Spreading the Dharma... Guerrilla style!
For a while now i've been starting Dharma topic threads on a few different discussion forums attempting to spread the Dharma into areas where the audience might be traditionally skeptical / reluctant. For example, I do quite a bit of posting at the UK Business Forums.
I've always had a strong desire to reach out to those who are skeptical / reluctant and try to find ways to share Dharma wisdom that is acceptable and accessible to them. Generally this means removing any overtly spiritual language as well as any metaphysical or esoteric concepts. Essentially, sharing the essence of the Dharma in ways that are practical, grounded in this reality, and relevant to their lives. I call this
Guerrilla Dhafare!
From this I had the idea to start a Facebook page dedicated to Guerrilla Dhafare, a space where we can share our campaign ideas, receive support and inspiration, share tactics, strategies and lessons, and, above all, support and encourage each other. Here is the page, all fresh and new!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Guerrilla-Dhafare/496135443816716#If you are interested in engaging in some guerrilla Dhafare then please LIKE the page and get involved! There are so many unconventional, creative and skilful ways that we can spread the Dharma. Online forums are one great way to get to specific (and large) audiences.
And here is a link to my latest discussion at the UK Business Forums 'Why You Should Not Get Angry'...
http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=309934Thank you, and peace be with you all.
Comments
I read your discussion of why one shouldn't get angry, and it was fine. But you are very close -- at least in concept -- to proselytizing.
And here are some of the problems with proselytizing:
1. Most people find it offensive to have another person tell them, "Your religion is less than my religion, so I'm going to force my better religion on you."
2. It's sort of like the old Ken-L-Ration commercials -- "My religion's better than your religion, mine is better than yours. I am better cause I follow the true religion. My religion's better than yours." Followed by the childish statement, "Na na na na na na."
3. People should have freedom of thought, and that means freedom to choose their thinking topics and patterns.
4. I was taught from the beginning, by Thai monks, that in Buddhism we don't go out "spreading the Dhamma", but that instead people come to us of their own volition.
Now, having said those things, you haven't crossed the line yet...but my guess is that you (like many others) will sooner or later move from basic concepts of human behavior and interaction to proselytizing for Buddhism.
As a door to door salesman of Nothing, I have some listening to undertake . . . :orange:
When we become drunk on dharma, everyone becomes our friend and we decide the world is happier and friendlier when everyone is loved up with metta. Do we have the clarity to know who needs objective sobriety, life experiences and who needs more of the 'joys of dharma'?
Everyone needs Jesus as I am sure you will agree? No?
No . . . no need for Jesus my end either . . .
When we have Nothing to buy or sell, we start to listen to what is required. You know? Perhaps in your judgement. I hope so.
If we look a little deeper, perhaps other motivations exist . . . does that make more sense?
Save yourself. The world will wait.
:wave:
Apart from farceBook and business twitter, which are quite close to some peoples hell realms, is there an easier place to start? I was thinking of starting here. Maybe I am just not cut out for Gorilla Dharma . . .
I am sure you are cut out for Guerrilla Dharma. All you'd be doing is sharing the wisdom and ideas that you are already familiar with and, I presume, passionate about with new audiences in a way that is appropriate and helpful for them, which simply requires flexibility and skill. Have you read my posts at the UK Business Forum? It's nothing complex or difficult, but it is helpful, and at least one person seems to be interested.
Thankfully the UK Business community here do not try to sell me dharma paraphernalia or otherwise engage in clandestine business. Just the idea of it seems counter productive. Maybe I am not cut out for this 'dharma by stealth' . . . maybe I would be better suited to begging?
Are you planning on a franchise?
http://www.tricycle.com/reviews/the-price-of-faith-pico-iyer-emthe-buddha-from-brooklynem
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1865425
Maybe I should to try joining the Freemasons who offer the business community their soft cell? Not sure what to think about all this . . .
Thankfully the UK Business community here do not try to sell me dharma paraphernalia or otherwise engage in clandestine business. Just the idea of it seems counter productive. Maybe I am not cut out for this 'dharma by stealth' . . . maybe I would be better suited to begging?
Are you planning on a franchise?
http://www.tricycle.com/reviews/the-price-of-faith-pico-iyer-emthe-buddha-from-brooklynem
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1865425
Maybe I should to try joining the Freemasons who offer the business community their soft cell? Not sure what to think about all this . . .
I think that unless you are willing to look at exactly what it is i'm doing then there really is nothing for you to think about. Please click on the link, read my posts, read the responses, and I think you'll see that it is a very healthy discussion between grown adults about the nature of anger and it's positive and negative aspects. I think you are taking a very judgemental position on something that you are quite ignorant about at the moment. Please read the posts at UK Business Forums and then let me know what you think. I'd appreciate that and value your view much more. The posts are in their 'Time Out' sub-forum, i.e. a space where anyone can talk about anything.
Is this, then, the state of modern Buddhism? I'm not getting at you, but i'm curious to your attitude within this thread, because it seems like you've been unnecessarily judgemental, wilfully ignorant and quite discouraging, and for no apparent reason. You are free to be as you wish, but I just don't understand.
If you understood, you would behave differently. What you are asking for I am unable to provide and that is understanding. So I will say what is there to understand?
Save yourself. Then the world.
The other way around leads only to . . . understanding . . . eventually . . .
As for me being 'unnecessarily judgemental, wilfully ignorant and quite discouraging' - no doubt . . . can you save me? Probably not I will have to to that myself . . .
Months ago when @mindatrisk was on another mission, he seemed way too involved in proselytizing, something I will never endorse for any one in any religion. This time, his writings seem more neutral, in terms of pushing a religion.
