today, among the things I am grateful for....

....members of my sangha, my spiritual friends.

Yesterday evening we had our regular Amida Newcastle meeting. We started with Nien Fo, reciting the name of Amida Buddha, as we walked around the shrine room. Then we sat in meditation, keeping in mind all who are suffering in the Middle East and putting forth the prayer that all who manufacture and supply weapons should cease to do so. Yes, a forlorn hope, but one to have, nontheless.

We followed this with lesson 10 in the 'Introduction to Pureland Buddhism' course series. Then cold drinks, cheesecake and Indian sweets to celebrate Colin's 50th birthday. Colin has written an update of news about the Irene Brazier Memorial Garden, which he set up and runs.

At the end of the evening Rachel, from the US, who is a student at Newcastle Uni and who will be going to Ecuador to work with street children, asked if she could Take Refuge - ceremony by which one officially becomes a Buddhist. A lovely, touching, request. I'll organise a ceremony for two or three weeks time.

Finally, and by no means least, Dharmavidya, my teacher and the head of our Order, who is in France at the moment, has written a beautiful piece about his philosophy, which is a wonderful introduction to the spirit of Pureland Buddhism