former Untouchables) that I so wanted to help.

One day, I accompanied Modgala to the grounds of a small temple where she had been invited by some female students to tell them about Pureland Buddhism. A small gang of kids turned up disrupting the discussion, so I took them into the temple and kept them busy with rhymes and actions. They enjoyed themselves so much that they begged me to come back and to teach them some more. I
agreed and did so, and within weeks over 100 kids in this slum would turn up to learn because it was fun. Moms and Dads came too, and then over time people came from other areas to ask me to teach their communities, having heard about me through word of mouth.

When the Maitri project folded, I relocated to a flat just outside that slum. By this time, I had been asked to become project leader. I decided to extend the outreaches into the slums and to teach English to the younger children in a fun, interactive and engaging way, in an attempt to instill a love of learning and creativity. Through doing the teaching work I have become very much part of the local
communities, and on their request started to teach them about Pureland Buddhism. We now have a healthy set of communities who have become Pureland practitioners, with 1 Lay Order member, 3 Gankonin and more joining Amida-shu each year. We hold weekly services at our new centre above our Order Member Prakash’s house. I love the ladies’ day best when we have a meal together and a service. We serve 5 communities now: Laxmi Garden, Shanti Nagar, Jawan Nagar, Ambedker Colony and Ashok Nagar. Of course I
continue to teach English to these communities and also to the street beggar children in Pahar Ganj in the backpacker area of Delhi. We supply all the materials necessary, as although there is a room, desks and a whiteboard, all of which have been donated, there are no teachers (apart from myself) or teaching materials at all. I am now involved in training people from within these communities to carry on the project: for instance, I am teaching the Pahar Ganj child councilor how to teach as I do, and I am training members of the Sangha to become Buddhist ministers in their own right.

 

Endorsement of Sahishnu and her work in Delhi

So honourable and most respectable Madam Sahishnu

You have prepared to leave for England. It is unbearable sorrow for us all. But it is urgent to go to you. England is your motherland and everybody likes to love one's country. You must go to gain your family. It is our great pleasure.

Madam Sahishnuji

You came to India by sparing your most valuable time and your health also does not favour you, yet summoned the courage to come to us to teach English [to] poor children and you taught not only the children but also us. We had a great inspiration from you to be devoted to Lord Buddha's doctrines and his religion. Buddha who had come over worst persons. He was the prophet of peace, love and equality. What a glorious matter you have embraced (adopted) His religion. He taught the people that no one is greater or lower than one another. He taught all are born equal and have same (equal) right to live. Even he thought that all creatures are equal to human, loved equally. It is a matter of great pride you follow Him (Buddha). All the members as well as the Proctor (Bhanteji) wish to express their gratitude and obligations to you. The Bl (belong to Samrat Ashoka Buddha Temple). The Committee (Regd) to Samrat Ashoka Budha Temple) wishes that Amida Trust should take it over and make it run. It is well better it runs under eye and care of the Trust.

Amida Trust is indulged to take Buddha's message and teaching all over the world. His message causes peace and tranquility in the world. He wishes so and you [are] on the way to carry on his words. You are great like Buddha and Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar revived his religion and brought a new sensation and awakening among the troddens. He gave the great talismans to Dalits (trampled):

1: To be educated

2: to be united

3: To make struggle

Baba Saheb Bhim Ambedkar was also great like Buddha. We can say that Baba Saheb was the incarnation of 'Buddha'.

Madam, we are unable to repay you of your devotion and dedication towards 'Buddha'. You read about Buddha through Baba Saheb's books and you left for Buddha's mission of religion. We have no words to express your obligation and gratitudes. We would say only that you are great and we hope [for] your happy and long life by the grace of great Buddha and hope [that you] come again next year.

 

Endorsement of Sahishnu by the residents of Laxmi Gardens

On behalf of the residents of Laxmi Garden colony (slum) Loni (Ghaziabad) U.P.,

we are the residents of Laxmi Garden Colony Loni Ghaziabad U.P.

Herewith, we beg to state that on the request (invitation) of all of us, Madam

Sahishnu comes here (to this place) - how glad we are, no words we have [to

express this]. [Despite] being so ill, she comes to us and fills us with great joy. 

