Keeping The Insight Fresh

From Leigh Brasington, a comment made during the retreat:

When insight arises, that seems too precious to be lost, write it down, or better yet, write about it. Also, continue to reflect upon it. And last, share it with noble friends.

This is why I blog and tweet about my practice. And why I am so grateful for the conversations that take place here, on Mind Deep.

7 Villains of Buddhist Blogging

While there are many reasons to blog about one's mindfulness practice, the activity carries within itself all the potential dangers of wrongful communication, and more. Whenever blogging, I try to stay clear of the following seven villains:

Blogging becomes a diversion from practice - writing about practice becomes a substitute for real practice. 

Blogging becomes food for the hungry ego - letting greed have a field day, in pursuit of unique visitors, comments, backlinks, and other goodies that make bloggers smile. 

Blogging becomes a platform for self-righteousness - lecturing and  trying to convince the world to rally to one's opinions. 

Blogging becomes an outlet for aggression - engaging in Dharma wars, and getting upset when others don't subscribe to one's views.

Blogging becomes a mindless life filler - blogging out of habit, one post a day because it's good for Google rankings, or just because.

Blogging becomes a dead end exercise in superfluous concept making - blogging out of the head only, with little input from the heart, and the body. 

Blogging becomes another trap for the rigid self - bringing the Buddhist blogger me to all aspects of our life, even when clearly not relevant.

Can you think of more ways to get in trouble?

 

Of course, mindfulness and right understanding can go a long way towards avoiding those pitfalls.  May you blog away, now, about practice, and mindfulness . . .

6 Reasons to Keep a Mindfulness Practice Blog

Today, I was most grateful to receive the 2010 Blogisattva Award for 'Best Buddhist Practice Blog'. My immediate thoughts went to the other very talented bloggers whose names I had submitted in that same category. A small consolation was seeing three of them in the finalists' list: Digital Zendo, ZenDotStudio, and Peace Ground Zero. 

In the Awards announcement's post, I was moved by Kyle Lovett's thoughtful appreciation of all Buddhist bloggers:

. . . all of these people that have had the heart, the guts and the determination to come online and share their thoughts and their practice with the world, cannot win or lose. What they do, what you do, day after day is immeasurably beyond the realm of relative winners and losers. YOU together are all the voices and the spirit that is moving and shaping the future of Buddhism, the future of an ancient tradition that points to a way beyond winners and losers, a way beyond suffering, a way beyond doubt. 

Collectively, all of our words, which are linked together by print or by digital media or by podcasts, is far greater than one lone voice could ever be; and its real power and influence is beyond the poor abilities of human vocabulary to describe. However if I had to choose, I would say this community is the embodiment of Prajñā, Dāna and Śīla. We are all Sangha; Perhaps not in the traditional meaning of the word, but nevertheless a Sangha that I am most humbly overjoyed to be a part of.

Kyle's tribute got me thinking about the interrelatedness of blogging and mindfulness practice. How can mindfulness practice inform one's blogging? How can blogging sustain one's practice? What are some of the potential pitfalls?

The first question, I covered in an earlier post, in the form of  '7 Tips for Buddhist Bloggers'

Next comes an exploration of the many benefits of blogging for one's mindfulness practice. Come to think of it, maintaining a mindfulness practice blog is seeded in a long standing tradition of spiritual sharing, dating as far back as the Buddha's and Christ's times. It springs from the same need to share what is both a very personal and transpersonal experience. Only now, with the advent of the Internet, that sharing is enriched by the possibility of asynchronous and synchronous responses from a world wide community of spiritual friends. 

Here are '6  Reasons Why I keep Blogging About my Mindfulness Practice':

1) Blogging about practice keeps me honest - it is akin to interviewing with a teacher, only the accountability is to the ones that read me.

2) Blogging about practice takes care of an often neglected part of practice that is reflection - harvesting the fruit from mindful investigation, and transforming them into enduring insights.

3) Blogging about practice helps seal those same insights - anchoring them in the mind through the careful selection and articulation of words to describe them.

4) Blogging about practice helps make the connection between one's direct experience and the wealth of Dharma teachings available on the Web - Access to Insight and Buddhanet are two of my favorite sites.

5) Blogging about practice is the opportunity to join the worldwide sangha of other bloggers and readers - through my blog, I have formed many enduring and deep dharma friendships.

6) Blogging about practice, is an integral part of practice - following the 7 tips suggested above, one turns the blogging activities of writing, sharing, commenting, and responding into yet other mindfulness practice opportunities.

Tomorrow, I shall cover some of the potential pitfalls to guard against when blogging about one's mindfulness practice . . . 

15 Great Women Buddhist Blogs

After two days of Googling the hell out of the Internet, and back and forth tweets on Twitter, here it is, finally, the promised list of 15 Great Women Buddhist Blogs - in no particular order:

108 Zen Books
Smilin Buddha Kabaret
Zen Dot Studio
Momma Zen
Jizo Chronicles
Becca Faith Yoga
Mama Dharma
Buddhist at Heart
The Asian Welder
Mama Om
Susan Piver
Mindful Purpose
Budding Buddhist
Dalai Grandma
Luminous Heart

How did I come up with the list? I looked for Buddhist sisters whose blogs reflected a deep commitment to their practice, and also to blogging. Women from all walks of life. Moms, activists, teachers, writers, artists . . .  A few, I knew already. Most of them, I just discovered. I hope you will enjoy 'visiting' them as much as I have!

If I have forgotten anyone, please add in comments section below.

Last, I need to thank Jack at Zen Dirt Zen Dust , for his generous help. 

7 Tips for Buddhist Bloggers

Given folks' enthusiastic response to my earlier post on '10 Tips for Buddhists on Twitter', here's more of the same, this time for Buddhists who like to blog. Feel free to add your own tip in the comment section below, and I will broadcast them on Twitter.

1) Be real. Blogs are a personal medium by excellence. You've got a unique voice, hence let it be heard! As a Buddhist on the path, there is value in sharing your personal journey. Your successes will give others hope. Your struggles will help normalize their owns.

2) Be mindful. Of others. Do not share private matters without the person's permission. Do not write badly about others, ever.

3) Be ethical. Always source your content, and also your inspiration, no matter how removed.

4) Be generous. Reciprocate comments. If someone takes the time to comment on your blog, pay them a visit, and leave a comment on their blog. If you visit a blog, and you read a post you like, don't keep your appreciation to yourself. Share it instead in the form of a comment.

5) Practice equanimity. You can't please everyone. There is a lot to be learned from differing points of view, and emotional reactions. Respond from a calm, loving place always.

6) Protect the integrity of your blog. Block rude, or unwholesome comments. Consider your blog as your virtual temple. A very special place to be treated with respect.

7) Be detached. Ignore page views, and focus instead on producing great, authentic content. I have purposely not installed Google Analytics for that reason.

It's common sense, I know . . .