we had bad new far better looking covers pictures for the videos. Why don't you use the videos we uploaded on youtube? (you can check them on the conference website) +
Excellent project. Thank you.
In the "Discover" section I think it might be good to have a short quote from HHDL near the start. People know him and if they don't go very far into the website at least they will have a snippet of something to remember.
(IOS Safari)
I'm still exploring the website. I'm finding a lot of my initial suggestions are actually already incorporated if I just click on enough links. So I may have more suggestions later, but so far so good. +
This will be a shotgun type of feedback, where I dump a lot of different thoughts on you. I'm sure most of them are addressed here if I click on the right link. But that would take a lot of time.
1. What is "tantric Shentong"? I've heard it used by Shenpen Hookham, but only as a passing mention.
2. I see you use the words apophatic and cataphatic. Do you ever use the terms "pantheism", "panentheism", or "monism" to describe the gamut of interpretations? I know the root "theism" is a bugaboo for a lot of people.
3. I know Tsadra Foundation is about Tibetan Dharma. But do you show the evolution of the idea in East Asian thought? It could be just a brief mention.
4. In the Shentong interpretations I've come across it says that there are no thought processes in the Dharmakaya, Dharmadhatu, etc. Is that point made somewhere?
5. Have you made the point of how "Buddha Activity" (as per Uttartantra) can happen without said mentation in the Dharmakaya?
6. Is the point made about how Buddha Nature is the basis for the tantric view of the world and beings as pure?
7. Also how Buddha Nature relates to the Dzogchen self-liberation view.
Overall I love what you are doing with this. I just need to spend some time doing more clicking. Thanks! +
I think we should consider making the TOC the first tab on any book or dissertation because coming to a book like this and see a blank area there is offputting, but if I saw the TOC, I would be like, yay! I can see what is in this book! +
Melvin McLeod and Rod Sperry: He says on the beginner section, "Agreed that approach/voice could be be simplified, more absolute-beginner friendly. It feels more intermediate to me." Also, "The metaphors of the statue and the mango seed should come earlier." Finally, in this area he says, "If this site is for people who perhaps altogether new at this, it’s tricky to write “please seek out an authentic teacher to engage in any specific practices discussed here” without also giving some guidance on what it means to be/find an authentic teacher.” +
Melvin McLeod: I looked most closely as the beginners' area, because that's where we work a lot. I do think the language of the introductory paragraphs is too complex---some long sentences and paragraphs that take real work to follow. I urge you to look for simple, declarative sentences, at least in the initial paragraphs. Then it can become more complex. My suggestion is to model this section after the kind of language Mingyur Rinpoche uses in the Lion's Roar piece you feature. I think the emphasis here should be on simplicity, clarity, and accessibility.
Aside from perhaps making the beginner material clearer and punchier, they're all pretty minor. Congrats on a great job. +