Why not? It’s a way to interconnect with folks. I know there have been times that i have spent hours, too many hours on Facebook– looking for love in all the wrong places. Would be an opportunity for folk to connect with the dharma on line instead of dwindling their pecious human birth away, waiting for Godot. Kind of like going into prisons, into cocoons. Then there are times when i use Facebook with discretion . Those using Facebook with disretion may not be as helped by KSC’s presence there other than convenience- one less keystroke perhaps. I have often clicked on a TED link, why not clicking on a KSC link too. So in either extreme or neither extreme, i see a place for KSC on a social network.
I’m currently trapped in the web that is Plurk… I really don’t know what to say.
The Interdependence Project [click here] is doing a really great job of using media beyond email such as Facebook [click here], and Twitter [click here], to in a way “promote” it’s cause.
That said, I think it would take someone who is already involved in these technologies to really implement something that could have the impact that the Interdependence Project has.
Also, some ways of using these technology could be used to reach way beyond the reach that we currently reach.
Take a look at the Endless Harvest fan page [click here], and see where people are listed from. Many are not from this area, but *may* have a natural connection with Endless Harvest.
ArtFire had a week on Social Media Optimization, and presented some pretty good information which should be fairly easy to find [click here].
ArtFire has a really potent social media presence, and really are doing well with that, but also are interacting heavily with people who aren’t strongly connected with ArtFire.
I say use all tools we have at our disposal to teach dharma, and connect sangha. We just need to be careful of depending upon new technology and there for marginalizing people who may not be as connected. Our phone tree gave way to the emails lists and sadly we lost the human touch.
I’m with Cam. We can, and should, connect mindfully and openly wherever we are and in whatever dialects are spoken. I see facebook and twitter and other such media not only as a way to reach out, but as a way to strengthen our ties - delek-ware, if you will. At that same time, as Cam says, there is a risk of the “Enemy of the Family” - where we create a tribe defined by its communications approach. We have some people in our community who are without email, and that leaves them almost entirely out of the loop. As long as what we do online is an addition rather than a total migration, I don’t see any reason not to proceed - let a hundred flowers bloom.
In Toronto we use Facebook and Twitter to complement the main toronto.shambhala.org website. We use a Facebook group to get upcoming programs into Facebook wide event calendar system. With Twitter, we tweet about upcoming programs a couple of days before they happen.
Basically, we’re using social networking platforms as outreach tools.
Kootenay Shambhala Meditation Centre 3rd Floor - 444 Baker Street, PO Box 136, Nelson, BC V1L 5P7 Tel. 250-352-5560 Email:
Shambhala, Shambhala Meditation Center, Shambhala Training and Shambhala Center are registered service marks of Shambhala International (Vajradhatu). Way of Shambhala is a service mark of Shambhala International (Vajradhatu).Website by Blue Mandala
RSS Subscribe 
September 6th, 2009 at 4:52 am
Why not? It’s a way to interconnect with folks. I know there have been times that i have spent hours, too many hours on Facebook– looking for love in all the wrong places. Would be an opportunity for folk to connect with the dharma on line instead of dwindling their pecious human birth away, waiting for Godot. Kind of like going into prisons, into cocoons. Then there are times when i use Facebook with discretion . Those using Facebook with disretion may not be as helped by KSC’s presence there other than convenience- one less keystroke perhaps. I have often clicked on a TED link, why not clicking on a KSC link too. So in either extreme or neither extreme, i see a place for KSC on a social network.
September 6th, 2009 at 9:55 am
I’m currently trapped in the web that is Plurk… I really don’t know what to say.
The Interdependence Project [click here] is doing a really great job of using media beyond email such as Facebook [click here], and Twitter [click here], to in a way “promote” it’s cause.
That said, I think it would take someone who is already involved in these technologies to really implement something that could have the impact that the Interdependence Project has.
Also, some ways of using these technology could be used to reach way beyond the reach that we currently reach.
Take a look at the Endless Harvest fan page [click here], and see where people are listed from. Many are not from this area, but *may* have a natural connection with Endless Harvest.
ArtFire had a week on Social Media Optimization, and presented some pretty good information which should be fairly easy to find [click here].
ArtFire has a really potent social media presence, and really are doing well with that, but also are interacting heavily with people who aren’t strongly connected with ArtFire.
Just a few thoughts.
September 7th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I say use all tools we have at our disposal to teach dharma, and connect sangha. We just need to be careful of depending upon new technology and there for marginalizing people who may not be as connected. Our phone tree gave way to the emails lists and sadly we lost the human touch.
September 7th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I’m with Cam. We can, and should, connect mindfully and openly wherever we are and in whatever dialects are spoken. I see facebook and twitter and other such media not only as a way to reach out, but as a way to strengthen our ties - delek-ware, if you will. At that same time, as Cam says, there is a risk of the “Enemy of the Family” - where we create a tribe defined by its communications approach. We have some people in our community who are without email, and that leaves them almost entirely out of the loop. As long as what we do online is an addition rather than a total migration, I don’t see any reason not to proceed - let a hundred flowers bloom.
September 8th, 2009 at 8:55 am
In Toronto we use Facebook and Twitter to complement the main toronto.shambhala.org website. We use a Facebook group to get upcoming programs into Facebook wide event calendar system. With Twitter, we tweet about upcoming programs a couple of days before they happen.
Basically, we’re using social networking platforms as outreach tools.
September 10th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Thank you all! With your comments in mind, the Kootenay Shambhala Centre’s prospective tweeter started tweeting today: http://twitter.com/KootenaySMC
Inviting more feedback―on social media in general and Facebook in particular.