"Thanks Rich, Rich and Padma, and Padma: I find myself agreeing with all you say. This a quick note from work, mainly becuase I wanted to say I didn't intend a protest in any emotive sense - if the wording of your post was provocative for…"
Friends of Amida: blogs, discussion groups, and video & audio teachings
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Mat Osmond
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Latest Activity
Mat Osmond commented on richard meyers's blog post What is Sangha?"Hi Padma,
"...could it be said that to have a need to be loved is the selfsame thing in effect as to have a need to have one's love accepted? Both involve a (bonbu) need, and the certainty of disappointment of that need. Perhaps one mark…"
Mat Osmond commented on richard meyers's blog post What is Sangha?"Hi Rich, all,
I've been carrying around Rich's questions for a few days now, prompted by your discussions here. Thanks all, for some thoughtful questions and observations.
I wrote a rather lengthy reply to this last night and then it…"
Mat Osmond commented on Sujatin's group Monday Nembutsu"Sat in the garden this morning, singing nembutsu in company with gulls and spiders - and distant friends - out of and back to silence.
'May the wind keep its hand in the small of your back'.
"
Mat Osmond replied to Dr Di's discussion Other-power or Zazen?"PS I see I crossed posts with you Thomas - I was obviously referring, at the start, to Dharmavydia's reply."
Mat Osmond replied to Dr Di's discussion Other-power or Zazen?"Thanks Dharmavydia, and all above, for the recent posts. This last post sums up very well what drew me (in Amida Shu's teaching, and others') to nembutsu, and what sustains my sense of gratitude for it.
Thomas, your last few posts have…"
Mat Osmond replied to Dr Di's discussion Other-power or Zazen?"Truth: a word, often used to silence.
Silence: it comes in all colours. Like words."
Mat Osmond commented on Sujatin's group Monday Nembutsu"Talking through one thing or another here has been helpful, I'm sure it will continue be so. But I like this even better! Monday morning is the perfect time to touch base...a nembutsu thread woven into the week.
Thanks all."
Mat Osmond replied to Dr Di's discussion Other-power or Zazen?"For me shadow simply acknowledges that we are dealing here with people, and people will find more than one possibility in any set of concepts, forms, customs.
Teachings of any kind are mediated through human language and experience - that is what is…"
Mat Osmond replied to Dr Di's discussion Other-power or Zazen?"It seems to me that we will run into the sand over and over if we seek any final and perfect marriage of these 'two' positions, because - and I know there are others here who know far more than I do about both Pureland and Zen - they are…"
Mat Osmond commented on Sujatin's group Monday Nembutsu"Good morning all. A very good way to begin any week. A little poem that has been in my mind for a week now, that seems to me to say a great deal about practice, about the life of communities, about stepping forward with faith:
Hope is like a…"
Mat Osmond commented on Robert McCarthy's blog post Buddhism and existentialism"Hello Rob, Rich.
I appreciate Rich's moderation of the distinction between essence and existence. Aside from the very personal resonances specific words can have, it also seems essence and existence are a good example of how a polemical debate…"
Mat Osmond replied to Steven's discussion Sustainability"Hi Susmita, thanks for this.
I'm sure you're right, yes - we can work towards that, to whatever version of that we bring forth in our shared lives - and many people are out there doing just that already.
What that means will always be a…"
Mat Osmond commented on Robert McCarthy's blog post Buddhism and existentialism"Hi Rob,
This essay was very important for me when I first encountered it, a real watershed within a process that began a few years ago when the benign bomb that goes under the innocent name of Who Loves Dies Well fell into my lap.
My first…"
Richard Ollier left a comment for Mat Osmond"Hi Mat - many congratulations on joining Amida Shu - welcome ! Great picture on the Friends of Amida site ! Namo Amida Bu.Richard."
Mat Osmond left a comment for Shantikara"Hi Shantikara,
Many thanks for the friend invitation. I've been admiring and enjoying what you've been putting out from Hawaii, it looks like a great community you're building there.
It feels good to have come into the Shu, to name…"
Profile Information
- About Me:
- I'm 45, live with my wife and three children in Falmouth, Cornwall.
- Faith Background & Affiliation
- Having been raised in the Anglican church, I gravitated towards Buddhism in my late teens.
- Occupation or Primary Activity
- Artist and art teacher in Cornwall
- Involvement in Spirituality/Religion
- I have had a long standing connection to the Awakened Heart Sangha (Lama Shenpen Hookham), as well as to other Mahayana meditation-based communities.
- What is your interest in Amida Trust
- I recently encountered Amida Buddhism for the first time through reading "Who Loves, Dies Well". This book has affected me deeply, and I hope to learn more here.
- How did you find this web site?
- Websearched Amida Trust.
- What country are you living in?
- UK
- What is the nearest town to where you live? If in UK, please give first half of your postcode. Thank you.
- Falmouth, TR11
- Are you a member of an Amida group/Congregation
- not at the moment
- Have you visited
- The Buddhist House, Amida London
- What other interests do you have, eg Arts, Gardening and so on.
- My involvement to date in Dharma study and practice has mostly informed by shamatha-vipassana and 'formless' meditation practice within a Kagyu / Nyingma context.
In terms of my work my 'expertise', such as it is, pertains to Art, and to a longstanding interest in art - looking at it, making it - as spiritual practice.
Mat Osmond's Photos
Mat Osmond's Blog
Speaking Out
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 20:00 1 Comment 0 Likes
I have been watching the 'Occupy' demonstrations sporing themselves around our cities with real admiration. There are so many reasons not to stick one's neck out as they are doing. It can so easily seem inflated to say anything, and of course easily go wrong, and become violent.
