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Re: Dhamma propagation

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 2:47 pm
by Spiny O'Norman
Platypus wrote:, York is no small place but I can't for the life of me find a theravada group, Zen groups and Tibetan groups abound however.
This might be of interest, it's the results for Yorkshire from the Buddhanet directory:

http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/search.ph ... =theravada" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Spiny

Re: Dhamma propagation

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:34 pm
by manas
I'm one of the crowd who has been preached to so many times by Christians, some of whom acted like they were trying to befriend me, when actually they just wanted an opportunity to make another convert, that I find it very difficult indeed to try proactively go out and 'spread the dhamma'. This would make me feel just like all the others (ie Christians and various cult members) who were acting friendly, but really just wanted to change my point of view. (Is it just me, or do others find this very off-putting?)

I feel that as we grow in the dhamma, over a long period of time, certain good and noble qualities will naturally begin to shine forth, and this will be a much better advertisement than us talking at people. For example, thanks to dhamma practice, I'm gradually letting go of habitual nervous tension. One day, someone might meet me who used to know how tense I was, how nervous. They might meet a totally transformed person. Maybe one day, even in busy social situations, every bone and muscle in my body will be relaxed...that person would think, "wow what has happened to andrew? he's not the same person anymore!" Now if they were to enquire, I would have to give credit to anapanasati...and this could effortlessly lead into the dhamma, without me looking like a zealot. :P

Re: Dhamma propagation

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:25 pm
by Kim OHara
Platypus wrote:Even then its not always easy, York is no small place but I can't for the life of me find a theravada group, Zen groups and Tibetan groups abound however.
Hi, monotreme (and what are you doing so far from home?),
What you're finding is common almost everywhere in the West - including here. I see it as a result of historical processes -
1. Zen was enormously popularised (though often misunderstood) in the hippie culture, 1960s and a bit later.
2. The Chinese forced a Tibetan diaspora in the 1950s and beyond, which gave Tibetan Buddhism in the West an endless stream of sympathy, publicity and (not least) highly qualified teachers who had been thrown out of home and were willing to look almost anywhere for a new one.

These two overwhelmed the relatively tiny older Buddhist groups (largely Theravada in Europe, Zen in the US). The current wave of interest in Theravada in the West seems to be largely a result of people exploring outwards from (1) and (2) above. So it is a later development, and it has been hampered by the relative shortage of teachers from traditionally Theravadin countries.

:namaste:
Kim

Re: Dhamma propagation

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 11:28 am
by rowyourboat
manasikara wrote:I'm one of the crowd who has been preached to .....This would make me feel just like all the others (ie Christians and various cult members) who were acting friendly, but really just wanted to change my point of view. (Is it just me, or do others find this very off-putting?)
Hi Manasikara,

The only effective way that i have seen in getting friends into the dhamma is to openly join up with them for monthly 'fun' (relatively) dhamma discussions. The fun aspect is in that it is group of known friends more or less into the dhamma (mildly interested or curious to meditating) so it is meeting people who are alike- there is dinner involved- it is usually on a friday night when people are more or less free, we discuss a topic of interest to the group (we ask for topics)- then one person gathers all the dhamma around that particular topic and does a presentation, along with somewhat provoking questions in line with the dhamma- which makes it interesting and a little challenging at the same time, but not so much that it throws people off :jumping:. We have had a lot of success with this format we've had people having little faith at the begining, now going on retreat after 25 sessions (monthly). Others with curiosity now regularly reading the suttas. Those who did go on retreat now doing their own sessions etc. I think it is up to each of us to find fun innovative ways to engage friends with the dhamma, without being a pain!

with metta

Matheesha

Re: Dhamma propagation

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:55 am
by Dhammanucara
As to having a TV channel to speak about Buddhism, we already have it in Taiwan: the Buddhist Tzu-Chi Relief Foundation founded by Master Cheng Yen. This foundation has a TV channel that broadcasts over Taiwan as well as over the world, whoever subscribes it from the website. It starts off with having the Master speaks about some Dhamma passages in the dawn to inspire people to begin their days with Dhamma, with mindfulness and compassion, and throughout the day, the channel features programs concerning humanitarian projects carried out by its members and others, whatever thought to fit into nurturing people with compassion, humanity and wisdom. In this respect, I don't find this as 'evangelical' like Billy Graham or other Christian channels in the United States. I'm not sure about other Buddhist channels in other countries, but I generally find that such activity seems more human-based and pragmatic in human's life and not of evangelism - it serves to nurture certain beneficial values in humans so that we can all create a wonderful and better world to live in. Not so much of like persuading you to accept certain doctrinal truths - no offense to other religions though.

