Amida Sheffield – Reflections on the past year

In February 2006, after some initial discussions in the previous Amida Trust (Sheffield) monthly meeting, we took the decision to dissolve the group in its current format.  The group had begun some nine years ago as a local network group of the Amida Trust.  The group had been valued; a place were “Buddhists of all religions and none” were welcome. The decision to wind up was thought to be the right one because the Amida School and Order had come into being in recent years, some ATS members had aligned with this, and were looking to deepen their practice in this direction.  Others had formed the Gaia House sitting group and were active in developing that group.  The original idea of an eclectic group of ‘Buddhist sympathisers’ did not have the motivation and drive it originally had for many of us.

It was recognised that a friendship network had grown up among a dozen or more active members.  It was hoped that this would now be strong enough to continue informally and through other activities. It is pleasing to report that this has been the case.

Activities

2006 has seen Amida Sheffield take time to reflect on its form and engagement with the local community. Three core activities continue -

• We have endeavoured to hold a weekly Pureland service on Monday evenings at 6.30 pm followed by a shared meal, discussions and much laughter. The core of the group has been the four local Amida School members – Sundari and Bhaktika (Order members) and Sue and I. In July we were recognised as a congregation under the terms of the Amida-shu constitution.

We have occasionally been joined by other local Buddhists, both familiar and new faces. These evenings have been the bedrock on which we have been able to support one another, share ideas, gain inspiration and then “go forth” in various engaged activities, both shared and individual. We have also used these Monday evenings to occasionally listen to dharma talks together.

• The Monday lunchtime guided meditations at Sheffield Anglican Cathedral have continued. There were a few concerns with the departure of Canon Nick Howe, who took up an exciting new post in Stockholm. Nick had been our main link with the cathedral and had led guided meditations himself. However, as it has turned out, relations with the cathedral have strengthened and Sundari and Bhaktika were thrilled to welcome Mary Dight to the team. Mary has many years experience of contemplative prayer.

• The Friday morning silent meditations at Bhaktika and Sundari’s house continue and there are thoughts about re-launching this activity in the New year with a publicity campaign

In our last weekly meeting before Christmas, we took some time to reflect on the various activities we had been involved with over the year and to consider how we hoped the group may develop in 2007.

Three themes came to the fore -

• A focus of engaged work around Asylum and refugee issues.

• Establishing ourselves as a congregation.

• Increased contact with Narborough, both in terms of developing relationships and being involved in activities and events

Engagement

In February, the group signed up to support the City of Sanctuary. This is a new initiative with the aim of Sheffield becoming a place where significant numbers of schools, employers, community groups, faith communities, media and cultural organisations, as well as local government, are publicly committed to offering hospitality to refugees and asylum-seekers and refugees in the city. They might put this commitment into practice in many different ways - through offering friendship or advocacy, encouraging refugees’ involvement in their activities, or displaying public support, perhaps in the form of a sign outside their premises declaring “We welcome asylum-seekers and refugees.”

City of Sanctuary recognises that asylum policy and decision-making must be decided at a national level, and that the power of local communities to defend individuals will often be limited. But within this legal framework there is the opportunity for local communities both to make the existing asylum system more humane for the asylum-seekers who live amongst us, and to counter some of the hostile public attitudes that drive government policy.

Sundari and Bhaktika have been very active in asylum and refugee issues. This has included helping to develop a resource centre (the Sanctuary Information Project); participation in a series of interfaith dialogues in Broomhill area; volunteering at a Conversation Club; and utilising their process work skills through a conflict facilitation seminar, which has created some informal contacts, developing a local network and the possibility of future projects.

Sue has also had a strong interest in asylum issues. She has previously volunteered with the Refugee Education Employment Programme (REEP) in Sheffield, supporting people learning English as a second language. Sue has had a frustrating time with ill-health this year, and we both have appreciated the love and support from Amida-shu friends. Despite this, Sue has been studying with the Open University, and achieved a distinction in a joint Politics & Economics course, A World of whose making?

I have had involvement with a Mental Health & Spirituality project within the Care Trust I work, and have worked with the Hospital Chaplain in delivering some training in this area for social workers, nurses, and support workers, which has included talking about Buddhist faith in the context of mental health.

Bhaktika has been involved in the development of an interfaith project, the Sheffield Faith Forum which is due to commence in Spring 2007.

Sangha members have been involved in several public demonstrations alongside other faith communities, on both asylum issues and against animal vivisection at Oxford University.

Congregation

In October, the four of us renewed our refuges in Sheffield. Sujatin travelled down from the Newcastle especially to officiate. It was very special to have this ceremony in our own home

After establishing our weekly Pureland service, we have been keen that we make efforts to enable others to find their way to this Buddhist path. We held an introductory day within a Community Hall in Broomhill. This was an opportunity to work together on a joint venture; to look at finding our own language to talk about our Pureland faith and relate it to our social concerns. Despite advertising widely, and after some initial telephone enquiries, attendance was low. However, the process of taking out our Pureland practice into a public space was invaluable and we will look to repeat this in 2007.

The introductory day did lead to us to developing a relationship with a local Zen Buddhist. We would hope to look to foster better relationships by both visiting other local Buddhist groups and inviting them to attend some Brunch & Buddhism events in 2007.

Sundari has developed a link with the Sheffield University Students Union Buddhist Society and has given a talk on Pureland Buddhism with another planned in the New Year.

Narborough

2006 has seen Bhaktika and Sundari growing into their roles as Chaplains within Amida-shu. It was noticeable how their time on retreat in Amida France consolidated some of this process. In the latter part of the year, both have travelled to Narborough to act as celebrant during the Sunday service.

Sangha members provided workshops at the Living Buddhism conference in April and attended the Bodhi Retreat in December.

Sundari and I have attended Narborough in our capacity as charity trustees for the Amida Trust.

2007

In the coming year, we are looking to build on the activities we have established, offering a warm welcome to all, and foster good relations with other Buddhist and faith groups. One particular goal we hope to achieve is for the four of us to visit our friends at Narborough on the same occasion, something that circumstances have conspired against us this past year!

Namo Amida Bu!