Teachers |
Dharmavidya David Brazier (Rev. Dr.) is Dharma teacher to the Amida Trust. He holds a doctorate in Buddhist psychology and is author of a number of books.
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Prasada Caroline Brazier (Rev. Sr.) is an amitarya in the Amida Order, M.Phil., author of the book Buddhist Psychology and other writings.
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Modgala Duguid (Rev. Sr.) is an amitarya in the Amida Order, psychologist, active in the Amida Trust's engaged projects and compaigning work.
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Sujatin Johnson (Rev.) is a minister in the Amida Order.
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Sundari Gina Clayton, is a chaplain in the Amida Order, former university lecturer, with skills in process work.
| Bhaktika Mike Fitter, is a chaplain in the Amida Order member, organisational consultant, psychologist.
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Home Page
Amida Order News
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Buddhist Psychology Info
Full 2006–2007 Course Prospectus
Course Prospectus – text only for quick download
Full 2006–2007 Volunteer Information Pack
Volunteer Pack – text only for quick download
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Amida Trust Courses in association with World Buddhist University
Many of these courses carry credit within on-going programmes: see Course Prospectus: Full or Text Only
2006 JUNE
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24th–25th June
Study Retreat
“Beyond Humanism, Beyond Theism”
A weekend of teachings, practice, discussion and study. If you want to understand Pureland Buddhism more deeply, do come along to this event. Pureland is noted for its compassionate acceptance of the person “just as you are” and also for its devotion to the measureless Buddha Amida who, yet, is not a god or creator. These doctrines give Pureland a distinctive character different from the theistic religions, yet not identical to secular modernism either. Come and explore the subtle spirit of bitter-sweet paradox that lies at the heart of what D.T.Suzuki called Japan’s most precious spiritual gift to the World. Donations will go to the Chaplaincy Development Fund. To book, contact courses@amidatrust.com |
2006 JULY
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8th to 30th July: Amida Retreat Centre, Berry, France
Teaching Retreat
At our retreat centre in central France Dharmavidya will give teachings on The Larger Pureland Sutra, the most important text in the Pureland tradition, source of the Amida perspective on metaphysics, on the bodhisattva path, and on the life of faith and engagement. This teaching programme will be of particular relevance to those following the seminary programme in Buddhist ministry and to anybody else seeking an in-depth understanding of Pureland Buddhism.
To book, contact courses@amidatrust.com |
2006 AUGUST
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12th–13th August
Introductory Retreat
Sr. Modgala will lead a retreat for beginners and all who like a weekend of simple practice. Introductory teachings. Practice. Time for reflection.
To book, contact courses@amidatrust.com |
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15th August: New Moon Estate, Big Island, Hawaiii
Amida Hawaii Events
Programme of events to be announced. Dharmavidya will come to Big Island to give teachings to mark the inauguration of this important new development in the work of the Amida Order.
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26th–28th August
August Amida Festival
The Festival has been a feature of our programme for several years now. It combines celebration and practice, arts, expression and fun. There will also be opportunity for sharing experiences of spiritual practice and teachings to help us in daily life. This event will be led by Sr. Modgala and Joy Marston, both returned from the Amida Project in India where they have had invaluable experience of putting the Dharma into practice in challenging circumstances.. A good opportunity to spend relaxed and stimulating time with like minded people. Donations to the Amrita Dhammika Fund.
To book, contact courses@amidatrust.com |
2006 SEPTEMBER
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5th September to 25th October
Training Programme for Amida Volunteer Scheme
Those who wish to join the volunteer scheme, please arrive by 5 September for the autumn training period. Those who complete the training successfully may participate in Amida volunteer schemes in UK and overseas. Details of the Volunteer Scheme can be found here
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8th to 11th September
Introducing Amida
Three day training programme for intending volunteers, chaplaincy trainees, other
participants in Amida programmes and all others wanting an induction into the Amida
approach. This course provides an understanding of how the Amida sangha functions and
of the value system that makes it all work. We will look at and explain Amida as a learning
community, as a spiritual group, as a religious order, as a service agency, as a
campaigning network, as a nexus of special interest groups, as a think tank, as a project
development medium and as an organic matrix organisation. Amida in UK and
internationally. Amida in the contexts of Buddhism, social action, inter-religious dialogue,
education and the therapy world. We will explain core Amidist values - non-violence, open
dialogue, respect for otherness, trust and entrustment, the organic approach, synergism
and so on. This is a good way to get immersed in the basics of the Amida approach.
To book, contact courses@amidatrust.com |
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16th to 17th September
Weekend Retreat
This introductory retreat is intended for beginners on the Buddhist path or for those new to
Pureland Buddhism. We will introduce some basic concepts found in Pureland Buddhism
and spend some time practising together. This will be a good time for those interested in
taking time out from a busy or stressful life to relax, chant, explore one's faith and spirituality
as well as experience life in a faith based community.