Somebody points out a very good point earlier that the best teacher should be a person who has been well-established in the practice himself, and I find this is what the Buddha preached himself too in Culasihanada Sutta: http://tipitaka.wikia.com/wiki/Culasihanada_Sutta
In addition to this (meaning the above criterion is the main determinant), my personal view is that a person who wishes to speak or propagate the Dhamma should also possess several characteristics so that the Dhamma-propagation effort would be somewhat fruitful or leading toward success - observant in people's responses toward the Dhamma, looking how Dhamma could be practiced in daily life and how Dhamma could be used to solve life problems (this is why a teacher should also be a practitioner) since generally people nowadays would only turn to things that they could find useful to solve their life dilemmas, ability to customize the different needs of people for different aspects of Dhamma, ability to speak the Dhamma efficaciously using certain terminology or examples to convey the ideas (this includes the person speaking from his experience of practice as well as his theoretical learning in order to use the correct terms), etc. These are just my general observations about great Dhamma teachers who have greatly impacted my life, so I hope these characters should be emulated in the Dhamma propagation efforts. Sadhu!

With metta,
Dhammanucara :namaste:

Re: Dhamma propagation

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:44 am
by Terasi
I was in the hospital, got some visitors with religious messages. One of them was a group of Theravadins, and a Tibetan nun. I settled with Theravada.

I think if you'd like to form a dhammaduta group, please do not forget hospitals.

Re: Dhamma propagation

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 1:39 pm
by pilgrim
Terasi wrote:I was in the hospital, got some visitors with religious messages. One of them was a group of Theravadins, and a Tibetan nun. I settled with Theravada.
I think if you'd like to form a dhammaduta group, please do not forget hospitals.
Interesting...Exactly what did they do when they visited you?

Re: Dhamma propagation

Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 1:56 pm
by Terasi
Can't remember, probably chanting for me. That time I knew nothing about Buddhism, but I think they recited something in language that I didn't understand so it must be chanting.

After recovered, I visited the Theravadin group and the Tibetan nun's monastery. Probably one more thing in propagation is not to try to explain too much about suffering and attachment to someone who knows zero, the Tibetan nun tried to explain those to me, I became confused and never visited again.

Re: Dhamma propagation - most effective form?

Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 6:38 am
by hanzze_
rowyourboat wrote:What's the most effective form of dhamma propagation, in your opinion?
With metta
Matheesha
To really live it. Things come within. And to come one day to the point by one self, to support those who actually live in accordance to it. That's the circle that does not skew.

Re: Dhamma propagation - most effective form?

Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 12:12 pm
by Sekha
:goodpost:

practice the Dhamma oneself genuinely to the best of one's abilities, without trying to be an example for others.

People naturally get inspired and they realize it is really possible to apply what's written in the scriptures, that it's not just beautiful literature or instructions everyone says "sadhu sadhu sadhu" to but no one follows.

Re: Dhamma propagation - most effective form?

Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 12:23 pm
by hanzze_
And so we still sit here.

Re: Dhamma propagation - most effective form?

Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 12:28 pm
by Sekha
That might be the best thing to do in some cases. For example if you are surrounded only by people who are far from understanding the first bit of Dhamma and who might have a negative influence on you. It may help remaining focused while passing through "hostile" environments.

Re: Dhamma propagation - most effective form?

Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 12:43 pm
by hanzze_
Yes, very good choice but sometimes we overlook that the door is already unlocked or we even had never tried.

Image

So do not miss to propagate in its most efficient and beneficial way.

Re: Dhamma propagation

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:11 am
by SamKR
alan wrote:My famous blend of sarcasm and literalism [...]
alan wrote:How about taking full page adverts in all the major papers?
Or, we could put the Suttas in every hotel room.
Or, we could start a TV network. People could turn to channel 77 and hear the teachings!
That might work.
What's wrong with such adverts as long as the intention is right?

Re: Dhamma propagation

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 8:28 am
by pilgrim
SamKR wrote:
alan wrote:My famous blend of sarcasm and literalism [...]
alan wrote:How about taking full page adverts in all the major papers?
Or, we could put the Suttas in every hotel room.
Or, we could start a TV network. People could turn to channel 77 and hear the teachings!
That might work.
What's wrong with such adverts as long as the intention is right?
He thought he was being sarcastic but actually those are good suggestions which are already put into practice. :tongue:
In my country Buddhist organisations ofter take out newspaper ads to publicise talks and events. In Japan, the Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai places its compilation of Sutras in hotel rooms. Tzu Chi of Taiwan has its own TV station and many NGOs in Cambodia and Sri Lanka have radio stations. It takes quitea bit of financial and organisational resources to do all this .