Internet Dharma Wars? And What I’m Doing Here

Last updated on: December 4, 2009 at 7:39 pm by Dosho Port

Internet Dharma Wars? And What I’m Doing Here 2009-12-04T19:39:00-06:00 Dosho Port

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Last night a student brought over the recent Tricycle with the article, Dharma Wars: What is it about the Internet that turns Buddhist teachers into bullies? It chronicles a few of the more ignoble moments of internet dharma exchange – people questioning each other’s credentials and saying mean things.

Although I don’t think the author, Zenshin Michael Haederle, supported the eye-catching “bully” thing in the body of the piece, he raises some important criticisms of internet dharma practice.

The dramatic part is hardly a news flash. It’s easy to zip off zingers without reflection. “People don’t realize they’re relating to a machine,” says Ken McLeod. “Something pops up on their screen that offends them and they scream at it.”

Sure enough. I moderate the comments here so we have little of that. On the one hand, I want to encourage participation and on the other I want to encourage conversation that is to the point and opens vistas, not publish someone practicing their pathology. I’ve probably deleted 18 or so comments in the past 18 months of blogging.

Another criticism Haederle presents is about the leveling effect of the internet. “Anybody with a keyboard is instantly allowed to present whatever they’ve pulled out of their butts as if it were the dharma,” says dear Rev. James Ford.

Sure enough. Indeed, to deepen our life, a sustained, calm heart mind is necessary, so one of my concerns is that whatever dharma might be offered via the internet might be received with the same glazed mind one might attain after Facebooking for several hours. Although if you look around at your local Zen hall (or at yourself) during a dharma talk … well, a certain portion of the people (those people!) are zoning there too. The speaker, of course, might also be beating the same dead horse … as do we all from time to time.

Once again, it’s not the tool but how it’s used.

What I want to do here is to create – together – an online Zen training program that is accessable AND that has depth and integrity. If you’d like to be a part of that, stay tuned. I’m in the midst of digesting the experience from the current 100 day training that added webinars for the first time and will be asking for feedback and ideas soon about how you think we might go forward.

I’ll give James the last word (from the article): “I think that on the balance, more good will come out of this than harm. I think it’s bad for many people participating, I think a level of misinformation is ubiquitous, and I think it’s very exciting.”

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 2, 2009

To Study the Self at Second Life

Next Post

December 5, 2009 One Practice: Genjokoan Webinar 10

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 December 2016 October 2016 June 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the primary light source in Biblical times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Oil lamp Bonfire Torch Candle