Forum participation - how is it for you?

Casual conversation between friends. Anything goes (almost).
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Dan74
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Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by Dan74 »

When I read threads on the fora (not just this one), most of the time it's like :shrug: or :lol: or :hug: or :namaste: or :bow: and occasionally :meditate:

For the emoticonists (=anti-emoticon people) among us, most of the time I don't understand the import or the purpose, or I chuckle like at the Humour threads, or sympathise with the folks who are going through a hard time, or feel grateful for the info & the tips, or bow before wonderful teachings or bodhisattvas who share them or occasionally the mind goes still from the pertinent pointer. But most of the time, I don't post, just because I don't feel it's going to be useful. Sometimes I wish there were more practice threads and I keep meaning to start a few especially in the Zen sections, but so far just posted one and later realised there had already been one almost identical posted before... :emb:

How is it for you? Before somebody points out that this is a meta-discussion thread and I am breaking the ToS :rules: I think a discussion of how we use the forum, is different from discussing the forum itself and is conducive to good practice. But discussing this would be meta-discussion :jumping: so please share how you experience the forum and perhaps even how that fits into your day and practice.

_/|\_
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Ayu
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Re: Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by Ayu »

For me this forum is like a vacation from the the strenuous German mind.
My genes are not really German and sometimes the German mind and language are exhausting for me. Here I read everything like looking through a diffuser. And I like the mix of different nations and characteres - even Germans are welcome to me as long as they write in English. :twothumbsup:

So that's why I look on this site as soon as my mind needs some relaxation. I don't read everything. Many discussions I don't follow. But I'm interested in certain people, what wise things they are writing, how they are doing. My own participation is poor, because the lack of language abilities...

Sometimes I am very exhausted and I visit this site with the thought: 'Just ONE nice uplifting sentence, please.'
And: I find it! :sage: :smile:
For me this forum is a jewelbox.
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WASW
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Re: Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by WASW »

I find many of the discussions go over my head due to the advanced and specialist terminology employed, so I tend not to get stuck-in. Still, I learn plenty by lurking. :smile:
DGA
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Re: Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by DGA »

WASW wrote:I find many of the discussions go over my head due to the advanced and specialist terminology employed, so I tend not to get stuck-in. Still, I learn plenty by lurking. :smile:
I prefer those kinds of conversations. Sometimes it's helpful to just ask people what they mean when they use a certain word if it's confusing in context. That gets interesting results...

and you really can learn a lot that way
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WASW
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Re: Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by WASW »

Jikan wrote:
WASW wrote:I find many of the discussions go over my head due to the advanced and specialist terminology employed, so I tend not to get stuck-in. Still, I learn plenty by lurking. :smile:
I prefer those kinds of conversations. Sometimes it's helpful to just ask people what they mean when they use a certain word if it's confusing in context. That gets interesting results...

and you really can learn a lot that way
True, though when a conversation or debate is in full swing I'd feel like I might be derailing it a bit by asking novice questions.
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retrofuturist
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Re: Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,
WASW wrote:True, though when a conversation or debate is in full swing I'd feel like I might be derailing it a bit by asking novice questions.
I wouldn't worry about that... if your question is genuine and on-topic then go for it! :thumbsup:

Maitri,
Retro. :)
Live in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, blending like milk and water, viewing each other with kindly eyes.
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KathyLauren
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Re: Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by KathyLauren »

I find that participating occasionally keeps me in touch with others of similar beliefs. At the moment, I live in a place that is an intellectual and spiritual wasteland, so I need that connection from time to time. I am not as active as I was in former times, on former forums. The discussions do not grab me the way they used to.

Om mani padme hum
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Re: Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by yarnkitty »

WASW wrote:I find many of the discussions go over my head due to the advanced and specialist terminology employed, so I tend not to get stuck-in. Still, I learn plenty by lurking. :smile:
I feel somewhat the same way. I didn't realize how much I didn't know until I found this forum. Still I am learning a lot about the different styles of Buddhist thought and practice.
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Re: Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by muni »

For me it is losing faith in nature and losing devotion, losing respect for the kindness of the teachings and guidance, neglecting boundless ones by my dividing pride. Or in simple words: completely destroying the opportunity of this life, if.................... awareness is lost.

It is said ( i forgot the exact words) when awareness is awake, distraction is sleeping. When distraction is awake, awareness is sleeping.

Also wishing, no any being is destroying this opportunity.

:namaste:
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Re: Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by boda »

Dan74 wrote:How is it for you? Before somebody points out that this is a meta-discussion thread and I am breaking the ToS :rules: I think a discussion of how we use the forum, is different from discussing the forum itself and is conducive to good practice. But discussing this would be meta-discussion :jumping: so please share how you experience the forum and perhaps even how that fits into your day and practice.
My experience is that meta-discussion doesn't break the rules, if you happen to be on the side where you can't break any forum rules. Besides that, the forum is quickly becoming just like any other religious forum, which is to say rather intolerant of any dissonate views and voices. It is unfortunate.

I just clicked the "View your posts" link and found that three out of the four discussions that I've participated in have been locked. How is it for me? Locky, lol.
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Challenge23
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Re: Forum participation - how is it for you?

Post by Challenge23 »

Well, it's interesting.

I tend to use the forum as a tool of first resort for technical points(for example, plates in regards to Ngondro practice) in regards to my practice*. In this it tends to function pretty well as there are a lot of people who are very technically skilled in Vajrayana Buddhism and are happy to share that knowledge(and if they aren't, then they are clear but polite about that as well).

On the other hand, the forum is one of two things that has seriously made me consider giving up Buddhism altogether(this and the book "Not for Happiness"). Through being here I have come to realize that there are a lot of things in Buddhism that are taken as a given that I just don't take as given( that one can have faith in internal experience, that Nirvana is definitely a good thing, etc.). This is not to say that I think they are correct or incorrect. I just don't think they are totally obvious.

I usually try to stay away from the forum unless there is a specific question that I have, though usually I do end up checking it a few times a day to see if there is some discussion that might be useful.

*My reason for this is that my teacher is very busy, not in the best of health, and has a pretty large Sangha so I don't want to bother him with questions unless it is really critical. I would bug the Sangha about my questions but I don't see them much and when I do see them I'm a little bit busy feeling extremely stupid to want to bother them with my questions.
IN THIS BOOK IT IS SPOKEN OF THE SEPHIROTH & THE PATHS, OF SPIRITS & CONJURATIONS, OF GODS, SPHERES, PLANES & MANY OTHER THINGS WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT EXIST. IT IS IMMATERIAL WHETHER THEY EXIST OR NOT. BY DOING CERTAIN THINGS CERTAIN RESULTS FOLLOW; STUDENTS ARE MOST EARNESTLY WARNED AGAINST ATTRIBUTING OBJECTIVE REALITY OR PHILOSOPHICAL VALIDITY TO ANY OF THEM.

Wagner, Eric; Wilson, Robert Anton (2004-12-01). An Insider's Guide to Robert Anton Wilson (Kindle Locations 1626-1629). New Falcon Publications. Kindle Edition., quoting from Alister Crowley
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