Everybody - children alike elders - are very much pleased with her and wish

[that she comes] every year. She not only teaches English [to] the children but

she also gives the complete information about Guatam Buddha and jewel of

India Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Everybody listens her very attentively. She tells

about Buddha and his teaching in a good way. She teaches the children English

Grammar nicely, [sets] the children tests and gives prizes to the well-doers.

She gives the children toffees, toys, pencils, stars, and books related to Buddha

and Ambedkar. She spends a lot of money on such good deeds. We can never

forget her [and] we wish her long life so she may guide us. We are consider[ably]

indebted and owed to her. She gets many papers prepared to give the test of

English Grammor and Buddha as well as Babasad Ambedkar – [before] we were

all most ignorant about both these great personalities. Now we are familiar with

them through respected SahishnuGi. She is [a] good fan of them and considers

them a means of inspiration.

Signed by:

Sushma Gautam Choudhury Amint

P.S: You have passion and compassion. You have compassion like Quan Shi

Yin so you [are] Quan Shi Yin for us.

Sarvesh Bodh Rakhi Gautam Naresh Gautam Arvind Gautam

 

Kaspalita's visit to Delhi, August 2014

Reverend Kaspalita visited the Delhi sangha, at the behest of the Trust, in August 2014. On 23rd he wrote:

From Delhi, with love

It’s my second day here in Delhi and my first full day after my arrival yesterday morning. My energy levels are up and down. I guess that comes from a combination of the heat during the day, the heat during the night that keeps me awake, and the fact I’m still catching up from the loss of sleep on an overnight flight where I, perhaps foolishly, thought I would be able to slumber the whole night through.

I'm here on behalf of Amida Trust, who will be more directly funding the project here. In the past we have supported the project through sending volunteers, and through providing Sahishnu with the funds she needed when she was the project leader here. 

Now the project (the Amida activity, if you like) is being led by Suvidya a Minister in our Order, and he has created a local organisation which the Trust will fund to enable the project to continue.

I'm here to make sure everything that needs to be in place, is in place as much as it can be, in order for that to happen.

Suvidya and his wife Suando came over this morning and we caught up with our respective news. They both look well and Suvidya’s English is much better than the last time I was here four years ago.

I was heartened to hear that Suvidya hosts services at his home each morning and evening, and that people from the local community come and join him. He’s also teaching Buddhist classes and basic English classes to children.

English is one of the official languages here in India in a country with so many different official languages it often becomes the language of choice when people with two different native languages meet, although I hear that this may be changing with the new prime minister.

Either way it’s still an important skill and one that children of poor families often don’t get much support in learning. When the Order first made friends in Delhi we asked them, “what’s the most useful thing we can do to help?” Teaching English was the answer.

Suvidya is also meeting lots of different people interested in Pureland Buddhism. We talked about how we don’t feel like we need to convert people to this style of Buddhism. Suvidya has said that some people practicing Theravaden Buddhism here are quite happy in their own tradition, and in terms of reaching out to people with an Amidist message, it’s often non-Buddhists who are more interested.

This is equally true in the UK of course, if you are happy with the tradition you are practicing in you might be interested to learn about other forms of Buddhism, but you’re not likely to attend their meetings.  

Part of the role I feel we have is to support people who have faith in good things, whether or not those good things go by the same name as our good things. This isn’t to say we should throw away our critical thinking, but to appreciate that there are many good ways of practicing. It was good to hear Suvidya coming to the same conclusions.

A great deal of the work he does is teaching Buddhism to the children of families who are either neglected by other monks, or are in relationships to monks who have been taught how to chant a few texts in Pali but are less adept at putting across teachings in local languages.

I am sure the care he shows and the enthusiasm he has for his faith is equally as important as the content of the message he is teaching.

Suvidya and Suando spent the morning here, but by lunchtime they could see I was flagging and took their leave.

I’ll meet them again tomorrow morning.

I’ve got some energy back this afternoon, perhaps I am becoming a little more used to the heat, or more likely having a rest helped.  Anyway it’s given me the concentration I’ve needed to write here, and to catch up on a few other bits and pieces.

