Dear fellow mediators,
After fifteen years of being a gathering place online for mediators the forum will be closing after the second week of August this year. The current hosting expires on 17th August and I intend not to renew it.
A few factors have combined to make this choice seem the reasonable one to make at this point in time;
- A need to focus on my own practice, with fewer distractions.
- The overwhelming number of spam accounts, which has lead to being closed to new members as a necessity.
- Lower engagement by existing members leading to few postings.
- The need for constant maintenance and monitoring of the forum and software.
It has been an interesting experiment in sharing our practice and experience over the years. Many people have found help with their practice and with other obstacles in life. Many have also found reason to be disappointed or find fault. This is the nature of things.
The intent behind this space was always to help spread the Dhamma in a practical manner. Sometimes discussions have been rich and informative. At other times they have descended into acrimony or worse. The forum has at times been a humbling teacher, and at other times a frustrating microcosm of all that can go wrong with human interaction. We all bring some baggage with us, and the medium of text on the internet has inherent limitations of its own.
On the whole it has been a rewarding opportunity to be part of this experiment. Personally, I have met several forum members in person over the years, built friendships, and gained a lot of insight into many aspects of the Dhamma and other things (not least my own very human weaknesses).
It has been humbling to see people make small steps forward, or even great change, and to have been a part of that.
However, everything changes: "This too shall pass".
I am writing this post, and emailing all registered members, with a few weeks notice of this closure. It gives you the chance to download any materials or discussions that you find helpful, and to use the private message system to connect with other members should you wish to maintain mutual contact by other means.
May you flourish in your practice and in your life. Be compassionate to yourself and to those you encounter. Most of all, may your insight continue to grow such that you continue to be part of the solution. This messy world needs people who are awake to the rise and fall of things; meditation transforms you and your relationship to the wider world.
Thank you for being part of this community, part of this journey.
With loving kindness to all,
Matthew 🙏