Peacemaker Circles UK

The first North of England Zen Peacemaker Circle of the year was held 10am-5pm in Leeds on Sat 5th March, in Steve Suleyman Hart's house in Rothwell. The theme for the day was "The Vairochana Buddha Energy", the central symbol in many versions of the Mandala of the Five Buddhas, and often used in the Zen Peacemakers as a symbol of spirituality, of a practice that opens a heart-space which can include everything. The day included zazen meditation, study of the chapter on Vairochana from the book "Meeting the Buddhas" by Vessantara (a member of the Tri Ratna Sangha, formerly the FWBO), Council Circle, Chanting of the Nembutsu (from Pure Land Buddhism) and a little exploration of using the symbol of Vairochana Buddha in devotional practice. The next day event will be in Manchester, date to be arranged, in April or May. The theme this time will be Amitabha Buddha and the "Integration" Buddha energy in the Zen Peacemakers.

At this evening's Circle, Natalie (pictured above eating delicious red peppers at the end), told a great story: When she was younger and drunker and staggering home one night from a club, a homeless beggar asked her for a cigarette. This was a man often seen begging in an intimidating fashion in the city centre during the day. Natalie told the beggar she didn't have any left, except the one she was smoking at that moment. She was inspired to offer him half of that one... ... The homeless man, touched by this, asked her how she was getting home. She said she was walking. 'It's not safe for you', he said, and then produced a little money from his pocket, which he'd got by begging earlier. 'I'd just spend this on booze or something', he said, 'you have it'. And he walked with Natalie to a taxi rank, waited with her (in a big curious queue!) for the taxi, and gave the driver his money to take her as far as it would get her home. She saw hi...