With love from Delhi, where they are waiting for the rains,

Kaspa

:: link

Kaspalita's visit to Delhi, August 2014: 2 A Buddhist Class in India

On 24th August Kaspalita wrote:

The sky is darkening as I write this. It’s the end of Sunday and I’ve been much more awake today. Either I’m getting used to the heat or I have just caught up on the sleep I had been missing out on.

This afternoon I took the opportunity to visit one of the children’s classes that Suvidya is teaching. I was curious to see what they were like now that he’s leading them on his own, and wanted to make the most of my revived energy levels.

Yesterday there were around thirty children in the afternoon class, today there were just under twenty. There’s no register, so to speak, although the children that do appear are all regulars.

We met in the front room of Suvidya’s brother’s house today. I think it was the atmosphere that impressed me the most, and Suvidya’s unhurried relaxed leadership.  There were children of all ages there, from just a couple of years up to fifteen. It was wonderful to see them all sharing the space, interacting with each other and being interested in what was happening in the class.

It was the English lesson first, and then the Buddhist class. Whilst anyone can drop in to the English classes, Suvidya makes sure that only children with their parent’s permission come to the Buddhist group. Today most of the children in the Buddhist group were from Hindu families, it’s crucial for the children to get the parent’s permission in those cases (in all cases really), and for us to be clear that they have it. We don’t want to convert people, which is a sensitive issue in India, rather make a space for those that want to attend to attend.

There was chanting, prostrations, a ‘pop quiz’ on the five precepts, and I told a story to the class before seeing the magnificent pictures they had been colouring in.

I did take a few photos but don’t seem to have captured any smiles, although there were lots of smiles there. I think they must all have been concentrating on what Suvidya was saying when I was behind the camera… that’s my excuse anyway.

Love from Delhi

An Urgent Call for Help

Reverend Jnanamati writes:

Dear Dharma Friends

Many people in the Delhi/UP border regions of India are currently suffering fever, some the more potentially dangerous and fatal virus dengue. A number of members of the Amida group based in the area of Shanti Nagar have fallen ill and at least one, Amida shu member Rakesh has been hospitalised. Rev. Suvidya, our minister, also has a worsening fever. This morning he put out a call for help on Facebook as members of his community have little money and will struggle to pay for the anti-virals to treat their symptoms. I spoke to him on Friday and at that time he was also telling me that Rakesh's family would only be able to pay two thirds of his hospital bill (about 50,000 Indian Rupees). In paying what they can they will be in debt and most likely have little money available to buy food and other essentials. 

On the behalf of Amida Delhi we would like to ask for your help by making a donation so that members of the community can buy the medicines and obtain the medical care they need. We know times are hard and that there are many other causes and citizens of the world facing extreme hardships; burdened with illness, disease and famine. However this is a group of people who are also our colleagues, who are doing Amida's compassionate work with others and who really do need our support at the moment. If you can spare something please do donate by following the link (:: here) on the left of this page "SUPPORT NEPAL & INDIA" and click the "DONATE" button.

All money will go to Rev. Suvidya to directly enable the provision of medicines and care to his congregation.

Much gratitude

Namo Amida Bu

:: link

whispers from the bamboo grove - amida newsletter 23

Upcoming Amida Events around the World

Retreat with Dharmavidya
Friendship on the Path
24 - 28 February 2015
Venue: Amida Mandala
:: details here

Dharmavidya
will be speaking at 

- the First World Congress for Existential Psychotherapy
14 - 17 May 2015 in London
 

- the conference
'Mindfulness and Compassion: The Art and Science of Contemplative Practice'
3 - 7 June 2015, California

http://www.mcc2015.org
 

- the ITZI Conference, Madrid, 25 - 27 September 2015 

http://www.itziconference.eu

Amida Birmingham
Meetings on 14 February, 14 March, 11 April at 10 am
For further details, venue etc, email Reverend Sanghamitra
:: facebook

