Sections

[Dmytro]

Hi,

I find the sections of the forum peculiar.

There's a 'Classical Mahavihara Theravada' (as if Mahavihara still exists). At best it represents the modern scholarly-traditionalist approach, apparently with Burmese emphasis on Abhidhamma.

As I understand, anything that does not fit a Procrustean bed of scholarly-traditionalist approach, goes to "Modern Theravada". It's strange since even in Asian Theravada there's a lot besides the Commentaries and Burmese scholarly approach.

The main thing, actual practice is squeezed into "Theravadin meditation techniques", as if practice is about quick fix 'techniques', and not about way of life.

And the Dhamma itself is placed on the very bottom, with two largely irrelevant subsections.

In general, I think that the built-in sectarian division of the forum, inherited from E-Sangha, does not make for a good discussion.

I would suggest the non-sectarian sections:
- General questions (with Announcements and Lounge);
- Issues of practice (perhaps with Virtue, Concentration and Wisdom subsections);
- Suttas;
- Key concepts and models (kamma, paticca-samuppada, etc.);
- Pali language (with discussion of Pali terms);
- Theravadins of all the countries (with Introductions, Centers and Personalities subsections);
- Books, articles and (study) materials;
- Users' Forum (with Suggestion Box).

Metta, Dmytro

[Ben]

Thanks Dmytro
We're having a look at your suggestion and someone will get back to you.
Cheers

Ben

[Jechbi]

- Issues of practice (perhaps with Virtue, Concentration and Wisdom subsections)

This in particular seems like an excellent suggestion. It's a natural division of topics of practice. It also would serve as a reminder that practice is, as you say, a way of life.

Just my 2 cents.

[christopher:::]

Just to throw 2 cents in... I think if you create too many subforums early on it could limit community interactions. Think of a dhamma center, they usually have one big hall where lots of different things happen at different times. Each conversation within a forum is like a little circle, a discussion room of its own.

I think a sense of community sometimes gets lost when too many boxes are set up and everything is divided up, compartmentalized. Having broad general forums allows for greater range in a discussion.

Over time a few more forums might be helpful, as you see the need arising from overcrowding or confusion, imo.

Oh, one other suggestion, how about a "General Dharma Talk" subarea in the General Dhamma section? They have that over at Drolma's site, for General discussion of dharma, not specific to particular traditions. A topic such as retro started for comparison of Theravada and Zen might fit better over there then in the Modern Theravada section.

Maybe, maybe not....

end of 2 cents, or was it 3 cents?

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

A quick note to let you know we've created a Pali forum now in response to this request, and are still thinking about the other comments.

Metta,
Retro.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

We've also now reallocated and redefined a few forums to reflect some of the suggestions above.

That's probably it for this round of changes although we don't envisage any wholesale changes in the near future.

We did however need to make clear that it's clear that Modern Theravada in this context doesn't exclusively refer to new interpretations of scriptures and the works of modern bhikkhus etc.... it refers to the full gamut of Theravadin thought as we would see in the world around us today in the 21st century... ranging from the conservative to the heterodox.

If there are any further ideas, please pop them into a separate Suggestion Box thread.

Metta,
Retro.