To book, contact courses@amidatrust.com |
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30th Sept
Deadline for Applications for Buddhist Psychology Distance Learning Programme
Details
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2006 OCTOBER
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14th–22nd October
Buddhist Psychology
Led by David & Caroline Brazier
Nine days of professional training in Buddhist psychotherapy consisting of
14–15 October: “Presence and Relationship: The therapist as Other”: Weekend skills workshop.
16–18 October: “Context and Contact as Conditioning Factors”: Skills practice & experiential workshop.
19–20 October: “Nei Quan, Naikan and Personal Inquiry”: A Japanese method of inward enquiry
21–22 October: “Encounter Beyond Rupa”: Therapeutic skills in perceptual shift
We live within relationships. Our sense of who we are is supported by a network of others. These
relationships are formative, yet perennially mysterious, like veiled mirrors they reveal and hide our and their
own nature from us. Buddhist psychology elucidates some of the processes involved: lakshana - the
function we attribute to the other of acting as a sign of or support to our own identity; avidya - the
psychological obscuration that gives rise to complex mental formations as we try to make sense of our
world in self-relevant terms; pratyaya - the conditioning of the mind by the factors upon which it seeks to
ground a world view. This course block looks at reality and illusion in the interpersonal encounter, in
therapy, in relations with significant others and in daily life.
For fuller details see Prospectus (left column or top of page)
To book, contact courses@amidatrust.com |
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28th–31st October
Green Amida
Led by David & Caroline Brazier with guest speaker Margaret Wright
A four day gathering and workshop on the relation between Amidist thinking, Pureland Buddhism, and the
environmental crisis. The four days have been loosely mapped out as: Saturday: Green Buddhism; Sunday: Green
community; Monday: Green Politics; Tuesday: Green Pureland; but these themes are so intertwined that we do not
expect the separate days to be discrete and threads of study and discussion will run over from day to day. Margaret
Wright, international co-ordinator for the Green Party, will appear as a guest speaker on the Monday. We will look at
varying perspectives that Buddhists have brought to environmental issues. Relevant themes may include:
economics and “development”, the work of Joanna Macy, the theory of dependent origination, the recently
published ideas of James Lovelock, animal-human relations, the practice of creating co-friendly Buddhistic
communities, and many others. In doing so, we will explore commonalities between these threads and will be
concerned to ask whether there is a distinctive Pureland or Amida Buddhist position on these issues. We will discuss
practical implications as well as theory. This workshop is not simply a course. It is an opportunity to work through
personal reactions to the crisis facing humankind, to discuss practical ways forward, and to share with those who
have similar concerns. Workshops of this kind on other themes in the past have generated plans for social action that
have been subsequently implemented and this workshop has similar potential. Those who wish to enter into preworkshop
discussion may do so by joining the Green Amida e-loop or visiting the weblog at
To book, contact courses@amidatrust.com |
2006 NOVEMBER
2006 DECEMBER
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December 2nd to 9th
Bodhi Retreat
Most important retreat in our annual calendar.
Full details.
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2007 JANUARY
2007 FEBRUARY
2007 MARCH
2007 APRIL
2007 MAY
OTHER INFORMATION
Brunch & Buddhism
Starting at 9.30am at Sukahavti, 21 Sussex Way, Finsbury Park, “Brunch & Buddhism” is a way to get together over the Sunday papers, share food and discuss world issues from a Buddhist perspective. There will be a short service at 9.30 so please either arrive promt for that or aim to arrive from 10.15 onwards. Do bring vegetarian food contributions, and/or a money donation. A good opportunity to meet informally, chat, learn and share. If you want to know more phone Madrakara 07968.953908 or e-mail madrakara@amidatrust.com or just turn up. We generally go on until at least 1pm, often longer, but the event is informal so you are free to come and go as suits. No fee. Optional donation.
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Practical Information
Retreats at The Buddhist House, 12 Coventry Road, Narborough, Leicestershire LE19 2GR (0116.2867476, courses@amidatrust.com), Sukhavati, 21 Sussex Way, Finsbury Park, London and other Amida Order centres are opportunities to discover, explore, and understand Amida Buddhism and deepen one's faith and practice through participation in the life of a Dharma community.
Fees: unless otherwise indicated, for retreat attendance we suggest a donation between £15 and £20 per day plus accommodation (full board: £25 single, £18 twin, £12 dorm( and set charges for courses in Buddhist Psychology.
See also: Information on Travel and accommodation and Ground Rules.
To book: please contact The Buddhist House to reserve a place, sending a 20% non-refundable deposit or full fee and your contact details together with your expected time of arrival. If you need further information phone or e-mail.
Thank you.
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