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A Dharma for the masses
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I do agree with you that there is huge room for education, addressing misconceptions and disinformation--especially in this era, when multiple forces are working so hard to cast Buddhism in a bad light (and some to destroy it altogether). As always, my incentive is not to spread Buddhism at all, but just let the plain facts be known--some of which I think serve people beautifully, utterly secularly--and whoever wants to actually follow the Buddhist path, great, but education is always good regardless.
I often want to tell my relatives, "But you don't understand - Buddhism isn't about being anti-God; no Buddhist is out there plotting to convert your children to Buddhism!" And we must be sure that remains the case, and even that the perception of that does not loom. I really believe strongly in HHDL's approach of starting every public talk by saying he doesn't encourage people to switch religions, unless they have really, truly studied and decided after a lot of reflection.
It seems to me that with the insight gained by studying Buddhism and practicing meditation one can begin to understand why a mass change is not in the cards for this planet.
The bodhisattva ideal speaks to the need for steely determination and unbending effort without consideration for the time it will take to bring all beings to awakening. The change takes place in the individual first.
If you have a knack for writing and can produce a book that interests people, like Tolle, then you may influence many people and turn a profit while you are at it. You may very well have the determination to pull it off. Good luck.
Instinctively my concern is for anyone establishing an identity as a Savior of others. It is one of the Ego's most seductive drugs. Just look at what folks will do today for their 15 minutes of fame.
If your real motive is to just to manifest truth for others to see, then where does the evangelical zeal come from? You probably know what my view on this would be.
It is hubris to believe that the "ism of a perfect religion or of you, could mitigate the inertia of anothers karma but this is what you seem to believe you can do.
I don't begrudge your attempts to try, just fear what motivates it and therefore what its underlying transmission really is, that you do not seem to be aware of. Buddhism has numerous integral safeguards to help minimize this delusion from harming others. Successfully carving up Buddhism will only give more ego's an unrestricted playing field. I do not see how your offered compassion, will provide anything but it's eventual opposite.
If I'm right, you are embarking on a path that will harm others and so should spend more time on a personal meditative enquiry to be sure that I'm wrong. If I am wrong, then the only thing that a diversion into a personal meditative examination will do, is better prepare you to meet your aspirations with harmlessness.
I really think pride is the number one spiritual block that we all face in one form or another.
Let's get back to the topic folks, either contribute toward or debate about the material (which isn't really here yet), not the member.
http://www.mindandlife.org/
They aren't promoting or teaching Buddhism, they are scientifically studying spiritual practices to understand what and why they are or are not effective at reducing suffering and promoting flourishing. In general, people who aren't particularly attracted to religion respond to scientific findings, they don't always follow them but they believe them. To my knowledge there's no talk of karma, rebirth, etc, all the aspects of Buddhism that can't be measured. The focus is on the things that can be substantiated.
I agree with the observation that many people who haven't had much contact with Buddhism have misconceptions about it, and I think it's very cool to think of doing things like going on-air and talking about Buddhism--maybe thinking of some of the specific misconceptions we run into the most, and addressing them.
I probably don't agree with the thought (if there is one) that the Buddhism currently reaching people is somehow flawed and doing a bad job; people come to the temples rather than the other way around, so they have an interest in Buddhism already, and there are always students and staff on hand to give beginners introductions to Buddhism. In my experience, these intros go very well, and people are very patient with newcomers of every possible stripe.
If more people heard about my center, and came by to check it out, I would find that a good thing, since the teachings sort of speak for themselves, and the beginner class is phenomenal.
I am a very reasonable person. The fact of the matter is that if certain opponents here had offered anything like a reasonable argument against my suggestions then i'd completely consider them. Instead some people decided to simply make up what i'd said and then argue against that... what am I supposed to do with that? You want me to take onboard your thoughts and listen and learn and pay heed and be careful, and I understand all of that, but first argue with what i've actually said, not what you wish to believe i've said.
So, to clarify... this discussion is about co-creating as a group a concise, understandable, relevant teaching on compassion and love for the masses that is influenced by Buddhist teachings. That is all.
http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/16103/a-dharma-for-the-masses-a-philosophy-and-practice