Ordination

[Malcolm]

but it didn't work in the end.

The policies and standards didn't work?.

They created, unintentionally, many enemies.

[Andreas Ludwig]

Who were apparently able to bring ES down, yeah...

[Caz]

but it didn't work in the end.

The policies and standards didn't work?.

They created, unintentionally, many enemies.

So you move on and learn, I know some saw E-sangha as Iron fist policies and Buddhism.

[Malcolm]

So you move on and learn, I know some saw E-sangha as Iron fist policies and Buddhism.

The interesting thing was all the bizarre fantasies and projections that some people engaged in about our motivations for doing this or that.

[Dechen Norbu]

What I find funny is that others who criticized E-sangha's policies ended up adopting very similar policies themselves. It just took them a little time. Those who hadn't our policies ended up with forums where your chances of reading adharma are much higher than reading good teachings or correct information. E-sangha was huge and mainstream. As such, our policies to protect newcomers from leaving with their minds completely confused had to be tighter. This meant lot of work for us, enduring harsh critics and spending endless hours online. And we weren't getting payed!

[Indrajala]

What I find funny is that others who criticized E-sangha's policies ended up adopting very similar policies themselves. It just took them a little time. Those who hadn't our policies ended up with forums where your chances of reading adharma are much higher than reading good teachings or correct information. E-sangha was huge and mainstream. As such, our policies to protect newcomers from leaving with their minds completely confused had to be tighter. This meant lot of work for us, enduring harsh critics and spending endless hours online. And we weren't getting payed!

You also had to deal with the threat of lawsuits of all things. Apparent "religious persecution" on E-sangha.

E-sangha will certainly go down in internet history as one of those great sites that went from being huge to offline literally overnight.

It certainly sparked a lot of communication and opened up networks among people. I've met a number of old Esangha friends in real life. We've even done meditation retreat together.

Actually the English speaking Buddhist world is incredibly small. If you get involved with both Buddhist academia and the English speaking practitioner world you see how it seems everyone knows or knows of each other.

[Dechen Norbu]

Some people acted shamefully against E-sangha and its team. Let bygones be bygones.

I've noticed that already. It's a bit saddening we're so few (me not even being part of the native English speaking world).

[conebeckham]

just to clarify, though....I recall that it was not really "upset" members, or ex-members, of E Sangha that brought it down....I recall something about Sri Lankan politics or some such.......

Perhaps I'm speaking out of turn, I dunno.

[Dechen Norbu]

Yes, that seems to be the case.

[Tara]

Seems this thread has veered .


Ordination

Regards,
rt

[Jikan]

Apropos of ordination and e-sangha:

that discussion board, and its policies on ordination, had a significant impact on a number of meat-world sanghas. Tendai-shu in North America is one. There were some teachers who were presenting themselves as having been ordained or credentialed in particular ways that were simply dishonest, and the public debate about this gave documentation to those claims and they've since disappeared or changed their stripes.

***

I think it would be very, very useful indeed if Dharmawheel became a place where people can learn about ordination, and may in the process become a proximal cause for people to take vows that bring benefit to all.