(From the thread 'Practice Advice). To make one simple point... Here you have offered help - good advice, sound guidance, true wisdom and understanding, and you have offered it, I presume, before 'saving yourself'. Why is this any different to what I have suggested? You are simply reaching out and sharing the understanding you have to another in need. No more and no less than I am encouraging more of us to do.
My previous writings were encouraged a more streamlined approach to sharing the Dharma - an approach that focused on simply helping people on their terms, not ours. A skilful presentation of Dharma that was accessible and relevant to the lives of the vast majority of people who are not aware of the benefits of the Dharma. It was about being creative, being flexible and seeking to benefit others before protecting traditions. It is about helping as many people as possible - or at least providing as many people as possible with the chance to be helped by putting the Dharma in their line of vision.
It is one thing that some people have no interest in the Dharma, but what about all those are not even aware that it exists? What about all of those who have never even given one thought to the state of their mind? What about all of those who suffer day in and day out with no idea that their are solutions? Should we not at least provide them with the best chance possible of having access to help? This is all I suggest. I have no interest in pushing Buddhism, and never have done, I simply want to help people, and at the very least give them the chance of being helped.
You are on a mission -- to share the Dhamma with as many people as possible (your words). But, BTW, where did you get that "directive" (again, your word) from. In the Theravadan Buddhism I was taught that is not our mission/directive. In fact, I was taught to never push it in any sense, but always provide it to those who come seeking it.
One religion over another is not a neutral thing.
Your words.
^^ I have a feeling you've opened a huge can of worms just now....... LOL :hair:
Sure, I guess you can take the Bible 'out of Christianity' and hold it alone on its own, but you can't take the Christianity out of the Bible. Same thing with the Dharma, IMO.
Because I feel (IMO) there is no place in (the teaching of) the wisdom of the Dharma for aggressiveness in/or proselytizing.
To present the Dharma in "guerrilla" mode seems counterproductive and frankly, based in arrogance and Ego. Kinda goes against the whole core value of the Dharma, no?
http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=309934
Do you think that I am being aggressive or that I am proselytising? I don't think I am, but i'm open to suggestions and critique. I have much to learn, and i'll continue to adapt and seek more appropriate ways of sharing the Dharma, but what i'm outlining here is the idea.
And if it's not, why not just post at the end of each message, "I like Buddhism because I think the Buddha presented the purest and widest understanding of the Dharma." (Again, your words).
So you are teaching your own version of the Dharma. Which is fine and time will tell whether you can fill it out enough to make it work.
In the meantime, if you fall back on the Buddhas teachings piecemeal, you will run the risk of misconstrueing them. At some point you will be called on it or accused of evangelizing, and may turn people away from considering Buddhism. Bad karma all around.
My 2cents? Leave the Buddha out of it, unless you are talking intimately to people you know, or are sure that someone wants to hear about it because they have asked you.
really not into reading more than that.
No, you're not being aggressive. Persistent? Yes. Aggressive? No.
Are you proselytizing? Hmmm, ok, gotta say 'No' there as well.
Are you teaching the Dharma?
Sorry, but I also have to say "no" here too.
Granted, you are giving good, positive advice about controlling/changing/managing anger. Although I don't think you've cornered the market on all the possible good advice one can give regarding anger.... but that's neither here nor there.
So, even you said before, you can find the same wisdom in the Bible, the Koran, The Old Testament, the gospels, etc.
So how does that sort out to be "teaching the Dharma" to the masses? I'm not sure I see your point and THE point, you know?
You are going to need to have a thick skin to do what you are attempting. Good luck.
Why not paste a link to this thread on the business forum? Short cut the whole process.
What is 'THE point'? Well, there are many, many people who are angry, and that anger is causing many, many problems for themselves and for many others on this planet. I suspect that most of these people are not acting with a full understanding of anger and the various points I brought up in the discussion. If they are aware then maybe they will reflect upon their anger and, perhaps, make efforts to reduce it, thus benefiting themselves and others too. All well and good, right? And no different to what any spiritual tradition attempts to do.
But the point is that for all these spiritual traditions anger still exists in abundance upon our planet... so why not change tact? Why not reach out to those who are traditionally spiritually skeptical / reluctant (as many at the Business forums are) and who are, therefore, missing out on teachings that would help them with anger, worry, fear etc. with the aim of helping them? Is the discussion at the forums not a positive thing? Might it not be helpful to them? Is it worth me reaching out to them? Would they be better off left alone? Might the discussion not trigger something in them that might lead them to explore the issues raised and then make changes? How many of those people reading or engaging in that discussion might otherwise never have even begun to think about anger?
All in all, forgetting the confusion that can be caused through discussing concepts, if I were to continue engaging in discussions like the one on anger with new audiences, would this be a good thing or bad thing?
Thick skin is DEFINITELY not needed! This could never be achieved through thick skin. All attack, all abuse, all ridicule, all distortion etc. etc. is born of suffering. Someone may attack me, laugh at me, abuse me, but this is their suffering over-flowing, and all I need to do is imagine what the content of that suffering may be for compassion and softness to arise. Plus, there are soooo many little tactics that help. For example, I make it a rule to never reply to a line of attack. A further rule is to find a good point they made, recognise it, and respond thoughtfully to it. This discourages attack, and encourages thinking.
Don't you think that this forum could help those people who are interested?
And, you criticize some of us, in this forum, for being 'rude' and don't want to expose your friends from a business forum to our antics? Hmmph. Interesting.
So you'll coddle them like sensitive children on one hand, (not exposing them to us) and yet deceive them on the other hand (not being upfront about what you are 'teaching' them)...
I think that's very manipulative, and frankly, odd.