Amida Hawai’i

Monthly Amida Hawaiʻi sangha gatherings/practices and the Bodhi Buds youth group:  Sangha Gatherings 4th Friday of month - 6:30 - 7:00 Tea, Treats & Talk Story, and 7:00 - 8:30pm Pureland Buddhist practice.
Bodhi Buds youth group meets from 9 - noon, on the 4th Saturday, every other month.
:: website
:: facebook

Amida London, UK
Sangha meetings: Tuesday evenings 7 - 9 at "Zen in London", Basement Flat, 486 Caledonian Road N7 9RP
For further details of meetings contact Reverend Padmaghosa

Amida Mandala, Malvern, UK
After much hard work and activity during the last couple of months, the temple is now up and running and offering a wonderful variety of events.

Weekly Scheduled Events:
Wednesday evening service, Friday morning service, Sunday morning service, Sunday evening sharing circle
:: further details here
Find out about retreat days, open mornings, art events, volunteer work sessions, :: here
:: website
:: mailing list
:: contact details
:: facebook

 

'whispers from the bamboo grove 16' - featuring the amida magazine, 'running tide 30'

Running Tide 30, the Amida Magazine

November 7th, 2013

The magazine has a new editor, Adrian Thompson, who has just taken over editorship from his brother, Kaspalita.
The latest edition is now available. Do read the excerpts from some of the articles, which you will find below, and follow the links to the complete articles, which are included as blog posts on :: Friends of the Amida Order
*****

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT ORGANISATION

Dharmavidya David Brazier


I was struggling to express in as few words as possible the fact that the Amida Sangha now operates through a number of bodies like Amida Trust, Amida India, IZT, IZTI and so on. This is similar to the principle of organisation in Alcoholics Anonymous, that the Sangha as such does not do worldly things, but its members do set up bodies to do valuable things in the world. On the one hand, we need vehicles to do such work. On the other hand, the Sangha in and of itself needs to be independent of any such commitment because of the compromises that it inevitably entails.


If we think about organisation, then we are thinking about co‑operation and the means that enable co‑operation to be more extensive and effective. Organisation is a plurality of people working on a common task. The Sangha should therefore be concerned about organisation, but we should be careful that the logic of organisation should not take priority over the spiritual purpose.


I would, therefore, like to distinguish firstly between Sangha and organisation. Of course, we can say that the Sangha is a kind of organisation, but here I want to differentiate the two. The essence of Sangha is spiritual leadership. The point of organisation is to get things done. Clearly there is an important relationship between these two and it is primarily the relationship between Sangha and organisation that I want to explore here.

Sangha works on a gratuitous principle. A Sangha worker does not work for the sake of an extrinsic reward, nor even really in order to achieve a task. He or she works for the good of good itself. Virtue is its own reward. The good of one soul is the good of all souls. The merit accumulated enables innumerable beings to enter the Pure Land. In practice, this means from each according to his ability and to each according to need. Need, in this case, is often what is needful in order to do the work, and, in particular, to do the work in such a way that the distinction between work and spiritual practice dissolves.


This is the ideal which we attempt. It means that all work is part of spiritual training. Insofar as we fall short of the ideal, we know that there is some lack of faith and so some cause for reflection. This, however, should not be taken harshly since it is normal. None of us has perfect faith and we should not expect it of one another. We each do what we can with the human material that we have in ourselves and in one another and this is, of course, karmic material and so is inevitably limited, fallible, vulnerable and foolish in many ways. This bombu reality also implies that there are many types of people and this is both a strength and a weakness, but it is certainly something to be taken into account. The application of rational principles to all in a uniform fashion may, in some situations, be the least bad option, but it is not an ideal.


When it comes to getting things done it will commonly be found that there are a small number of people who have a will for the task and a larger number who, while broadly sympathetic, actually have other priorities. There will be others again who think the whole idea misguided and a further section who are neutral or uninterested. One principle in organisation, therefore, should be to put the people who have a will for the task in a position to get on with it and it will be well if the second group, while making occasional suggestions, largely confine themselves to applause and support in kind. Of course, as a venture evolves, if it prospers, it is likely that others will become inspired by it and the group of those with a will may grow. Such growth is to be welcomed, but it also brings its own problems.