How to turn around and confront the forces of systemic violence, greed and ignorance, but do so lovingly, without setting oneself up in judgment of other foolish beings?
I suppose it's a work in…
Continue What is faith?
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 12:09 12 Comments 1 Like
Hello,
Fiona and I recently had a brief exchange on Vow 22 (CAS) about those who we would consider exemplars, in terms of a life lived in the light of faith.
What struck me about this exchange was that we both chose people who were not known for any specifically religious declaration of faith. In my own case, I found the poet Mary Oliver stood out for me. Although she has latterly embraced explicitly Christian faith, and that may be important to know (and is no doubt important…
Continue Snail Nature
Posted on August 12, 2010 at 20:55 8 Comments 0 Likes
I’ve been very interested by the recent posts from Prasada, Richard, Massimo and others reflecting the strong interest here in relating to nature. In rather bad conversational form, I’m answering by way of adding something else, rather than commenting directly on the pieces below. I had had…
ContinueComment Wall (16 comments)
- At 10:29 on April 9, 2012, Richard Ollier said…
Hi Mat - many congratulations on joining Amida Shu - welcome ! Great picture on the Friends of Amida site ! Namo Amida Bu.Richard.
- At 6:12 on April 4, 2012,
Katrien Sercu said… Thank you for your kind words, Mat. It would be lovely if we meet once in London...now you're a seastar! And yes, Ning is a good place to share when it has good energy and we can help with that. Namo Amida Bu and warm greatings.
- At 22:24 on April 3, 2012,
Robert McCarthy said… yes Mat,several months have slipped by since the gathering at sukhavati. The sesshin is at Sahishnu's house, in the countryside somewhere. I will write just before I leave when it is clearer when I will be in UK. best wishes to you.
- At 22:36 on April 2, 2012, Robert McCarthy said…
hi Mat, wonderful to hear you join Shu. Sujatin sent a mail as your ceremony started and I wrote back to her wishing you well. Now I address my comments more correctly! A great photo now welcomes us to the friends of Amida site.
I am planning on being at Dharmavidya's sesshin in June. best wishes rob Namo Amida Bu
- At 14:35 on April 1, 2012,
Sujatin said… Thinking of you right this minute and attending Sukhavati in spirit - Namo Amida Bu!
- At 14:57 on December 12, 2011,
Fiona Robyn said… Good let's go ahead. No need for you to read what I've written unless you want to. Could you email me your email too at some point? Speak soon!
- At 11:11 on December 2, 2011,
richard meyers said… By the way..
Stunning pictures posted, many thanks - making me want to have a try!
Namo Amida Bu.
- At 11:08 on December 2, 2011, richard meyers said…
Hi Mat,
Just wanted to say the last four lines of the Jeffers poem you posted are beautiful. Here's another small RJ poem - I read this morning and thought of you.
It's a bit dark but I can relate to what's behind the poem and wanted to share it - probably you know it already!
Return
A little too abstract, a little too wise,
It is time for us to kiss the earth again,
It is time to let the leaves rain from the skies,
Let the rich life run to the roots again,
I will go down to the lovely Sur Rivers
And dip my arms in them up to the shoulders.
I will find my accounting where the alder leaf quivers
In the ocean wind over the river boulders.
I will touch things and things with no more thoughts,
That breed like May-flies darkening the sky,
The insect hordes that blind our passionate hawks
So that they cannot strike, hardly can fly.
Things are the hearts food and noble is the mountain.
Oh noble
Pico Blanco, steep sea wave of marble.
All best,
Rich
- At 13:23 on August 8, 2011, Robert McCarthy said…
Hi Mat, thanks for your generous comments. It is good to hear of our efforts to help make the teachings of our school available to many.
Yes, there have been many interesting discussions over quite some time and I have very much enjoyed meeting you through many such places.
I have started doing some transcriptions of talks. It is hard to know where to start, we are so fortunate to have so many talks to learn and be inspired from.
my email is hinicerob@yahoo.com.au. best wishes and hope to see you in a few months. Namo Amida Bu
- At 8:54 on November 24, 2010,
caroline brazier said…
- Good to hear from you. Thank you
Events
Amida Events
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Forum
Birmingham Amida Group - meeting yesterday.
Started by Richard Ollier in Amida Trust & Amida-shu Development. Last reply by Katrien Sercu May 9. 3 Replies 3 Likes
Our small but lovely Birmingham group met at Adrian's house on Saturday afternoon. As always with this group, to meet like this reminded us all what a wonderful thing it is to be able to practise…Continue
enlightened or bombu?
Started by Thomas Myojo Radcliffe in Buddhist Teaching. Last reply by Robert McCarthy May 7. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Zen is clear that we are essentially enlightened beings. Pureland insists that we are hopelessly deluded. Both seem to me to be true. On the one hand the mind with all it's contradictions,…Continue
Other-power or Zazen?
Started by Dr Di in Amida Trust & Amida-shu Development. Last reply by Thomas Myojo Radcliffe May 5. 19 Replies 0 Likes
I see Amida Trust bringing the 2 together, or are they mutually exclusive? ie the here and now focus on breath of Zazen implies continuity and oneness, whereas the 'other- power' of Amida can be seen…Continue
The prison of the question of "liking or not liking"
Started by Katrien Sercu in Amida Trust & Amida-shu Development. Last reply by Robert McCarthy Apr 30. 9 Replies 0 Likes
It is surprising how a question, which was a step forwards earlier in life becomes an ennoying limitation that, in good moments, can evoke a smile in me as it is really a funny and stupid question.…Continue
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