Voice of the Amida Order and Friends of the Amida Order: Pureland Buddhism Absolute Grace, Total Engagement: Issue 29 Spring 2013 £2.50/€4.25/US$5.00 RUNNING TIDE Issue 29: Bodhi Running Tide Running Tide Running Tide offers a voice for faith and Editorial practice, as well as critical, existential and Every Day Bodhi Day socially engaged enquiry within the broad 4 Dharmavidya David Brazier OAB Kaspalita framework of Pureland Buddhism. “The gods still have their version of Neighbours, and the gossip gets This last week I have been consumed with publishing things. We publish short articles, poetry, pictures, around faster than Facebook” Satyavani is re-launching all of her novels under her new Buddhist interviews, comment and Buddhist name, and I have been involved in that process, designing the resource materials. covers and interiors - but the project readers of RT will be most Opinions expressed are those of the Not Everything is Impermanent interested in is Dharmavidya’s new book: Not Everything is contributors and do not necessarily reflect 6 Zen Therapy & Amidist Teachings of Impermanent. the position of the Amida Order, Amida David Brazier I’ve just approved the proof copy, which means that it will Trust, or other associated organisations. A sneak preview of the new book be available to buy in bookshops and on your kindle very shortly. Running Tide is distributed by: This new book is a collection of teachings on all sorts of subjects from essays on Unconditional Love to teachings about Amida Trust The Golden Key of Prayer Buddhist psychology and what it means to be an ordinary human Sukhavati 8 Emmet Fox being. 21 Sussex Way London N7 6RT You can see a sneak preview of the book on page 4. This whole issue of RT was inspired by our Bodhi Day Reflections on Bodhi Day Correspondence and contributions celebrations last Decemeber in different ways. From Dharmavidya’s Submissions for consideration should be Nancy D MAS, Jnanamati OAB and 12 article “Every Day is Bodhi Day”, to the reflections on Bodhi day sent to the Editor at: Kuvalya OAB [email protected] from Order members around the world, to Satya’s reflection on our continuous chanting practice. Emmet Fox’s text about prayer was handed to me by a Amida Order & School Pastoral Care on Big Island Sangha member a few weeks ago, and I reproduce it here as it The Amida Order and Amida School are a 16 Ananda Normann OAB religious order and communion, “The rural poor are invisible.” seems to capture, for me, the relationship between an ordinary respectively, following the Pureland being and the Buddha. Although expressed in Christian language, tradition, established under the auspices of Fox’s idea of prayer seems to describe the nembutsu perfectly. the Amida Trust. In this periodical the I’m really pleased to share a piece by Ananda Norman on letters OAB after a name indicate Little Me membership of the Order of Amida 21 Satyavani Robyn OAB pastoral care with you. Ananda is doing invaluable work on Big Buddha and the letters MAS indicate “I was suddenly brim-full of Island in Hawaii and his thoughtful reflections on his model of membership of the Amida School. The emotion...” pastoral care are an important contribution to the world of socially Amida School is also referred to as Amida- engaged Buddhism. shu. All Order members are also School members. Contact details If you’d like to submit an article for publication in a future 23 Running Tide please to email me at [email protected] Amida Trust Producing RT is not always the joy it should be, as A religious charity established in UK, producing it is squeezed in between the other parts of my life, but registration number 1060589, for the The Back Page when I look at each issue I am reminded how important it is and furtherance of Buddhism. The Trust 24 sponsors a wide range of Buddhist Q&A with Honen Shonin how grateful I am to everyone that contributes. There is important activities. The Amida Trust is a member of Dharma here and it is a privilege to share it with you. the Network of Buddhist Organisations in Namo Amida Bu. the UK, the European Buddhist Union, as well as the World Buddhist University, and has mutual affiliation with the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Running Tide Running Tide Running Tide offers a voice for faith and Editorial practice, as well as critical, existential and Every Day Bodhi Day socially engaged enquiry within the broad 4 Dharmavidya David Brazier OAB Kaspalita framework of Pureland Buddhism. “The gods still have their version of Neighbours, and the gossip gets This last week I have been consumed with publishing things. We publish short