Buddhist Island project!

Mahakala, you are correct again! Let's try to use the forums you've set up to co-organize stage one of the project.

Just to reply in context before discussion moves elsewhere, Pepper asked a question that has arisen a number of times over the last year:
"IS DHARMA TRANSMISSION FUNDIMENTAL TO SLbuddhism?"

I would submit that it is not, given that within many traditions/lineages, transmission/empowerment is essentially RL-bound, wrapped up in the role of techers, lamas, rinpoches as representatives and/or manifestations of past teachers. In RL, students themselves also have a responsibility to choose an appropriate teacher; this is something cannot yet be done in SL. The SL platform is both immaterial and anonymous, and therefore we cannot expect RL outcomes from SL efforts, if that was part of the question. Also, formal empowerment or initiation to vajrayana yidams/deities aren't, to my knowledge, recognized as something that can occur in anything other than RL space, in-person.

So it is hard to know what this means in SL. For example, I practice vajrayana in RL, but use SL only to reinforce and learn (and procrastinate, as SL can get in the way of RL practice too, hehe). Any teachings/content proffered in SL are therefore viewed with a grain of salt, since authorship is often unclear and execution varies in terms of quality and accuracy, at least to my own limitations of understanding as a RL student and pilgrim.

I've written elsewhere about how SL is a fascinating place to pursue dharma and essential Buddhist questions about self and consciousness. I just don't don't know how far beyond an interesting experiment in education and community-building it can be pushed. That remains to be seen. Personally, I'd be reluctant to invite any lamas I know into SL in the immediate future, if only because there's a good chance they'd be subject to disrespect. Perhaps a Buddhist sim would provide an appropriate environment for special guests. (In lieu of RL teachers, FYI, I've made good use of reputable sites like lamrim.com to stream real teachings into SL for the Milarepa Land Trust.)

As it is often mentioned in Sadhana prayers, one aspires to fully complete the task one has committed to do, often asking for pardon in advance for any unintentional mistakes made along the way. I think this applies to SL too. So I don't mean to discourage, just to encourage caution. Let's see if the sim can be launched first, then see if the project can sustain more ambitious goals.

BTW, anyone else want to help manage the vajrayana aspect of the sim? My RL is trumping SL (sick kid, work, etc.) Zafu? Any other keen students who can herd prims?

"Is Dharma transmission essential to SLBuddhism"
When I first visited, I didn't even know what Dharma was
so I explored further. If some of the core values of the project
are education, sharing, openness, traditions and the the essence shared
by all of the varied groups and cultures within Buddhism, then
it seems to me that indeed Dharma sharing amongst us would
be fundamental in SL. IMHO shared values take priority over
material items, products, and slogans every time. Tai

Tenzin and all --

I've been away for four weeks in Cambodia, and I see I've missed quite a bit! I was able to log on to SL for the first time tonight, and from what I can tell, nothing much has changed in terms of sites being closed/new sites being opened. I was only on for a few minutes, however, so if I missed something, let me know!

A huge thank you to Tenzin and everyone else who has spearheaded the Buddhist projects on SL in the year or so I've been there. Tenzin, you can count on my continued financial support. IM me online and let me know what it is the group is looking for in terms of seed money -- I am happy to help when and where I can.

With metta,
Nate

I am interested in helping you out Tenzin. While I may likely lack a deep knowledge of vajrayana compared to others, I think could at the very least offer my skills toward this aspect of the sim.

I don't know if this has come up during online discussions, and I may be the only person interested, but has anyone talked about ways to generate revenue for the project? Specifically, by renting cells (as in the place a monk would live) or other small, intimate spaces for meditation? As a HUGE favor to me, Tenzin made a couple of caves/meditation spots over the year, and I'd be willing to pay for this on the new BI.

A few months ago, there were so role players who had an island based on Japanese warriors/shoguns, and the island had several "villages," with rentable cells that were expertly designed in a Japanese style. That sim is long gone, and I don't know what they were charging, but as Dharma continues to flourish on SL and more practitioners are drawn to our project, they may be looking to sell their home plots (like I'll be doing) for something much smaller -- so they could rent on the island.

I recognize the inherent challenges -- namely that rentals would likely have to be approved. I rented an "apartment" near the Green Tara temple several months ago, and a brothel opened in the apartment next to me. I was spending quite a bit of time in SL then, and it got to be bothersome.

Just a thought --
Nate

Thanks for the nice words Nate. I would be interested in similar "rental" or village space in the sim for an office, given that our group would be liquidating its mainland assets and would no longer have its Zoe HQ.

If the sim has a dedicated (and select) marketplace, then why not have apartments surrounding the square? This is not my idea, actually, just a recitation of Barkhor Square in Lhasa, an example of "mixed zoning" that goes back more than 1000 years. Maybe tier donors would qualify for the use of a modest room or something like that, just to avoid two monthly payments. Also is a small donor incentive. Just thinking, again.

To Nate and Tenzin,

I believe your topic has some important value for discussion. if you don't mind, i've trasnferred the idea to a thread on our other forums for the sake of centralization. http://66.219.59.152/dharmaforum/ Thanks

I have updated lots of threads on Mahkalas site in the post above.

Please visit and have your say

Metta

Zafs

yes, please, all participants and interested parties in the proposed sim should read and post at the Dharma Wheel Forum : http://66.219.59.152/dharmaforum/

I'll close this thread now, just to keep discussions in one place.

Tenzin gets confused if too many threads on the same subject are active at multiple sites. Tashi Delek!