What a few months!!! what a few weeks. At last I find a little time to blog and share a little of my life with friends on ning.

As I settle to my computer, rather reluctantly I must admit, producing advertising for forthcoming events here at Sukhavati, I realise how rich my life is. And how many wonderful people I am involved with.

On my wall now are posters for Dharmavidya’s forthcoming talk on the Buddhist revolution in India, and I am aware how…

In finding a right commitment towards Amida Trust, i had to go a long walk through different forms of commitment. The step from Amida-Kai to Amida-Shu was a right step. The step from Amida-Shu towards Aspirancy was also a right step, but the 'normal' fact that aspirancy leads to ordination feels not as a right step. It are not fears, laziness or fear of failure that determines me, but it's more clarity and acceptance of own limits, conditions and qualities that give me this trusty feeling…

In December, just after Christmas, Caroline fell on the ice and broke her vertebrae. A call to help was answered by Sumaya who went out there and spent almost a month nursing Caroline and taking care of the centre. She left a week ago to visit her family in the Czek Rep and now I am going out there to give a hand - and hopefully, all being well, Caroline will be able to withstand long car journeys. We shall see.

I'm now on my way.

The day before I left, I had…

Kaspa & I will be holding two open forums for chat about Pureland practice (and eating cake) in Malvern - from 10 til 12 on both Saturday the 29th Jan and Sun the 27th of Feb. If you're anywhere near Worcestershire it'd be lovely to see you - whether or not you've had any 'formal' contact with Amida before. 

Here's our website and…

There is an item in today's Guardian that attempts to sell (the word I think is entirely apt) "Meditation in Ten Easy Lessons". Lest consumers be worried that this service is something dubious from the Mystic East, the vendors offer the assurance that there are no gurus, no chanting and no religion to interfere with the pure intention to free oneself of stress. I watched a little five minute animated film which described what meditation was and how it should be employed, which proved to be a…

Dharmavidya arrived here on Saturday, a week ago. It is lovely to see that some of the features we so love when we come to TBH in Leicester have been "imported" to our house with Dharmvidya`s arrival: interesting talks during breakfast, lunch and after dinner; "Namo Amida Bu"`s in the mornings added to the common "good morning"s, and "Namo amida Bu"`s before going to bed at night, said not only by the two of us (Pundarika and I myself) but also by another person from the community; and of…

I have received the following message from our friends in India

On 19th Jan, some Phralung people are going to arrange a Phralung Buddhist rituals, we are invited to there. On 21st Jan we will attend a International seminar at Dhemaji, simon will be honored there and I shall give a talk on Buddhism. - Chandan

Today I was sorting the wood in the barn. We have three different stoves in our centre in France, and each takes different pieces of wood. In the barn there is a great diversity of wood, very small, burning like matches, which are great for the starting the fire, bigger ones, long and short, and many of them really differently twisted. I take one by one, and making decision, this one goes to the kitchen, this one to the office, and this big and curled one to the end room.

Some of them…

He has only one eye. This genetic trait he owes to membership of a caste group. Here in India exogamy is taboo and in-breeding often leads to handicaps that would be much rarer anywhere else.

He is 55. By English standards everybody in India is old for their age. He peddles a rickshaw, which is heavy work for a man of his age. In the past he has held a variety of jobs and through one of them was fortunate enough to glean a smattering of English which makes it possible for me to…

Recently I had the very good fortune to have a wonderful vegetarian dinner at a friend's house.  I was in the good company of some very educated people: 2 Ph.D.'s, 1M.A., and 1M.S.

Quickly the discussion worked its way around to religion.  I discover that, in one…

Things continue to improve. The miracle of healing unfolds. Today I walked right round the upper circuit of paths here at Amida France - across the meditation field, the top of the champ d'avoine, through the woods to medieval road and back past hut and bonfire. Even went over to orchard. Deer stripped bark from one of the trees completely. I didn't go (far) down hill in champ de la dispute (the doctor told me stay on flat) but peeped in enough to see that the boar have been digging, The…

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Please Attend the Aryablokiteswor Coin Issue Programme at Janabahal on 067/09/28 at 1.00PM

Vajryan Federation

Nearly two weeks since my fall. Gradually things improve. I realise suddenly that I am turning over without having to be sooooo careful. I get up without wincing at three points in the process. I lie most of the day without pain. I walk round the house without too much pain, though after so long in bed the process feels very strange, my head not quite sure if it should be vertical or horizantal. At the same time lying down takes its toll - a sore neck from straining to do even some basic…

I am typing this blog for Suvidya as he is sat at my side. Yesterday at Laxmi gardens Bodh vihar he was given an award for services to Buddhism in his area. He is the recipient of a large framed picture of the Buddha .The award is for his constant work in Buddhism amongst the Dalit community and work with Amida trust. Suvidya and his wife Sunita are both Aspirants with Amida and is our volunteer who works with Sahishnu each year in these poor communities where we are teaching English and…

Kaspa is at work now. This morning we had a service to welcome in the New Year, and as always when I bowed to the Buddha at the end I thought of all…