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NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ -
San Jose, CA, United States, 2007/11/14 - Ask almost anyone to define Buddhism and most would describe images of monks in saffron robes meditating quietly in peaceful retreat - Engaged-Buddhists.com.
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Chances are, none would ever link Buddhism with the Internet. But, while a bond with the high tech world may seem odd, there is a new breed of Buddhists spreading the word at the click of a mouse. Call it “Buddhism 2.0” and you can experience it at an online social networking site called Engaged Buddhists.
“Our social network is designed to inform and share the practical application of Buddhist principles,” said Ryan Vong, who started Engaged Buddhism in September 2007. “And what better way is there than to learn from people who teach and live these principles every day?”
The Engaged Buddhists site is a rapidly growing community of Buddhists from around the world whose temple is online. There is no leader in the traditional sense, merely a group of Buddhists sharing ideas and connecting with each other by written thoughts, images and video.
Engaged Buddhism is a term originally coined by Vietnamese Zen Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. During the Vietnam War, he and his sangha (spiritual community) made efforts to respond to the suffering that surrounded them. They saw this work as part of their meditation and mindfulness practice. Since then, the term has been used by Buddhists who are seeking ways to apply the insights from meditation practice and dharma teachings to situations dealing with social, political and economic suffering and injustice.
Could this be the wave of the future for all religions? Buddha’s teachings say that we were all connected in some way and, in the case of Engaged Buddhism, that way is through the Internet. “Technology allows us to foster more connections with people all over the world,” said Vong. “Everyone we meet is a teacher in their own way, giving us all the ability to share and learn from a diverse group.”
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ryan.vong[.]gmail.com 
