new approaches to dharmic teaching ?

[DreadFish]

It seems to me that there would not be a single approach that would satisfy the needs of all people and lead them on a Dharmic path. Though, I do find that Zen is a practice that can easily be integrated into all activites and cultures, almost regardless of previous beliefs and practices. It is very free, yet defined in all the necessary ways.

[ratikala]

dear dread fish ,

personaly I dont think there needs to be a single way , after all we are all diferent and need diferent things from religion or philosophy , yes I think the analitical nature of zen can be a very valid approach for many of a philosopical disposition ,
do you mind my asking what you feel to be most important when you say ...

defined in all the necessary ways.

many thanks

[ratikala]

Originally Posted by Vinayaka

Yes, that is the intent. Just as God is not separate from man, religion is not separated from daily life. We can do this in little things, like service to our co-workers, opening doors, offering to give them breaks, bringing a bit of extra food to share, and seeing God everywhere, in each individual through the gateways to the soul ... the eyes. In a traffic jam, we let a couple of cars in, we share the road. All this IS religion, we just don't normally see it as such.

I suppose the question of this thread is how this is comunicated to others in a society which has to a large part sidelined religion , or the idea of organised religion , the nicest things about the awareness you describe above is that they are very much a reflection of holding religious principles or values , and are common to many traditions .

We turn the car radio off, and chant bhajan instead. There are just so many small ways religion can be integrated throughout the day. But it takes mindfulness, and some will.

jai jai ,

and that wonderfull mindfullness comes from the realisation of the truth embodied in the tradition to which you subscribe , through your understanding you have developed the will ,

but for those who have not found a tradition that they find compatable with their understanding or being ?
for example many can aspire to the moral or ethical code but not to the notion of divinity .

sadly it appears that many people are leading stressfull lives without a true sence of being that adds meaning to their lives , this tends towards a world more governed by an exagerated sence of self and all the problems associated with such self centered a veiw point.

for that reason I asked is there a need for a different way of teaching ?

[Marcion]

Personally, I think there is a great need for a collective modernised way of spreading and teaching dharma.
If it is to appeal to large groups of educated spiritually inclined people it should preferably:

* be free of religious dogma, sectarian attitudes, irrational ritualism and mythical ways of thinking
* combine social service and individual and collective spiritual practices such as sadhana and spiritual retreats [as in christianity and buddhism]
* combine scientific rational approach and spiritual approach to life
* blend jinana, karma and devotional approaches
* have a clear and comprehensive spiritual and social philosophy that is in harmony with scientific thinking

[Vinayaka]

I think that our method of delivery has to change in order to retain the youth. The new tools of technology, short films, Power Point or better, maybe even a once an hour Twitter of a short inspirational quote. Just as teachers in general have switched to more effective methods of delivery.

The two old methods of reading a book, and listening to a speaker drone on about philosophy just doesn't work any more. Children and youth need interactive stuff. Pictures in publications work too. An example of that is the magazine Hinduism Today.

[Satyamavejayanti]

Originally Posted by ratikala

due to the nature of kali yuga is there a need for a new method of teaching, or revealing the dharma ?

I dont think there are any new method, the old ways are fine.

And i think that the effects of Kali Yuga are only valid if we our self succumb to the stigma of being in a time of despair.

As we all make our own Karma, we can change this Kali yuga into a Sat yuga for each individual.

[ratikala]

dear marcion ,

Originally Posted by Marcion

Personally, I think there is a great need for a collective modernised way of spreading and teaching dharma.
If it is to appeal to large groups of educated spiritually inclined people it should preferably:

* be free of religious dogma, sectarian attitudes, irrational ritualism and mythical ways of thinking

jai jai ,
I would be more than happy to see the loss of many of the sectarian attitudes I am fed up with hearing dissatisfaction between one sect and another over how one veiws the other, where ever we identify such attitudes we need to foster more tollerance and respect .as for "irrational ritualism and mythical ways of thinking" yes, we need to have a clearer understanding why we are doing or thinking something .

* combine social service and individual and collective spiritual practices such as sadhana and spiritual retreats [as in christianity and buddhism]

yes, this I can also vouch for from experience as being very usefull .

* combine scientific rational approach and spiritual approach to life

are there particular areas that you think are relevant here ?

* blend jinana, karma and devotional approaches

yes , again this is very important , this way we fit our practice in to our daily life .

* have a clear and comprehensive spiritual and social philosophy that is in harmony with scientific thinking

can you explain a little more how you see this working ?

[ratikala]

dear vinayaka ji ,

Originally Posted by Vinayaka

I think that our method of delivery has to change in order to retain the youth. The new tools of technology, short films, Power Point or better, maybe even a once an hour Twitter of a short inspirational quote. Just as teachers in general have switched to more effective methods of delivery.

yes , retaining the youth is very important , if this means utilising technology then it is putting it to good use , utilising it for spiritual purpouses rather than solely for mundane purpouses .

The two old methods of reading a book, and listening to a speaker drone on about philosophy just doesn't work any more. Children and youth need interactive stuff. Pictures in publications work too. An example of that is the magazine Hinduism Today.

I am not familiar with hinduism today , I shall have to google it and see what comes up on line ,

and of course there is on line sangha , we are using technology very well here connecting with others and discussing

[ratikala]

dear prabhu ji ,

Originally Posted by Satyamavejayanti

I dont think there are any new method, the old ways are fine.

personaly the traditional ways are fine for me too , however I am interested in understanding how we could teach them better so that more people benifit and that what I hold as precious does not get lost .

what vinayaka says about the youth is very important , the teaching methods in schools are changing so the chlidren are used to using different technologies and different approaches , so in some ways things must change in order to keep them engaged . then once engaged I feel it is important to teach through the age old method .

for instance is it advisable to try to replace the guru deciple relationship ? preferably I think not , but many pepole here on this site do not have access to a temple or teachings , so this forum is proving very usefull .

And i think that the effects of Kali Yuga are only valid if we our self succumb to the stigma of being in a time of despair.

for me seeing the effects of kali yuga all around us in the world , seeing its effects on human nature only serves to make me more aware of the need for sanatana dharma ,and the need for less worldly attatchment and a more spiritualy based life style , so yes what you say is so perfectly true

As we all make our own Karma, we can change this Kali yuga into a Sat yuga for each individual.

jai jai , perfect

so we need to study the qualities of satya yuga more , then we will be inspired to keep up our sadhana ...

thankyou , that thought has made my day

[Vinayaka]

I don't think the traditional ways are fine at all. If you go to many Hindu temples (at least here in Canada) the crowd is old and getting older. A whole generations is turning secular, capitalist, or atheist. That saddens me. I want a religion to come back to next lifetime, and the one after that, etc.