Annual subscrition to 4 quarterly issues of the hard copy Journal only £12.00 inc. p&p (UK).
20 A5 pages, colour card cover, with colour illustrations, folded and stapled.

THE "LESS EPHEMERAL" PAPER JOURNAL

Following a couple of 'mothballed' years, the hard-copy Journal, "Pure Land Notes" was re-launched in October 2008 and we are now into publication of issue 6 for January 2010.

The Journal is not simply a paper version of the website and this is best exemplified by the comments of returned subscriber Kenneth Mullen who said: "This is great news. Although I understand the internet etc. I still relate more to paper. For me it is somehow more 'real' and less ephemeral".

The website does have a handful of samples of the contents of this Journal - as a menu of 14 archived articles (left), but the bulk of its content lie within the pages listed on the 'other' menu (right). Here can be found dozens of articles, study notes; picture gallery's and talks by Jim Pym and Rev. Taira Sato of Three Wheels in various formats - including a significant number of Buddhist/Pure Land chants in free download mp3 audio files. I think that these pages are the best on the site, not so much because of their content but because they were designed from the onset to work within the digital medium and format.

Southampton Home Dojo Special Event.
Sunday 14th February.

The Chinese/Lunar New Year falls in 2010 on Sunday 14th February. We then ring in the Year of the Yin Metal Tiger; predominant characteristic - bravery. The Lantern Festival, commonly dedicated to Kuan Yin, occurs 14 days later on the first full moon of the New Year.

Our own little dojo, now the weekly meeting place of the Southampton Shin Sangha (aka: PLBF Southampton) was 'founded' on Valentine's Day, 1996. In 1997, by coincidence, Lantern Festival fell on the 14th Feb; Valentine's Day.

It has become our custom to use the occasion of either Chinese New Year or Lantern Festival to celebrate another year passed, together with Buddha Dharma at our heart.

This year our offering is to chant "na-man-dah-bu" for one hour commencing at 17.00 (5pm) on Sun 14th Feb 2010 - and we cordially invite you all to join us, either in person or in spirit, to participate in the seeing out of one lunar year and the seeing in of the next.

I was first inspired to undertake this mini marathon by a friend who plays the Didgeridoo, an ancient Australian wind instrument. I recently attended his performance of a "sound bath". We were given cushions and blankets, the room was darkened and my friend, Matt, 'blew' over us for an hour and a half.

It pleases me enormously to be able to announce now that Matt, the Didgeridoo player has agreed to accompany us for the duration of our chanting, coaxing ancient and mysterious "Dream Time" tones from his instrument with his highly disciplined 'Circular Breathing'.

At precisely 16.43, half an hour before sunset, there will be a short service and contemplation. Didgeridoo accompanied Chanting of "namandabu", nonstop for one hour commences at 17.00. The passing of each 15 minutes will be marked by the ensemble 'singing' of four singing bowls. A very short service of Merit Transference will conclude proceedings at 18.01.

If you can, please do attend our celebration of Fellowship. This is really shaping up to be a very special occasion! Click here to email for more details or to advise me of your desire to attend or participate.