Mon, 08 Feb 2010
The Seventh Realm
Internet junkies are fond of calling the physical world "meatspace." Two way electronic media, from cellphones to Facebook, have developed into a seventh realm, along side the traditional six realms of Tibetan Buddhism. People interact, just as they do in the other six realms, and wit the same emotional baggage as in the other realms. Bill Schwartz is a long time member of the Chicago KTC (Katma Thegsum Choling). The KTCs are satellite centers of KTD (Karma Triyana Dharnmachakra). Bill has been tweeting about Buddhism, and has gotten into arguments with the Shambhala Buddhists in Boulder (Bite Me, Boulder Buddhists) and Jetsunma Akhon Lhamo and her students (Welcome to Twitter Hell). I found both the linked articles interesting in their own right and because they led me to this interview with the Karmapa from Bodhi Magazine. I'm trying to find a good reason to use Twitter. Mostly it seems useful for marketing, letting people know about a business or cause you are interested in. Right now my Internet activities are this blog, the homeopathic news summary I do, and a Buddhist forum I answer questions on as Jinzang. If I add Twitter to the mix, I'll let you know.