articles, poetry, pictures, around faster than Facebook” Satyavani is re-launching all of her novels under her new Buddhist interviews, comment and Buddhist name, and I have been involved in that process, designing the resource materials. covers and interiors - but the project readers of RT will be most Opinions expressed are those of the Not Everything is Impermanent interested in is Dharmavidya’s new book: Not Everything is contributors and do not necessarily reflect 6 Zen Therapy & Amidist Teachings of Impermanent. the position of the Amida Order, Amida David Brazier I’ve just approved the proof copy, which means that it will Trust, or other associated organisations. A sneak preview of the new book be available to buy in bookshops and on your kindle very shortly. Running Tide is distributed by: This new book is a collection of teachings on all sorts of subjects from essays on Unconditional Love to teachings about Amida Trust The Golden Key of Prayer Buddhist psychology and what it means to be an ordinary human Sukhavati 8 Emmet Fox being. 21 Sussex Way London N7 6RT You can see a sneak preview of the book on page 4. This whole issue of RT was inspired by our Bodhi Day Reflections on Bodhi Day Correspondence and contributions celebrations last Decemeber in different ways. From Dharmavidya’s Submissions for consideration should be Nancy D MAS, Jnanamati OAB and 12 article “Every Day is Bodhi Day”, to the reflections on Bodhi day sent to the Editor at: Kuvalya OAB [email protected] from Order members around the world, to Satya’s reflection on our continuous chanting practice. Emmet Fox’s text about prayer was handed to me by a Amida Order & School Pastoral Care on Big Island Sangha member a few weeks ago, and I reproduce it here as it The Amida Order and Amida School are a 16 Ananda Normann OAB religious order and communion, “The rural poor are invisible.” seems to capture, for me, the relationship between an ordinary respectively, following the Pureland being and the Buddha. Although expressed in Christian language, tradition, established under the auspices of Fox’s idea of prayer seems to describe the nembutsu perfectly. the Amida Trust. In this periodical the I’m really pleased to share a piece by Ananda Norman on letters OAB after a name indicate Little Me membership of the Order of Amida 21 Satyavani Robyn OAB pastoral care with you. Ananda is doing invaluable work on Big Buddha and the letters MAS indicate “I was suddenly brim-full of Island in Hawaii and his thoughtful reflections on his model of membership of the Amida School. The emotion...” pastoral care are an important contribution to the world of socially Amida School is also referred to as Amida- engaged Buddhism. shu. All Order members are also School members. Contact details If you’d like to submit an article for publication in a future 23 Running Tide please to email me at [email protected] Amida Trust Producing RT is not always the joy it should be, as A religious charity established in UK, producing it is squeezed in between the other parts of my life, but registration number 1060589, for the The Back Page when I look at each issue I am reminded how important it is and furtherance of Buddhism. The Trust 24 sponsors a wide range of Buddhist Q&A with Honen Shonin how grateful I am to everyone that contributes. There is important activities. The Amida Trust is a member of Dharma here and it is a privilege to share it with you. the Network of Buddhist Organisations in Namo Amida Bu. the UK, the European Buddhist Union, as well as the World Buddhist University, and has mutual affiliation with the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. Running Tide RT 29: Bodhi switched the light on in a dark room. Most of us who walk the spiritual path Every day Bodhi Day have had some glimpse of this kind of light at one time or another. Buddha could enter that place at will. Dharmavidya David Brazier In the Pure Land of Sukhavati there is a great tree. This tree is vast and shining, as if made from many kinds of jewels. The light from it can be seen from a thousand miles away. Beneath this tree sits Amitabha Buddha, Quanyin and Shichi. They are having wonderful conversations about Dharma in all its multiplicity of meanings and applications. It is the best imaginable breakfast conversation. Adam and Eve had to leave the garden of Eden and go forth in the world to labour and multiply because God was worried that having disobeyed him once they might do so again and eat of the Tree of Life. The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was the cause of their fall. Enlightenment is beyond good and evil, beyond formulas and categories.